Looking Back
by Edgar A. GuestI might have been rich if I'd wanted the gold
instead of the friendships I've made.
I might have had fame if I'd sought for renown
in the hours when I purposely played.
Now I'm standing to-day on the far edge of life,
and I'm just looking backward to see
What I've done with the years and the days that were mine,
and all that has happened to me.
I haven't built much of a fortune to leave
to those who shall carry my name,
And nothing I've done shall entitle me now
to a place on the tablets of fame.
But I've loved the great sky and its spaces of blue;
I've lived with the birds and the trees;
I've turned from the splendor of silver and gold
to share in such pleasures as these.
I've given my time to the children who came;
together we've romped and we've played,
And I wouldn't exchange the glad hours spent
with them for the money that I might have made.
I chose to be known and be loved by the few,
and was deaf to the plaudits of men;
And I'd make the same choice should the chance
come to me to live my life over again.
I've lived with my friends and I've shared in their joys,
known sorrow with all of its tears;
I have harvested much from my acres of life,
though some say I've squandered my years.
For much that is fine has been mine to enjoy,
and I think I have lived to my best,
And I have no regret, as I'm nearing the end,
for the gold that I might have possessed.
The Oscar-winning song “Shallow” from A Star Is Born is a soul-stirring ballad that is about a complicated love story. The thing is, though, that the song is not about love at all. It’s actually about cell phones. Yeah, it’s true. After Lady Gaga’s epic performance at this years Oscars, she revealed the true meaning of the song and everyone is confused.
If you’re like us, you might have some questions. How did a tragic love story ballad become about cell phones? Lady Gaga explained to Cosmo magazine backstage at the Oscars.
“I really believe in my heart that the unfortunate truth is that our cell phones are becoming reality. It’s become reality for the world. And in this song we provide not just a conversation, but also a very poignant statement. I wish not to be in the shallow, but I am. I wish to dive off the deep end, but watch me do it. I think this is something that speaks to many people, and during, I think, a very shallow time, it’s a chance for us all to grab hands and dive into the water together and swim into the deepest depths of the water that we can.”
If you’ve been paying attention to everything Gaga, you’ll remember that in November of 2018 she told Variety magazine that “Shallow” is about a man and a woman connecting and listening to each other. Then in that same interview, she said it’s about men not listening to women.
Art can have a lot of different meanings, so songs can mean something completely different person to person. Lady Gaga did co-write the hit song, so her word is gold, right? Whatever your opinion is, we all can agree it’s an amazing song.