song for theme #2B: I Know What's Best for You

                                                         “She Knows Best” by Stephen P. Cook

to be sung to the tune of “The Streets of Laredo” a traditional American cowboy ballad

As I walk down

The streets of Socorro¹

And around the track

In Socorro today

Nearby a poor woman

Carries much baggage²

And a chip on her shoulder³

That won’t go away

Hear this, she tells me:

I know what’s best

The best for you

As we journey through life

She’s smarter, works harder

Hard-headed, not soft spoken

My way or the highway

Says this woman my wife

Respect me, I beg her

Please don’t devalue

My experience, my wisdom

My asking why

With mighty miss full bright⁴

I’m not even half right

Helpful words I welcome

To disdain say goodbye⁵

She’s not a bad person

I fear I still love her

Love that is reckless

Unwise it must die

Please mighty miss full bright

Just run your own life

I’ll resume running mine

With a painful goodbye

SONG—NOTES / COMMENTS     (this song is part of the author’s personal story)

1—This refers to Socorro, New Mexico. This is an autobiographical song relating to the 2012—2013 period in the author’s life.

     He came up with many song lyrics while running around the track there at Clarke Field.

2—According to the Wikipedia entry for “emotional baggage”: “As a metaphorical image, it is that of carrying all the

     disappointments, wrongs, and trauma of the past around with one in a heavy load.”

3—According to the Wikipedia entry for “chip on shoulder,” this refers to holding a grudge or grievance that readily provokes

     disputation.

4—Reportedly when USA President Lyndon B. Johnson didn’t like the position of the distinguished senator from Arkansas, and

     frequent critic of administration Vietnam War policy, William J. Fulbright, Johnson would refer to the senator as “half bright.”

     In another context, the senator’s name became connected with academic foreign exchanges and “Fulbright Scholars.” 

5—Sometimes other people who seem to feel “I know what’s best for you!” really do have your best interests in mind and are

      honestly trying to help you.  But given the real world of aggressive sales people, hidden persuaders, and everyone seemingly

      looking out for his or her own self-interest, it could be that those helpful, other-oriented folks freely offering their advice are in

      the minority compared to the more obnoxious ones. If one of them gives you an unsolicited phone call, you can simply hang

      up. Generalizing this strategy, seems that simply getting away from such folks is a good plan! 

Comment: this theme can have value as emotional armor. From an emotionally immature “the best defense is a good offense” perspective, people who have doubts about their own beliefs and the path in life they’ve chosen can deflect others from probing this shaky foundation by being strong advocates. And wanting to take charge and steer someone else in a particular direction can help overcome feelings of being powerless in changing the reality of their own life. More emotionally positive: if you’re a parent—or more generally someone who takes a genuine abiding interest in helping someone you care about—taking a tough love approach (see theme #39A) can ultimately be rewarding. Of course accepting the challenge to help your child or someone else, and embracing “I know what’s best for you,” can also fail miserably and cause pain.