tin man

sometimes late when things are real
and people share the gift of gab between themselves
some are quick to take the bait
and catch the perfect prize that waits among the shelves
but oz never did give nothing to the tin man
that he didn't, didn't already have. . . . .
-america

ah, the familiar harmony of vocals and guitars by the group america. tin man. just one of their familiar songs. love its beautiful, though melancholic renditions of the guitars and drums. add to it the raw vocalizations. though until now, the meaning of this song still eludes me.
here's what i think about it: it's a song about believing in ourselves. sometimes when we are in the company of important persons or superiors (people share the gift of gab between themselves), we often find ourselves lost and confused, thinking that we should be this person or that (some are quick to take the bait ). we try so hard to impress others that we never find happiness in what we are doing. we forget to relax and take a breather all in the pursuit of our careers (catch the perfect prize). other times we become envious of them, we begin questioning ourselves. we begin to ask "why does he have everything?", "why can't i be him?".
all the while, we forget that we have other much more important possessions. like our families. our friends. and God. they are more important than anything else (but oz never did give nothing to the tin man that he didn't, didn't already have. . . . . ). we always look for other worldly possessions when in fact we already have what we need in life. what we have isn't always what we need. we must learn to accept what we are and what we have. and then let us build on them and later we will gain our greatest wealth.
how about you? are you a tin man?

(special thanks to the makers of the movie "wizards of oz" and to america for the image used, the wonderful song and the inspiration)