Happiness is often short-lived.
We crave and pursue contentment, but we always want more once we get it. How do we deal with this innately human tendency?
In his song “All That’s Good” from his latest EP “The Nomad Frays”, James Ollier shows that we can derive happiness from appreciating and enjoying moments of happiness by holding on to those feelings instead of craving more.
Ollier starts his song with a light and simple guitar riff, but adds more and more percussive elements as the song goes on.
Ollier’s vocals stand out amongst the subdued instrumentals. His voice belongs in the skies with its piercing, haunting quality.
Down by the fire she sat,
and this is all that’s good,
with the grace of her allure,
was lost in the woods.
The first two lines of the song encapsulate the main theme of “All That’s Good”. Ollier describes sitting with his beloved by a fire. For him, this is enough. This is happiness, and all the good in his life can be felt in this moment of romance with his lover.
And the world, it was spinning so fast.
We revealed our hands
in these days of romance.
Take what we can.
Love has the power to swallow your sadness and sketch an entirely different picture of your world. Ollier dearly wants to enjoy the present because it gives him immense happiness. He implores us to “take what we can” because these moments dissipate quickly.
Many of us are too worried about the life span of our happiness to actually enjoy it.
And we run as far as we can.
I’ve never loved
this day as much.
“This day” further emphasizes the present, and how much joy Ollier takes in living it.
But Ollier may also be highlighting the intoxicating nature of love; it feels like the happiest moment in your life, when nothing can dampen your spirits. This heady rush of pleasure is transient though, another reason for Ollier to fully appreciate it.
Worries, I have none
and it all goes on.
Forget about the past, don’t worry about the future, and enjoy your present bliss. Ollier has no use for worries or anything else that comes in the way of his happiness. Why should he?
And we run as far as we can
through the surrounding fog
and the feeling of words,
and to try and try again,
just us alone.
Towards the end, though, we see a bit of anxiety about the future represented by the fog that surrounds him. His future with his lover is unclear, and that scares him a little.
I’ve never loved
this day as much.
But, he quickly returns to his contentment, realizing his worries about the future are futile. He takes stock of the present moment and basks in its goodness.
For James Ollier, the present moment is all that’s good.
