Words matter, now more than ever.

Because now we can offload the writing of our words and be told what we are saying and how we are saying it.

And that is helpful and risky.

Because words count.

And there is weight behind them.

And often the meaning of words starts to decay and dissolve through use, overuse and misuse.

So when I combine a word or a phrase in my blogs or in my lyrics or even in my other work, I am looking for the meaning of the word. The history of the word.

I recognize that language continues to change and meanings shift, and I still want to know that what I’m thinking is what I’m saying.

Here’s the thing, simplifying our language and our metaphors and our symbolism doesn’t make life more simple and easy to understand. It stops the reaching for understanding.

The same familiar words mean the same familiar things.

They never did.

It’s why my songs mean different things to different people.

It’s why a casual remark can spark a tear or a laugh.

So words matter.

I try to choose carefully.