Carpe DiemCarpe Diem

Evan MinteerEvan Minteer

ThesisThesis

In both the song “Live Like You Were In both the song “Live Like You Were Dying” and the poem “Life is fine”, the Dying” and the poem “Life is fine”, the composer describes a story of composer describes a story of overcoming great a great challenge and overcoming great a great challenge and facing it head on with a positive facing it head on with a positive mentality, whether it be overcoming mentality, whether it be overcoming cancer as in McGraw’s song or cancer as in McGraw’s song or overcoming social obstacles, such as in overcoming social obstacles, such as in Hughes's life which he portrays through Hughes's life which he portrays through his poems.his poems.

Live Like You Were Live Like You Were DyingDying He said: "I was in my early forties,He said: "I was in my early forties,

"With a lot of life before me,"With a lot of life before me,"An' a moment came that stopped me on a dime."An' a moment came that stopped me on a dime."I spent most of the next days,"I spent most of the next days,"Looking at the x-rays,"Looking at the x-rays,"An' talking 'bout the options an' talkin’ ‘bout sweet "An' talking 'bout the options an' talkin’ ‘bout sweet time."time."I asked him when it sank in,I asked him when it sank in,That this might really be the real end?That this might really be the real end?How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?Man whatcha do? Man whatcha do? 

An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,climbing,"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu "I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.Man Chu."And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying.""And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,"To live like you were dyin'." "To live like you were dyin'." 

He said "I was finally the husband,He said "I was finally the husband,"That most the time I wasn’t."That most the time I wasn’t."An' I became a friend a friend would like to have."An' I became a friend a friend would like to have."And all of a sudden goin' fishin’,"And all of a sudden goin' fishin’,"Wasn’t such an imposition,"Wasn’t such an imposition,"And I went three times that year I lost my Dad."And I went three times that year I lost my Dad."Well, I finally read the Good Book,"Well, I finally read the Good Book,"And I took a good long hard look,"And I took a good long hard look,"At what I'd do if I could do it all again,"At what I'd do if I could do it all again,"And then: "And then: 

"I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,"I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu "I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.Man Chu."And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying.""And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,"To live like you were dyin'." "To live like you were dyin'." 

Like tomorrow was a gift,Like tomorrow was a gift,And you got eternity,And you got eternity,To think about what you’d do with it.To think about what you’d do with it.An' what did you do with it?An' what did you do with it?An' what can I do with it?An' what can I do with it?An' what would I do with it? An' what would I do with it? 

"Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,"Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu "I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.Man Chu."And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,"And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,"And I watched Blue Eagle as it was flyin'.""And I watched Blue Eagle as it was flyin'."An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,"To live like you were dyin'." "To live like you were dyin'." 

"To live like you were dyin'.""To live like you were dyin'.""To live like you were dyin'.""To live like you were dyin'.""To live like you were dyin'.""To live like you were dyin'.""To live like you were dyin'." "To live like you were dyin'." 

Life Is FineLife Is Fine

I went down to the river,I went down to the river,I set down on the bank.I set down on the bank.I tried to think but couldn't,I tried to think but couldn't,So I jumped in and sank.So I jumped in and sank.

I came up once and hollered!I came up once and hollered!I came up twice and cried!I came up twice and cried!If that water hadn't a-been so coldIf that water hadn't a-been so coldI might've sunk and died.I might've sunk and died.

          But it was      Cold in that water!      It was cold!But it was      Cold in that water!      It was cold!

I took the elevatorI took the elevatorSixteen floors above the ground.Sixteen floors above the ground.I thought about my babyI thought about my babyAnd thought I would jump down.And thought I would jump down.

I stood there and I hollered!I stood there and I hollered!I stood there and I cried!I stood there and I cried!If it hadn't a-been so highIf it hadn't a-been so highI might've jumped and died.I might've jumped and died.

          But it was      High up there!      It was high!But it was      High up there!      It was high!

So since I'm still here livin',So since I'm still here livin',I guess I will live on.I guess I will live on.I could've died for love--I could've died for love--But for livin' I was bornBut for livin' I was born

Though you may hear me holler,Though you may hear me holler,And you may see me cry--And you may see me cry--I'll be dogged, sweet baby,I'll be dogged, sweet baby,If you gonna see me die.If you gonna see me die.

          Life is fine!      Fine as wine!      Life is fine!Life is fine!      Fine as wine!      Life is fine!

