Song #3: It's my life by Bon Jovi

This song is an excellent example of the individualism and identity that transcendentalists believe in. Transcendentalists believe in leading a true life, meaning they make their own correct choices that is the best for everyone in every sense. Transcendentalists try to improve society, by being themselves and embracing their own beliefs. This song stresses the importance and desire to truly act while one can, and that each life has it's own unlimited potential to do whatever it desires. This song also gets across that the individual does not mind what others think of their actions, because in the end if the individual believes it is right, than that is all that matters. The song also emphasizes acting in the moment and taking the steps to get desired results. Henry David Thoreau said, "I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life." This quote puts into focus the point that this song is expressing-to take in life right now and make the most of it.


"It's My Life"

This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud

[Chorus:]
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life

This is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky
Got to make your own breaks

[Chorus:]
It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life

Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down

[Chorus:]
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive

[Chorus:]
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
'Cause it's my life!

Art Piece #2: Mountain Path by Carmen Beecher

This mountain path in the painting exemplifies the beliefs and way of living for transcendentalists because it gets across the solitary feeling of being on one's own path, with no hindrances or other unnecessary distractions that life brings. The beauty yet simplicity of the path in the painting relates to the mind set of the transcendentalist because the transcendentalist believes in living a life free of the luxuries that are really just distractions. Here in the painting, there are no judgments or luxuries, and a person can simply be there and be who they are. Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, "In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life." In this statement, Emerson says that in the woods or mountains, he feels that nothing in life can effect him. The woods are where one finds out what really matters, and can find solitude and peace.                      

Song #2: Mother Nature's Son by The Beatles

This Song describes a beautiful mountain scene with flowing waters and daisies. The transcendentalist loves nature and is connected and involved with nature. The idea of transcendentalism is simple and goes back to what is naturally correct, and nature has no comparisons or worldly dealings, so it is a perfect example of the mindset of transcendentalism. Mother Nature, as mentioned in the song, is not a real human being, which means she cannot become corrupt or never truly owned by anyone. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted with each other, who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood." The people who really see and appreciate nature, with almost a child like approach, are the ones who understand fully the things around them, and in the end, what life is all about.


            "Mother Nature's Son"

Born a poor young country boy--Mother Nature's son
All day long I'm sitting singing songs for everyone.

Sit beside a mountain stream--see her waters rise
Listen to the pretty sound of music as she flies.

Find me in my field of grass--Mother Nature's son
Swaying daisies sing a lazy song beneath the sun.

Mother Nature's son.

Art Piece #1: Red Haired Girl by Margaret Aycock

This painting of a girl in the woods exemplifies the meaning and beliefs of transcendentalism because transcendentalists believe in nature and doing what is naturally right. Transcendentalists believe that spending time in nature and coming to truly appreciate it and understand it is beneficial and can make someone a better person. Transcendentalism is also based on solitary and being yourself, and in this painting, the girl is alone in the woods and she is free to think and be herself. Transcendentalists also are not caught up in the world, and this girl looks like she is not wearing fancy clothes, but modest and simple clothing. In Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay, Nature, Emerson says "Nature never wears a mean appearance...In the woods, we return to reason and faith." This quote reflects the feelings of the painting and has the message that nature is so simple and innocent, just as transcendentalists want to be.  

Song #1: Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield

The song "Unwritten" by Natasha Beddingfield is a great song that is an example of the transcendentalism beliefs. It is a good example of the beliefs of transcendentalists because it encourages listeners to be themselves and embrace the power they have to "write their own story". In the song when it says "the pens in my hand, ending unplanned" and "no one else can feel it for you, only you can let it in..." are both great examples of the way that transcendentalists believe they have the power as an individual to be what they want so they can improve the world. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a founder of transcendentalism, said, "Imitation is suicide...absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world." These statements emphasize individuality, which is one of the key beliefs of transcendentalism. Individuality is a theme of "Unwritten", which is why it is a good example for this way of thinking.

"Unwritten"

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, yeah, yeah