Inspiration comes from a plethora of places: friends, family, something that was said or done, artwork, literature, and---in my case---music lyrics. This past year, pop-punk band, Knuckle Puck, released an album entitled "Copacetic" which is chock full with eleven tracks of lyrical emotion. Despite being known for having hard hitting "feelsy" lyrics, this album's purpose is actually the opposite. It was named "Copacetic" for a reason; to put the listeners into a state of contentedness, that everything is copacetic, everything's okay. Alex Mitchell-Fox of Cultured Vulture wrote that the band spoke out pertaining to the album: ‘A few of the songs on the refer things that “bother us, but overall it’s about saying, “I’m fine. I’m alright."
One song in particular stands out to me: Untitled. While the instrumentals are relaxing, the lyrics tell a more in depth story. Perhaps I'm reading more into it than what is actually meant, but it inspired me to dig deeper. Is everything really copacetic? Not always...
Two lines that hold the most impact on my inspiration were:
"How many times can I say I’m fine?
(I’m fine, I'm fine)"
Out of all of the questions answered dishonestly, "How are you?" is the most common. The general answers no matter the situation include: "I'm good," "I'm okay," and "I'm fine." But really, nine out of ten times, it is a lie...just filler adjectives to halt the conversation from progressing into something you don't want it to be or to keep worry away or perhaps because that's what the other person wanted to hear, perhaps the thought process is that the other person doesn't actually care 'how you are' but said it because that's just the right thing to do...might as well not bore them with unnecessary details that they did not want to hear...right? Think about it. How often do you answer "How are you?" truthfully? No matter how negative you're feeling? Not many times. Sure, maybe you're truthful when it is your close friends and family who ask the typical question, but what about when strangers or acquaintances ask?
Or maybe that's not the reason. Maybe the reason for this little white lie is for yourself. Perhaps you're really not okay or fine, but if you say it enough times then maybe it'll become a reality. Maybe you'll believe that you are actually fine and whatever caused the negative mood never even existed.
"I’ve been much better but at least I’m healing
You know I haven’t slept since you left but for me that’s progress
For me that's progress...
I’ve been fraying at the fabric
Strung out and biting on the back of my bottom lip
I’ll tell you everything is copacetic..."
Is everything really copacetic when you read the lyrics above? The main character isn't great, not fantastic, but he's doing better. Everything's not okay, it's better, but not completely there yet. He's still healing, he has a little ways to go. His progress shows he's on the road to recovery, but he just hasn't made it to the destination. But despite he's not completely okay, he'll still tell you that all is well, everything is copacetic. Don't worry about him, it's okay. But that's when he needs you, or someone, the most.
It's moments like those where we pull our guard up. We don't want to seem needy, blabbing our problems unto others. It's much easier to say that everything is copacetic, everything is okay, all is well with the world. It's that guard that separates us and can end of pushing our loved ones away when we need them the most.
If everything isn't okay, don't pretend that it is. It may seem like the best thing to do or the easiest, but in actuality, you aren't helping yourself nor are you letting someone know the true you. Anyone can say "I'm fine," but it takes a strong person to be honest and say that he isn't okay, that he needs someone to listen or give advice. Don't try to fool yourself or others into believing a lie.
"Holding in tightly to the misery will never get me far."
Don't hold it in. If you have something to say, then say it. Don't say what you think the other person wants to hear, say what you need to say. Holding it in is not healthy, don't "live in a lonely state of denial and self-decay," speak truth with your answers.
"How are you?"
"Everything isn't copacetic..."
