Loyal Eduflack readers know that, from time to time, I like to write about the personal theme song. We all should have one, that ditty that inspires or that speaks to what makes you tick.
For Eduflack, that song has long been “Against the Grain,” by Garth Brooks (from his 1991 Ropin’ the Wind album). Not one of his more well-known songs, but one that describes Eduflack, my work, and my push to a tee.
If you can ignore the cheesy graphics, you can listen to the song here.
And here are those inspirational (at least to me) words:
“Folks call me a maverick
Guess I aint to diplomatic
I just never been the kind to go along
Just avoidin’ confrontation
For the sake of conformation
And I’ll admit I tend to sing a different song
But sometimes you just can’t be afraid to wear a different hat
If Columbus had complied
Then this old world might still be flat
Nothin’ ventured, nothin gained
sometimes you’ve got to go against the grain
Well’ I’ve been accused
Of makin’ my own rules
There must be rebel blood
Just a-runnin’ through my veins
But I aint no hypocrite
What you see is what you get
And that’s the only way I know to play the game.
Old Noah took much ridicule
For building his great ark
But for forty days and forty nights
He was lookin’ pretty smart
Sometimes it’s best to brave the wind and rain
By havin’ strength to go against the grain
Well, there’s more folks than a few
Who share my point of view
But they’re worried if they’re gonna sink or swim
They’d like to buck the system
But the deck is stacked against them
And they’re a little scared to go out on a limb
But if you’re gonna make a difference
If you’re gonna leave you’re mark
You can’t follow like a bunch of sheep
You got to listen to your heart
Go bustin’ in like old John Wayne
Sometimes you’ve got to go against the grain
Nothin ventured, nothin gained
Sometimes you’ve got to go against the grain.”
Guess I aint to diplomatic
I just never been the kind to go along
Just avoidin’ confrontation
For the sake of conformation
And I’ll admit I tend to sing a different song
But sometimes you just can’t be afraid to wear a different hat
If Columbus had complied
Then this old world might still be flat
Nothin’ ventured, nothin gained
sometimes you’ve got to go against the grain
Well’ I’ve been accused
Of makin’ my own rules
There must be rebel blood
Just a-runnin’ through my veins
But I aint no hypocrite
What you see is what you get
And that’s the only way I know to play the game.
Old Noah took much ridicule
For building his great ark
But for forty days and forty nights
He was lookin’ pretty smart
Sometimes it’s best to brave the wind and rain
By havin’ strength to go against the grain
Well, there’s more folks than a few
Who share my point of view
But they’re worried if they’re gonna sink or swim
They’d like to buck the system
But the deck is stacked against them
And they’re a little scared to go out on a limb
But if you’re gonna make a difference
If you’re gonna leave you’re mark
You can’t follow like a bunch of sheep
You got to listen to your heart
Go bustin’ in like old John Wayne
Sometimes you’ve got to go against the grain
Nothin ventured, nothin gained
Sometimes you’ve got to go against the grain.”
Eduflack By Patrick R. Riccards 