All you need
In the Western world it is seen as a privilege to experience joy. The idea rests on the thought that there is only so much to go around, and also that it is situational. The truth is that you can find joy even in the bleakest moments of your life- it is boundless.
The same is true of wholesomeness, which exists in contrast to cynicism. Nowadays, cynicism is a way of seeming smart. I like it as much as the next person- like eating sugar it’s delicious until it isn’t. I am not sure I am all that clever anyway.
Really, I am more interested in joy- specifically how to bring joy to others. I really feel there is nothing more important. Sincerity is alright you know.
Listen, I am about to talk about the Beatles. If you can’t handle it that’s OK. I know lots of people will read that and want to die, I’m not sure why. In the same way that people don’t seem to appreciate pigeons, saying that you don’t like the Beatles is almost a trope.
I mean it’s fine if you don’t. Why should you. But pigeons are really beautiful you know, they have iridescent feathers! Like holograms. They can also recognise themselves in mirrors which is pretty impressive if you ask me.
How did the Beatles make so many people happy? Part of me wants to think that it was Paul McCartney’s relationship with his dad- they loved each other so much. But if you read the comments under any Buddy Holly song on Youtube, it’s the same. Don't you automatically smile when you hear this? It's beautiful.
1950’s America and the music that came over here, full of freedom and fun. The post-war regeneration in Liverpool, I mean we can try and turn it into a mathematical equation but it doesn’t work that way. Really it just comes down to the joy to be found in music, and in making.
It would be easy to say that the world has become more complex since then but I’m really not sure it has. Has it? Perhaps we are just addicted to complexity.
With all this in mind a few weeks ago I decided to walk from my house in East London to Paul McCartney’s house in St John’s Wood. It’s a ten mile walk but I just wanted to get there. I wanted to physically move towards wholesomeness.
And I wanted to write about that today, about how I moved through London across marshes and through poor areas and right into the rich bit, how I got to his house and didn’t know what to do next. I thought the journey might hold some kind of answer, like any pilgrimage.
But when I sat down to write I wrote this, it’s a doodle and sort of silly, just like my walk. I wanted it to be a poem, an expression of desire, something... I did get some good blisters.
Really, it’s the songs that move me towards joy, wonder and hope. The poem is already written. I’m glad I did it though, kept moving. I’m glad I made it there and felt the distance. Simplicity is free, you know. And the funny thing is that joy is always available to us- it’s ours already. We just need people to point it out to us occasionally- so here you go.