Dreamweaver Philosophy : Ian's Musical Picks

"A lively, rigorous introduction to philosophy that most browsers in bookstores should gobble up. The themes are many of the basic philosophical problems; they’re great. I see the main emphasis as a call for fierce but fair debate of the philosophical issues. I love it…"

"Bowen’s presentation of philosophical positions is right on target."

— Jean-Paul Vessel of New Mexico State

IAN's MUSICAL PICKS

SONGS

Check out the lyrics to these songs—some of Ian’s favorites
• BEAUTIFUL COLORS -- theme song
• FREEWILL
• PARABOLA
• DANCING NANCIES
• WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU
• QUE SERA SERA

THEME SONG: BEAUTIFUL COLORS

Jack commissioned one of his favorite song writers to write and perform the theme song based on the book. After reading the book, Matt Bowen wrote the lyrics (with a little of Jack’s help) and music for the song, entitled, “Beautiful Colors.” A large majority of the lyrics are taken directly from Ian’s adventures throughout the book. In November, Jack flew to LA to record the drums and the rest was in Matt’s hands.

Following the lyrics below, you will find discussion questions that relate to the song.
For more music by Matt, please visit: mattbowenmusic.com.

Feel free to listen, download, and share with friends.

Music by Matt Bowen
Lyrics by Matt Bowen (and Jack Bowen)
Matt Bowen - vocals, guitars, bass, violins, Rhodes organ
Jack Bowen - drums
Paul Bessenbacher - piano
Produced, mixed, and engineered by Matt Bowen at Emoto Studios
Edited at Emoto Studios and Scanlan Studios
Copyright Matt Bowen Music 2005

BEAUTIFUL COLORS

The world is quite peaceful,
With my head down in the sand.
It's cool and it's quiet here,
no need to understand
Life's great mysteries,
seeing only shadows of reality.
So I lift my head to the world,
and I'm blinded by the light.

If you see the world in black and white,
you're missing out on all the beautiful colors.

Dark and light, wrong and right,
May or might, and all the rest.
If you keep on traveling to the east,
You'll end up west.
Your paradigms are affected,
When you see it's all connected.
You embrace both heart and mind
in seeking what you find.

You have no idea my son.
Your journey's just begun.
If you look with eyes wide open,
you realize the world wonders,
and you are not alone.

The world is quite full of wonder,
with my head out of the sand.

Questions for Discussion:

1. People often say “Ignorance is Bliss.” In what ways might this be true? What are the negative consequences of this ideal? How do you evaluate the opening and closing stanzas of the song which seem to be totally opposing views?
2. What virtue might there be in seeing the world in “black and white”? What would this mean? If right-and-wrong (morality) is not a black-and-white issue, then how could we come to any answers regarding morality? If morality is a matter of black and white, why can’t we all agree on moral issues?
3. What produces greater insights for you—your heart (intuition, faith, passion) or mind (logic, math, reason)? Is one “better” than the other?
4. What kind of things affect your paradigm (world-view)— Science? Advertising? Religion? “Society”? With all of these influences, how can you make truly authentic choices?
5. Do you find greater beauty/wonder in something the more or less you know about it? How does your answer affect the way you approach knowing your self, others, and the world around you?

FREEWILL
by “Rush”

There are those who think that life is nothing left to chance,
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance.

A planet of playthings,
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot conceive.
" The stars aren't aligned
Or the gods are malign"-
Blame is better to give than receive.

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill;
I will choose a path that's clear-
I will choose Free Will.

There are those who think that they were dealt a losing hand,
The cards were stacked against them- they weren't born in lotus-land.

All preordained-
A prisoner in chains-
A victim of venomous fate.
Kicked in the face,
You can't pray for a place
In heaven's unearthly estate.

Each of us-
A cell of awareness-
Imperfect and incomplete.
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet.

Questions for Discussion:

1. If nothing is left to chance, does that diminish your view of life?
2. What is the significance of the stanza which reads, "You can't pray for a place/In heaven's unearthly estate"?
3. In what sense are you a “prisoner in chains?”

PARABOLA
by “Tool”

We barely remember who or what came before this precious moment,
We are choosing to be here right now. Hold on, stay inside
This holy reality, this holy experience.
Choosing to be here in

This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal
All this pain is an illusion.

