If I Die Young

By: Payton M. Ishmael

I’ve never been a talented musician, nor has my voice ever been one to serenade the millions. In fact, recently I was told that my whistling was horrid and was asked nicely to “just stop!” I do, however, enjoy listening to good music. You can imagine my excitement, then, when I received a phone call exclaiming, “I just heard a song that made me think of you!” The thrill dwindled away as quickly as it was spurred, though, when I was told which song.
In the words of, The Band Perry:
“If I die young bury me in satin. Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn. Send me away with the words of a love song”
Woah! Woah! Woah! How incredibly morbid that a song about death and the wishes thereafter spurred a though in someone’s mind to think of me! First of all, I don’t think satin would be my material of choice. Second, roses are far too generic. Third, I think drowning would be a tragic death so I’d prefer not to be thrown into a river… even after I’m deceased. Most importantly, I’m the anti-love, so PUH-LEASE do not send me away with the words of a love song.
After listening to the lyrics in their entirety about 50 times, I decided that one line held true, while yet another instigated a very important thought.
The ONLY line that I want correlated to me, “So put on your best boys and I’ll wear my pearls.” You must know that I love, love, love pearls; A true and classic indicator of class. A well dressed male isn’t the worst thing that could happen either.
The line that inspired my sharing with you, “The sharp knife of a short life, well I’ve had just enough time.” The sharp knife of a short life… I could be wrong, but personally I don’t think I’ve had enough time just yet. However, it brings to my remembrance that we never know just how long we will be here. We have a limited amount of time with an unknown expiration date. To God, that time is “but a breath.” So we have merely a Heavenly breath in which to leave our mark, make history, change someone’s life, and leave a legacy.
The song goes on to say, “A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I’ll sell them for a dollar. They're worth so much more after I’m a goner. And maybe then you’ll hear the words I’ve been singin’. Funny when you're dead how people start listenin’.”
It’s true. After we’re gone, the words we said, the things we did, and the life we lived all have the ability to remain. How will you choose to be remembered after you’re long gone?

“Who would have thought forever could be severed by the sharp knife of a short life?”

Make the moments count.