Live Like You Were Dying

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Good people are gone too soon, that’s what they always say. And they’re probably right. Perhaps it’s true, well, it’s true most of the time; good people are gone too soon. Lately I’ve been thinking about death. No, not my own, but people around me. People whom I used to know, or people whom I didn’t get to know. Thinking how and why I didn’t have the chance to know them better, yet it feels fascinating to be able to learn something from the memories of them. And some days ago, an unfortunate event happened. Someone passed away. Someone whom I only knew for a short time, yet she was so kind to me, a warm and lovely woman. The thing is, people will never know when death is coming. And not all of them can say goodbye properly. That’s just they way life is. Like a mid summer night’s dream, she just passed away like that. This post is dedicated for you, Ma’am, rest in peace. And may the living can keep growing strong.

“And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I’ve been denying. And he said, someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.” –Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dying

For my beloved Ma’am, today’s song is titled “Live Like You Were Dying”, performed by American country singer, Tim McGraw. The song was released on June 7th 2004 as the first single and title track from his eighth studio album of the same name. I first recognized this song when a fictional a cappella group, Tone Hangers, performed it during the riff-off scene on 2015 musical comedy film, “Pitch Perfect2”. The country song was written by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman.
"Live Like You Were Dying" single cover - source: en.wikipedia.org

Though Tim McGraw didn’t write the song himself, he particularly agreed to sing this song because it was lyrically associated with his father, Tug McGraw, who was hospitalized with a brain tumor and cancer before he died ten months later. It tells the story of a man in his early forties who gets the news that his father has an unspecified, life-threatening illness. His father’s message is to live life to the fullest and do things that he had always wanted to do. “He said I was in my early 40s with a lot of life before me, and a moment came that stopped me on a dime. I spent most of the next days looking at the x-rays, talking ‘bout the options and talking ‘bout sweet time. Asked him when it sank in, that this might really be the real end, how’s it hit you, when you get that kind of news, man what you do, and he says,” if only people knew that they were going to die soon, they might do what they always wanted the most. If only.
People who have been touched by the death always have some different perspectives about life. And whenever they touch other people, the perspectives are spreading too. Have you ever read Mitch Albom’s “Tuesdays with Morrie”? Well, you gotta read if you haven’t. Like Tim McGraw, Mitch Albom is a person who had been touched by people who had been touched by death. And it’s fascinating to see their point of view towards life. “He said I was finally the husband, that most the time I wasn’t, and I became a friend a friend would like to have. And all the sudden going fishing, wasn’t such an imposition, and I went three times that year I lost my dad. Well I finally read the good book and I took a good long hard look at what I’d do, if I could do it all again, and then,” realizing that death can come in anytime subconsciously makes people appreciate and cherish their life more than before.
The life of the departed ended when they were died. But someone’s death can be a beginning of someone else’s life. There’s nothing more precious human left behind in this world than their memories; meanings, that can give lessons toward other people around them. People whom they used to know. People whom they didn’t get the chance to know. People who only hear about their stories. My late Grandpa always told me to take the chance, to do what I want, to be brave, to keep growing strong. “I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing, I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fumanchu. And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I’ve been denying. And he said, someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.” And as I’m getting older I understand, every time we have in this life is a gift. Make the best out of it is the greatest way to be grateful. The deceased are already gone and done with this life, but the living are continue living. “Like tomorrow was a gift, and you’ve got eternity to think about what you do with it, what could you do with it, what can I do with with it, what would I do with it.”
Tim McGraw in "Live Like You Were Dying" music video

“Live Like You Were Dying” gained a commercial success, by reaching number one on the US Billboard country music charts and holding that position for a total of seven weeks. It was also named as the Number One country song of 2004 by Billboard. Hearing this song somehow gives me strength, to live like I were dying, to keep on living while growing strong. And once again, may the departed people rest in peace.

“Like tomorrow was a gift, and you’ve got eternity to think about what you do with it, what could you do with it, what can I do with with it, what would I do with it.” –Tim McGraw, Live Like You Were Dying



“He said I was in my early 40s with a lot of life before me, and a moment came that stopped me on a dime
I spent most of the next days looking at the x-rays, talking ‘bout the options and talking ‘bout sweet time
Asked him when it sank in, that this might really be the real end
How’s it hit you, when you get that kind of news, man what you do, and he says

I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing, I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fumanchu
And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I’ve been denying
And he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying

He said I was finally the husband, that most the time I wasn’t, and I became a friend a friend would like to have
And all the sudden going fishing, wasn’t such an imposition, and I went three times that year I lost my dad
Well I finally read the good book and I took a good long hard look at what I’d do
If I could do it all again, and then

Like tomorrow was a gift and you’ve got eternity to think about what you do with it
What could you do with it, what can I do with with it, what would I do with it

Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing, I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fumanchu
And I loved deeper, and I spoke sweeter, and I watched an eagle as it was flying
And he said someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying
To live like you were dying, to live like you were dying
To live like you were dying, to live like you were dying”

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