Alive, I

In this holy reality, in this holy experience. Choosing to be here in

This body. This body holding me. Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
This body, this body holding me, feeling eternal
All this pain is an illusion.

Twirling round with this familiar parable.
Spinning, weaving round each new experience.
Recognize this as a holy gift and celebrate this chance to be alive and breathing.

This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality.
Embrace this moment. Remember. We are eternal.
All this pain is an illusion.

Questions for Discussion:

1. If "I" am inside "this body," then what am "I"?
2. In this context, what does it mean for pain to be an illusion?
3. What is the "familiar parable" mentioned here?

DANCING NANCIES
by “Dave Matthews”

Could I have been
A parking lot attendant
Could I have been
A millionaire in Bel Air
Could I have been
Lost somewhere in Paris
Could I have been
Your little brother
Could I have been anyone other than me
Could I have been, anyone other than me
Could I have been anyone
He stands touch his hair his shoes untied
Tongue gaping stare
Could I have been a magnet for money
Could I have been anyone other than me
Twenty three
I'm so tired of life
Such a shame to throw it all away
The images grow darker still
Could I have been anyone other then me?
Then I
Look up at the sky
My mouth is open wide, like and taste
What's the use in worrying, what's the use in hurrying
Turn turn we almost become dizzy
I am who I am who I am well who am I
Requesting some enlightenment
Could I have been anyone other than me?
And then I'll
Sing and dance and I'll play for you tonight
The thrill of it all
Dark clouds may hang on me sometimes
But I'll work it out
And then I
Falling out of a world of lies
Could I have been dancing Nancy
Dancing Nancy
Could I have been anyone other than me?

Questions for Discussion:

1. How do you answer the question he poses here: "Could I have been anyone other than me?" What would it mean to answer in the affirmative?
2. What has made you who you are? If your parents "made" you just a day earlier/later, would you be you?”

WITHIN YOU WITHOUT YOU
Written by “George Harrison”
Performed by “The Beatles”

We were talking about the space between us all
And the people who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion
Never glimpse the truth, then it's far too late, when they pass away

We were talking about the love we all could share
When we find it, to try our best to hold it there with our love
With our love, we could save the world, if they only knew

Try to realise it's all within yourself
No one else can make you change
And to see you're really only very small
And life flows on within you and without you

We were talking about the love that's gone so cold
And the people who gain the world and lose their soul
They don't know, they can't see, are you one of them?

When you've seen beyond yourself then you may find
Peace of mind is waiting there
And the time will come when you see we're all one
And life flows on within you and without you.

Questions for Discussion:

1. What kid of "truth" is mentioned here? Is it possible that truth for one person might not be truth for another? Does that mean truth is not absolute?
2. What sorts of "walls" do people hide behind thus creating an illusion?
3. What is the significance of the title?

QUE SERA SERA
Written by “J. Livingston and R. Evans”
Performed by “Natalie Evans”

We're gathered here this evening to testify
And I want you to know the words for today is let go
(well) ha, I want you to let go
And I want you to just sit back
And relax and open you hearts, your mind and
Let it go, go, go, go, go
We'd like to tell you a story this evening
Haven't not so long, long, long ago
It's a story about you and me
This is how it goes
When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother what will I be
(ooh, will I be pretty) yeah (will I be rich)
Here's what she said to me
Que, sera, sera, whatever will be
Hee, hee, hee, hee
Ha, oh, oh, oh, because, because
The future is not for us to see, no
Que sera (que sera) que sera (que sera)
When I grew up and fell in love
I asked my lover, ooh, baby
Baby what will I be
What will I be
(will I have...)
Here's what my baby said to me
He said que sera, sera
I just wanna say that whatever will be
Que, que sera, oh, oh, oh, oh (sera) oh (sera)
Oh, hey, hey, whatever, whatever, whatever, whatever
Whatever will be, will be, surely be
All because the future is not for us to see
I know, I know, at least I hope that you know
The future is not for us to see
Que sera (que sera) que sera (que sera) Oh well

Questions for Discussion:

1. What is the significance of the statement, "Whatever will be will be"?
2. Would you want to know the future if you could? What would you want to know? To not know?
3. Do you believe there is such a thing as fate: that, regardless of what you do, certain things will happen at certain times?