“Hold the door, say “please”, say “thank you”/ Don’t steal, don’t cheat/ and don’t lie” (McGraw). These words come from a line in Tim McGraw’s song Humble and Kind written by Lori McKenna. It’s obvious that these are good values to live by, but do people in the world really live it? Is the world as honest and kind as it could be? Tim McGraw’s song is written in the format as a father giving advice to his children, but written for everyone to follow. As a father, McGraw speaks to his children about the problems he sees in culture but doesn’t want them to follow.
Tim McGraw touches on the most important issues with this time period, which makes this song a good representation of society today. If the advice is followed, what a great world this could be. One issue the world faces is that people don’t like other people who are different or have different views then them. There have been multiple hate crimes in the past few years. In November of 2015, terrorists attacked Paris, France in a series of coordinated attacks that left 130 people dead and many more injured (rtenews). On June 12 of this year, Omar Manteen went into a LGBT night club and started shooting everyone in sight.
He left 49 people dead and 53 people wounded (Ellis, et al). Not all issues are as severe as these, like in the case of politics. I’ve seen people post their political views on Facebook, and the post erupts with hateful comments. Political debates on T. V. turn from debating issues to bashing each other. It’s all because they can’t agree to disagree. There is a difference between debating and bashing. Tim McGraw sees these hateful things going on around the world. He wants the world to change their hearts.
In his own words, “Don’t hold a grudge or a chip and here’s why:/ Bitterness keeps you from flyin’/Always stay humble and ind” (McGraw). In today’s world there are so many things to choose from to take up time: sports, video games, amusement parks, Netflix, phones, shopping, etc. Elizabeth Anderson reports that the average person between the ages sixteen and twenty-four spend more than twenty-seven hours on the internet alone in one week (Anderson). Many people have been in situations where they are around family or friends, but don’t speak a word to each other because they are preoccupied with their phone or other electronic device. For me, this happens at lunch with my friends.
Sometimes we don’t talk to each other because we are so caught up in the new game on our phone or the latest facebook post. ‘Visit grandpa every chance that you can/It won’t be wasted time” (McGraw). I think that in this line of the song, Tim Mcgraw wants people to realize how much time they are wasting on electronics that they could be spending with other people. Life is short and no one knows which day will be their last. Here McGraw wants people to use the time they have to spend with people before it is too late. Especially the older people who have so much experience with life that young people could benefit from hearing about.
Additionally elderly people could always use some company. Unfortunately, many young people only think about themselves. Joel Stein wrote an article in Time Magazine that described the “Me generation”. In the article Joel gives many facts and statistics showing how this generation expects everything for nothing. One stunning study showed that 40% of millennials believed that regardless of performance, they should be promoted every two years (Stein). It’s easy to understand how people today think they deserve everything. They have grown accustomed to getting things quickly whenever they want it.
Today we have fast internet, fast food, email that can reach someone across the world in a matter of seconds, fast shipping for online purchases, and many other luxuries. It’s infuriating to me when I hear people get upset when their internet gets slightly slower than normal, yet | still catch myself acting the same way. “Don’t expect a free ride from no one” (McGraw). Tim McGraw had it right that people in this time period expect things without doing anything themselves. As a parent to his children, he wants them to not let themselves get caught up in selfishness, although he does want them to reach their dreams and be successful.
When the dreams you’re dreamin’ come to you/When the work you put in is realized/Let yourself feel the pride/But always stay humble and kind” (McGraw). One review points out that in this line of the song, the parent isn’t wishing their child success, but instead assumes they will. (Coyne) This is different than similar songs that wish their child success in life. I’ve heard many parents, including my own, tell their children that they can do anything in the world that they want to. Parents encourage their children to follow their dreams. They reassure them that they are capable of reaching their dreams.
Not only do parents expect success from young people, but other supportive adults expect success from youth as well. My middle school math teacher didn’t ever accept the excuse from students that they weren’t smart enough to do their homework. Before she left to another school, she wrote an encouraging, personal note to every student she taught. In her letter to me, she told me to remember her even while I’m enjoying my successes at a major university. It made me feel great that she expecting me to do good at a big university. She had complete faith in every student to be successful not only in her class, but in society as well.
This is but one example of adults assuming that youth will be successful. In response to Humble and Kind, one reviewer wrote that, the song “falls a bit flat for me” (Liz) She commented that there wasn’t a full enough sound to the song. That is one of the problems with the world today. Society has grown so accustomed to things like big, rich music and luxurious technology that they feel like they need impressive things. The simplicity of the song is what drives the message of the song home the most. Everything in McKenna’s lyrics are simple things that parents have always told their children.
This song is a reminder that to live a great life, sometimes the simple things matter the most. To some people, the words to this song don’t represent current times because everyone knows they need to be kind, honest, humble, respectful, etc. Some people think that it is too preachy to a world that already knows how to live the values in the words to the song. If the world knows how to live then why are there still problems with people treating others wrong? Why are there still shootings, bullying in schools, and selfish actions? Why is there still prejudice? Why do people still feel entitled to things?
This song represents this time period because there are still problems in the world today. Society needs to hear the words to this song because obviously, they haven’t gotten it right. Everyone should listen to these lyrics because of the message it shares. If we want society to change, it starts with ourselves going back to the basics of simply being kind to each other. Don’t feel entitled to things from others. Put down the technology for a while and just talk with people. If all the world listened and applied the words of the song Humble and Kind to themselves, the world would be a wonderful place to live in.