Literary DevicesLiterary Devices

McGrawMcGraw– Shifting ToneShifting Tone– RepetitionRepetition– Simile Simile – MoodMood

HughesHughes– RepetitionRepetition– RefrainRefrain– Shifting ToneShifting Tone– MoodMood

Tim McGrawTim McGraw

Born May 1, 1967 in Delhi, Louisiana. The son of Betty Smith and Tug Born May 1, 1967 in Delhi, Louisiana. The son of Betty Smith and Tug McGraw, Tim grew up thinking he was the son of Horace Smith, a McGraw, Tim grew up thinking he was the son of Horace Smith, a trucker. When his mother divorced Smith when Tim was 9, Tim opened trucker. When his mother divorced Smith when Tim was 9, Tim opened a box which contained his birth certificate when he and his mother a box which contained his birth certificate when he and his mother were moving to Richland Parish. His father’s name was scribbled out, were moving to Richland Parish. His father’s name was scribbled out, but his father’s occupation stated “baseball player.” His mother but his father’s occupation stated “baseball player.” His mother eventually confessed that she had a brief romance with Tug McGraw, eventually confessed that she had a brief romance with Tug McGraw, who was a minor league pitcher at the time. Tug eventually became who was a minor league pitcher at the time. Tug eventually became famous with the Mets and Phillies, yet refused to keep a close famous with the Mets and Phillies, yet refused to keep a close relationship with Tim. Tim was initially angry, but eventually got over relationship with Tim. Tim was initially angry, but eventually got over his anger and forgave his father. Although raised in Louisiana, Tim his anger and forgave his father. Although raised in Louisiana, Tim spent much of his time on the road with his father, where he spent much of his time on the road with his father, where he developed his taste for country music. After a brief stint in college, developed his taste for country music. After a brief stint in college, McGraw decided to test his musical abilities and move to Nashville, to McGraw decided to test his musical abilities and move to Nashville, to see if he could make a name for himself in the music industry. McGraw see if he could make a name for himself in the music industry. McGraw has since become one of the most recognized country singers of his has since become one of the most recognized country singers of his generation, winning multiple CMA’s for his different albums and songs. generation, winning multiple CMA’s for his different albums and songs. McGraw dedicated the song to his father, Tug McGraw, who had died McGraw dedicated the song to his father, Tug McGraw, who had died from a brain tumor earlier in the year. The affect the song has on the from a brain tumor earlier in the year. The affect the song has on the listener is a feeling of gratefulness, that one should be thankful for life listener is a feeling of gratefulness, that one should be thankful for life itself, and that everyone should “seize the day” and make the most itself, and that everyone should “seize the day” and make the most out of life. out of life.

Langston HughesLangston Hughes

Born February 1st, 1902 in Joplin Missouri. After he Born February 1st, 1902 in Joplin Missouri. After he published his first poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” he published his first poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” he attended Columbia University, but left after one year to attended Columbia University, but left after one year to work on a freight ship, travelling to Africa, Paris and Rome work on a freight ship, travelling to Africa, Paris and Rome supporting himself all the while with odd jobs. When his supporting himself all the while with odd jobs. When his poetry began to grow popular, he attended Lincoln poetry began to grow popular, he attended Lincoln University, where he published his first book of poems University, where he published his first book of poems The The Weary BluesWeary Blues, which launched his writing career. Hughes was , which launched his writing career. Hughes was also one of the founders of the Harlem Renaissance, and his also one of the founders of the Harlem Renaissance, and his writing style can be seen in many other famous African writing style can be seen in many other famous African American poems, stories, plays and music. Hughes died on American poems, stories, plays and music. Hughes died on May 22, 1967. The poem May 22, 1967. The poem Life is FineLife is Fine is about how his life is about how his life was bad, but he wanted to continue living, reflecting many was bad, but he wanted to continue living, reflecting many troubles that he experienced because of segregation. The troubles that he experienced because of segregation. The effect on the reader is also one of gratefulness, and that no effect on the reader is also one of gratefulness, and that no matter what life puts in your way, one should still be happy matter what life puts in your way, one should still be happy and make the most out of life. and make the most out of life.

ComparisonComparison

Both of the poem and the song display a theme of Both of the poem and the song display a theme of carpe diem, and that one should make the most out of carpe diem, and that one should make the most out of life. However, I believe that the song life. However, I believe that the song Live Like You Live Like You Were Dying Were Dying conveys this message the best, because conveys this message the best, because McGraw, the artist, actually had a great motivation for McGraw, the artist, actually had a great motivation for writing the song with his father passing away. In the writing the song with his father passing away. In the song, McGraw uses vivid imagery such as bull riding song, McGraw uses vivid imagery such as bull riding and sky diving as a means to demonstrate how life and sky diving as a means to demonstrate how life should be lived to the fullest. In the poem, should be lived to the fullest. In the poem, Life is FineLife is Fine, , Hughes also speaks of living his life to the fullest, yet Hughes also speaks of living his life to the fullest, yet at the same time he references more of overcoming at the same time he references more of overcoming the obstacle before seizing the day, where as in the the obstacle before seizing the day, where as in the song McGraw speaks more just of making the most song McGraw speaks more just of making the most out of life, and overcoming the obstacle that way. out of life, and overcoming the obstacle that way.

Work CitedWork Cited

WikipediaWikipedia