In 2020 one of the first Journal Questions I answered was “A Quote to Live By“. Rather than a quote, I said there was a song that really encompassed my philosophy for the year.
I listened to that song often during the year, and it worked so well for me, I thought I would find a song that fits me and my outlook for 2021.
Coincidentally, it’s a song from a movie again (although this time I have yet to see the movie). The movie is The Greatest Showman, and the song is “This Is Me” performed by Keala Settle.
As I said last year, Listen to the music video, but make sure you read the words. What do you think of them as a quote to live by?
I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
‘Cause we don’t want your broken parts
I’ve learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one’ll love you as you are
But I won’t let them break me down to dust
I know that there’s a place for us
For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown ’em out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away ’cause today, I won’t let the shame sink in
We are bursting through the barricades
And reaching for the sun (we are warriors)
Yeah, that’s what we’ve become
Won’t let them break me down to dust
I know that there’s a place for us
For we are glorious
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown ’em out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
This is me
Oh-oh-oh-oh
And I know that I deserve your love
Oh-oh-oh-oh
‘Cause there’s nothing I’m not worthy of
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown ’em out
This is brave, this is bruised
This is who I’m meant to be, this is me
Look out ’cause here I come (look out ’cause here I come)
And I’m marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on)
I’m not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Whenever the world’s gone
Whenever the world’s gone
In the depths of my heart
Oh, oh, oh, this is me
January 6, 2021 at 11:36 pm
Great movie and song!
January 7, 2021 at 9:19 am
I’ve heard it’s a great movie. I look forward to watching it.
January 7, 2021 at 2:58 pm
You haven’t seen the movie? Don’t. Well… I loved the soundtrack, but the movie was meh. I studied PT Barnum when I was a teen, and the movie bore no resemblance to the man I researched. I was disappointed (and the movie was mostly nonsensical). At least, in my opinion. Others adored the movie.
As a song for the year, I think it’s great.
January 7, 2021 at 9:32 pm
That’s a really interesting take on the movie, Liz. I know very little about PT Barnum, but I will keep in mind not to believe everything shown by the movie. Jeckle wants to watch the movie (he likes the music too), so we’ll watch it together.
January 7, 2021 at 3:25 pm
Quite a quote to live by. Happy New Year!
January 7, 2021 at 9:32 pm
Thanks, John 🙂
January 8, 2021 at 1:47 am
Those are inspirational lyrics, and I think we can all relate to feeling bruised and yet marching on. I’ll have to think a bit about a song for the year. Something besides REM’s It’s the End of the World as We Know It, which I used to sing as (soft of) a joke in 2020.
January 9, 2021 at 3:16 pm
Haha, love that you used to sing that, Jenny. I hope that 2021 turns life around for us so you have no need of that song anymore.
January 8, 2021 at 5:01 am
I can see being inspired by this video.
January 9, 2021 at 3:18 pm
The first time I heard it was when Jeckle’s Spotify list played it. I had no idea of the song or where it was from but I loved it. Then I watched the video and that cemented it.