On Being Frank

Back in 2006 I titled this blog 'Let Me Be Frank' in part because I wanted to speak my mind earnestly, but also as a tip of the hat to an inspiration of mine, Frank Sinatra. I started listening to Sinatra in the summer of 2004 after picking up a CD of his ("The Very Good Years"), and he immediately rose to become one of my favorite artists. I liked Sinatra not for politics or philanthropy, but because he embodied traits I wanted to posses. Religious-wise, I was already in a downhill spiral. With every passing week, I felt more depressed, angry, and helpless.  That dissipated when I listened to Frank. When I hear him sing, I heard courage, bravado, exulting joy, and strength. I read numerous biographies and found myself wanting to emulate him. When I listened to Frank Sinatra, I walked a little taller, was a little happier.

Eventually I told religion to get lost and determined that gods or no, I was going to live my life, enjoy it, and do something with it to help other people. I made this declaration and defended it with nothing but will. Certainly part of that came from Sinatra's willfulness rubbing off on me. In the years that have passed, I've become far happier. In seeking peace, though, I've...wandered too deep into the monastery of contemplation. Studying Stoicism has given me much to be thankful for -- mindfulness, for instance -- but I've been too much self-absorbed,  too focused on being 'right' instead of LIVING.  This was brought to a head when I started reading Augustine's Confessions and a biography of Sinatra in the same week and realized whose spirit I'd rather mine be more kin to. When it comes to looking for the balance between Stoic serenity and humanist passion, I will err on the side of exhultive pleasure.  Life's too short to wear a monk's habit.

Anyway, being as this is Frank Sinatra's birthday, here's one of my favorite 'brassy' numbers. Transcribed lyrics are below.

I'm gonna live -- until I die!

I'm gonna laugh, instead of cry!

I'm gonna take the town and turn it upside town,

I'm gonna live, live, live until I die.

They're gonna say, "What a guy!"

I'm gonna play for the sky

Ain't gonna miss a thing,

I'm gonna have my fling,

I'm gonna live, live, live until I die.

The blues I lay low, I make `em stay low 

They'll never let `em trail over my head.

I'll be a devil 'til I'm an angel, but until then --

HALLELUJAH! Gonna dance! Gonna fly!

I'll take a chance, ridin' high

Before my number's up, I'm gonna fill my cup

I'm gonna live, live, live! until I die.

The blues I lay low, I'll make `em stay low --

They'll never trail over my head.

I'll be a devil 'til I'm an angel, but until then --

HALLELUJAH! Gonna dance, gonna fly

I'll take a chance ridin' high

Before my number's up, I'm gonna fill my cup

I'm gonna live! Live! Live until I die!