In this week’s “A Look at the Lyrics” we give you an inside view of the meaning behind “Peace of Mind” by Andy Oddo. Last week we gave you a first look at his new music video and we wanted to learn a little bit more about the song (which I love by the way), so we spoke with Andy and he opened up and shared his story with us to share with all of you.
“Peace of Mind” is a song of both self-reflection and looking towards the future. This song, along with most of the others from my EP ‘Forever And A Day’ were written around 2012. I had been playing in cover bands most of my music “career” and had finally reached a point where I wanted to focus my efforts on crafting original music that I could call my own. I had accumulated bits and pieces of songs over the years, but never really put in the time to turn them into a finished product. I was in a bit of a dark place at the time and it just seemed to be perfect timing to use those emotions to put together a batch of songs that reflected how I was feeling.
“Peace of Mind”, musically, is inspired by some of my favorite hard rock/alternative artists that like to dabble in darker, more emotional acoustic-driven songs from time-to-time. Alice in Chains being one of them, with songs like “Nutshell” and “No Excuses” coming to mind. I always appreciated heavier bands that could show off that softer side of themselves so adeptly, and I was inspired to give it a shot myself on a track like this one.
Lyrically, “Peace of Mind” can really be broken down into just two simple ideas. One is an admission that we don’t always know exactly where we’re going or how to get there, and that’s perfectly OK and human. Mistakes are made, we learn from them and they help to shape us into the eventual best version of ourselves. The second idea is that our time is fleeting and we should be always be putting our efforts into things that we can be the proudest of when we’re gone, whether that is your art, your relationships, your career, etc. The line “I need peace of mind that I’ll leave a legacy behind” isn’t really in regards to becoming famous, it is more just about leaving the Earth satisfied with how you’ve conducted yourself with others and what you’ve accomplished.
~Andy
“Far Behind”
I’ve been here far too many times
Just seem to toss and turn all night
How did it get this way, when’d things all turn so strange?
Must be good reason now for this changePush through the fear
Break the chains
Throw dark thoughts awayI need peace of mind
The way I live my life
Just need to know I’ve lived it right
I need peace of mind
That when I leave this life
I’ll leave a legacy behindNot sure just where I’m heading, there’s still a cloud of doubt
Some things will always take more time to figure out
Growing up you never think it’d be so hard
When you’re young you never think you’re wrong
Those days forever gonePush through the fear
Break the chains
Throw dark thoughts awayI need peace of mind
The way I live my life
Just need to know I’ve lived it right
I need peace of mind
That when I leave this life
I’ll leave a legacy behind
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~Photography by Amanda Baker