Living Momently

Jerry Simon 2011

"'stuff' in first verse is optional - I used to just sing 'having enough', but recently decided to add 'stuff' to make my meaning as clear as possible." Alex heard Simon sing it on a virtual sing in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and emailed to learn more. Simon, who lives in Sheffield UK wrote back "I'd love people to sing it! (But when you do, please could you credit me as the songwriter?). I entered Living Momently in a songwriting competition for The John Birmingham Cup, in 2011. The Final was held at Whitby Folk Week. Please note that I have slightly modified the words since then, and would prefer you to use the ones attached below."

https://soundcloud.com/raise-your-banners/living-momently-jerry-simon

Chorus:
I am ambling along the path of life
I don’t see any need to hurry
I don’t want to be weighed down by cares and strife
Don’t want to be ruled by worry
I’m only a common old working man
But my eyes can clearly see
If I go through this world all momently
This world all belongs to me

Mine is the sun that shines on the earth
Mine are the streams that flow
Mine is my breath that comes in and goes out
The sweetest friend that I know
I used to be scared of not having enough
So I’d race like a rat in a wheel
But now I’m content to just walk my own path
And live by what I think and feel

I like playing tunes and I like singing songs
And listening to others’ ones too
And often I grieve for the world and its wrongs
And try to find what’s best to do
But mostly I find that just being kind
Beats anything clever or grand
And that here now today is the best place to stay
And it’s better than I could have planned

So here is a day that’s not been here before
And never will be here again
And I don’t have a clue if I’ll see many more
Best make the most of it then!
Yes, everything ends, so singing with friends
Is a bloody good use of our time
As we lay aside strife to celebrate life
In tune, and in rhythm, and rhyme