Good quote! Just wanted to say, I’m not so sure Jeffrey Lewis is “cool with just having fun and ignoring whatever intrusive thoughts come up,” as his persona is something like a Williamsburg Woody Allen (not to be overly reductive or anything!). I think he’s one of the worriers, but he’s a smart and well-read worrier, so he senses he’d be happier if he just gave into the drone– but he also realizes that just when you think you’ve found out what’s going to bring you peace, the guard at the door of that parable from Kafka is there to slam the door in your face. That’s life, right?

Anyway, I really like this song. Lewis is one of those guys who writes a few songs I really love but then fills up the rest of his album with songs I dislike or am indifferent to, making it tough to give him a p4k rating that shows how good I think he can be at his best.

“It’s easier said than done, and it’s not even easy to say.” Love it.

“Willing too is merely an experience,” one would like to say . . .It comes when it comes and I cannot bring it about.

Put another way…if we’re at the mercy of our physical wiring, our brain especially, wouldn’t it be in charge of our striving too?

I don’t know if Lewis is accounting for that. He sounds like he’s cool with just having fun and ignoring whatever intrusive thoughts come up.

Just yesterday I read this, a little more extreme view… http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/31/science/essay-more-than-good-intentions-holding-fast-to-faith-in-free-will.html

He’s saying the hooking-electrodes-up-to-people’s-heads research shows our thoughts basically just catch up to our actions, and then label “decision” on whatever happened.

Anyway, whether the above makes sense I’m glad to have the song. Free will’s a subject that has been on my mind.