Now you know that this song is on the “that guy” album.

The More You Know

Thinking out loud about the quest for understanding - an activity so many take on while being so behind in understanding anything. It seems to be like looking for answers when you haven’t even posed a question to be answered or needing to find a reason when you really don’t know whether there has to be a reason. I’m probably talking about myself here. Pretty sure I am. Ah well.

And, as I do in so many songs, I end with my inevitable conclusion that the answers, the reasons are right here looking at me.

But, the greater point to this song is its music. I recently heard this incredible African community singing with a plethora of bamboo instruments banging out the powerful beat behind the choir of voices. I don’t have bamboo instruments so I improvised with the Gretsch Country Gentleman sponge damper feature. I like the beat and the melody of this - in some way, very simple - song.

E          E          B          B

E          E          B          B
B          B          E          E
A          A          E          E
B          B          E          E

High and low, seeking answers, or maybe just peace of mind
And I think I haven’t found it yet, my mind’s combobulated
I try to find the key to life, but I can’t even find the door
It could be that what I have is the answer but underrated. 

We barefoot trek to the Himalayan Temples and the Arizona desert, 
We search with our eyes wide open, but these are eyes that cannot see
What would the Dali Lama say? He’d smile and just walk away
He did not ignore us. That was his answer. Let it be.

Ab        C#m     A          B
E          C#m     F#        B
E          E          B          B
The more you know, Well… you don’t
The more you find, you less you see
Remember Mama said, “Let it be!”

The mind can only see what it wants to see. Nothing more!
You run away or you run towards, all while standing still
Everything and nothing gets in the way. Mountain or canyon, all the same
Making nothing out of something, as you will

The more you know, Well… you don’t
The more you find, the less you see
Mama was right to say, “Let it be!”

Looking for answers without questions, reasons for no reason
Something must be missing. Can’t be lost without travel
The more you seek, the less you want it
The more you have, the less you like it

You are both invisible and the center of my World
And, I like it this way, under sunny skies
All I need is to kiss my best friend
Every answer, every reason is there in her eyes.