What Really Matters

American ballad, African choral group, acoustic guitars, male solo voice, instrumental intro

V3.5

[Instrumental intro]

[1]

Many may wonder,
And some may not,
What really matters
In this life we've got?
Is it the money,
Or something more?
What makes us happy,
What joy restores?

[2, solo voice]

Some are aware how time moves on,
While others ignore where the hours have gone.
They only care for what they own,
Though wealth won’t last—it’s just on loan.
For summer fades and winter comes,
Not by our will, but just because.
And riches vanish like streams run dry,
Or fade as fast as a blink of the eye.

[Interlude]

[3]

To me, each day is a gift of the space,
Each golden sunrise, a warm embrace.
Each flower blooming at dawn’s first light,
As darkness fades into morning bright.
The sight of the sea, its endless motion,
Waves and winds in perfect devotion.
Each fleeting moment, shining and rare,
A memory left for the soul to bear.

[4]

As I sit on a bench and watch the horizon,
A wealthy man greets me, proud and decisive.
He looks at me closely, then loudly inquires,
"Are you alone or lost in desires?
I drive a fine car, I wear the best suit,
I sit in an office, not on some old wood!
You should have more, let others see,
That wealth and success define who we be!"

[Interlude]

[5]

I smile at him, so calm, so light,
For I see a shadow, lost in the night.
He owns so much, yet none of his own,
Not even himself—his soul unknown.
For all must stand before the divine,
Some blind with dreams, some lost in time.
And those like him, when all is through,
May fade into void, with nothing in view.

[6]

Still, I sit where I’ve always been,
Thinking of sunshine and skies so serene.
My loving wife, my children’s laughter,
A peaceful life, the joys that matter.
My faithful cat, so simple and true,
Who gives me love without a clue.
In God’s own order, silent yet grand,
Worth far more than gold in hand.

[Interlude]

[7, choral]

So let them ask,
If they so choose,
What truly matters,
What’s ours to lose?
Is it the money,
Or something more?
What makes us happy,
What joy restores?

[End]

2165/7500

[Original lyrics by A. Berkuljan © 2024, iteration in English of the original Balkan ballad "Što je bitno?". Dedicated to my SUNO friend "Thousand Tomorrows"] [Instrumental intro] [1] Many may wonder, And some may not, What really matters In this life we've got? Is it the money, Or something more? What makes us happy, What joy restores? [2, solo voice] Some are aware how time moves on, While others ignore where the hours have gone. They only care for what they own, Though wealth won’t last—it’s just on loan. For summer fades and winter comes, Not by our will, but just because. And riches vanish like streams run dry, Or fade as fast as a blink of the eye. [Interlude] [3] To me, each day is a gift of the space, Each golden sunrise, a warm embrace. Each flower blooming at dawn’s first light, As darkness fades into morning bright. The sight of the sea, its endless motion, Waves and winds in perfect devotion. Each fleeting moment, shining and rare, A memory left for the soul to bear. [4] As I sit on a bench and watch the horizon, A wealthy man greets me, proud and decisive. He looks at me closely, then loudly inquires, "Are you alone or lost in desires? I drive a fine car, I wear the best suit, I sit in an office, not on some old wood! You should have more, let others see, That wealth and success define who we be!" [Interlude] [5] I smile at him, so calm, so light, For I see a shadow, lost in the night. He owns so much, yet none of his own, Not even himself—his soul unknown. For all must stand before the divine, Some blind with dreams, some lost in time. And those like him, when all is through, May fade into void, with nothing in view. [6] Still, I sit where I’ve always been, Thinking of sunshine and skies so serene. My loving wife, my children’s laughter, A peaceful life, the joys that matter. My faithful cat, so simple and true, Who gives me love without a clue. In God’s own order, silent yet grand, Worth far more than gold in hand. [Interlude] [7, choral] So let them ask, If they so choose, What truly matters, What’s ours to lose? Is it the money, Or something more? What makes us happy, What joy restores? [End]

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