The reason I have always liked Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream” so much is lyrics like these:

Yeah, runnin’ down a dream that never would come to me
Workin’ on a mystery, goin’ wherever it leads

Where I came from and how I grew up I knew early no opportunity was gonna come knocking. Nope, I was gonna have to chase that motherfucker overland, tranq dart it, zip tie its feet and hands and throw it in the trunk. And that’s exactly what I did.

All the people who weren’t tough from where I grew up are dead now. Funny, with how committed my dad and others were to telling me how weak and pitiful I was. Nearly all of those “tough” people are in cemeteries much too early now. How’d that work out, rat bastards? Looks like I got the last laugh there. And I’m honestly not bitter. I have a really great life. But it was real hard there for a while. So much harder than it shoulda been. Dancing on graves is the best expression of joy sometimes.

There’s something good waitin’ down this road
I’m pickin’ up whatever’s mine

Great line, “Pickin’ up whatever’s mine.” That’s what I had to do. Turns out I was pretty fuckin’ tough after all.