Matisyahu, Tim McGraw, Drake, Michael Franti, singers from the musical Rent, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Rage Against the Machine, Queen, Luminaries, Black Eyed Peas, Craig Morgan, White Stripes, Aretha Franklin, Bo Diddley, Swedish House Mafia, Bob Dylan.
OK folks, these are music videos that can get you thinking about being an Odd Fellow. Some are tear jerkers, some are uplifting, some challenge you to see the world through others eyes, and some may tempt you into anger.
Yet I encourage you to watch or listen to them all, even if they aren’t the type of music you prefer–these are about growing and broadening your perspectives of other peoples music and views. Believe it or not, all these videos have common themes running through them. Can you identify them?
Matisyahu, “One Day”. Lyrics under “show more.”
“All my life I’ve been waiting for, I’ve been praying for, For the people to say, That we don’t wanna fight no more, There will be no more wars, And our children will play”
–Matisyahu
“One Day”
Tim McGraw sings about what it’s like to lose a best friend:
“My old friend, I recall
The times we had hanging on my wall
I wouldn’t trade them for gold
Cause they laugh and they cry me
Somehow sanctify me” — Tim McGraw
“My Old Friend”
Drake tells the story of his success and bringing his friends along the way:
“Started From the Bottom”
The hand is the heart of the message:
“Boom, boom, there’s a battle going on in this earth
Everyday, work, school, death and birth
There are 6 billion people on this earth
Can you tell me what every single life is worth?”
“Hey World”
“How do you measure a life of a woman or a man?
In truths that she learned,
or in times that he cried?
In bridges he burned,
or the way that she died?”– Rent, the musical
“Seasons of Love”
Willie and Merle sing about their friendship:
“I show up at your door, beat down and soakin wet
I know you will open up and let me waltz right in
My come whatever, unfair weather friend”
Yep, that’s Odd Fellowship!
“Unfair Weather Friend”
“He pulls his prayer book out of a sleepin’ bag
The preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
He’s waitin’ for the time when the last shall be first and the first shall be last…”
*This video may be difficult for some to watch. Be aware.
“Ghost of Tom Joad”
Queen’s movie was a hit this year:
“You’re My Best Friend”
Cheesy video, but the song has a good message:
“One love, One blood, and One Heart
One people, One World, and One God
We gotta come together united for one cause
Put ya hands up in the air for peace!”
“PEACE”
“It could be someone walking down the street
A stranger on a bus
A little kid on his way to school or any one of us
We all got a little superman ready to take a fly
And save a life ohh save a life
Take a look around and you’ll see ordinary angels” — Craig Morgan
“Ordinary Angels”
“One tribe, one time, one planet, one race
It’s all one blood, don’t care about your face
The color of your eye or the tone of your skin
Don’t care where you are, don’t care where you been…” — Black Eyed Peas
“One Tribe”
From the White Stripes:
“Fall is here, hear the yell
Back to school, ring the bell
Brand new shoes, walking blues
Climb the fence, books and pens
I can tell that we are gonna be friends…”
“We’re Going To Be Friends”
For all the Odd Sistahs out there…
“Respect”
“You can’t judge a fish by lookin’ in the pond
You can’t judge right from lookin’ at the wrong
You can’t judge one by lookin’ at the other
You can’t judge a book by lookin’ at the cover” –Bo Diddley
“You Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover”
“Who’s gonna save the world tonight?
Who’s gonna bring it back to life?
We’re gonna make it, you and I
We’re gonna save the world tonight”
“Save The World”
“I met one man who was wounded in love
I met another man who was wounded in hatred
And it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard
And it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.”– Bob Dylan
“A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall”
Scott Moye is author of the book “Think Like An Odd Fellow!, Wisdom and Self-Improvement in 21st Century Odd Fellowship.” He is an award-winning history educator and collector of Arkansas folklore. He 
grew up on a cotton, soybean, and rice farm and is currently a museum worker. Hobbies include: old house restoration, writing, amateur radio, Irish traditional music, archery, craft beer, old spooky movies, and street performance. He is a member of Marshall Lodge #1, in Marshall, Arkansas, and a founder of Heart In Hand Blog. He currently resides in Little Rock, Arkansas. He’s available for writing and editing gigs.
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