This Is Your Life (And Your Destiny's Calling)
by Joe Normal & The Anytown'rs
-
Streaming + DownloadIncludes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.Purchasable with gift card
$1 USD or more
-
Full Digital Discography
Get all 41 Joe Normal releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Just A Normal Day In Normaltown, (back catalog) TAKE ME BACK, (back catalog) AIN'T THIS A WONDERFUL LIFE, (back catalog) LIVING WITH ME (original demo 1999), a rock n roll ghost, (back catalog) RITA, (back catalog) SUCH STUPID PEOPLE, (back catalog) SAVE HER FOR ME, and 33 more.
Purchasable with gift card$69.74 USD or more (25% OFF)
about
The saying goes, "Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind – even if your voice shakes."
Well, when it comes to reaching for your destiny and striving for your dreams, don't let the nay-sayers get in your way. Always live your truth, be who you are, and get busy making that dream come true!
My grandfather and namesake Joseph "Dewey" McGrath was a bartender for 40+ years of his life, helping patrons from behind the counter, serving up drinks and uplifting the downhearted working people of our blue collar town.
A relative gave him an acoustic folk guitar a week or two before he died, so my grandmother gifted the guitar to my brother and I because we were the only musicians in the family. (I'd been desiring a guitar so badly for months before this, so I was relieved that Grandma gave it to us, and not one of the cousins, as it would help us to grieve the loss of my Pops and help with processing the death of our brother who got killed the year before).
Well, that guitar set me off on a destiny of my own, and I realized all these years later that I too had tended bar my entire working life... but from the OTHER SIDE of the counter, on the stages and from the corners of countless bars and nightclubs around the world uplifting patrons with a song, a laugh, a story, a tear, a hopeful message, and a good time.
I began writing this song with my grandfather in mind, and even the working title was "Bartender", but with the way songs come thru me, I never know what the lyrics, title, or message are going to be until they start to dribble out of my mouth, into the melody, and finally onto the page.
In the end the song wanted to be a fight anthem, a pounding, driving, marching, battle-cry to urge the listener to his feet and to FIGHT ON!
It was important to me that this song honor my Pops and his Irish roots in some way, so I decided to embellish this song with pennywhistle, bagpipes, and drums, which really gives it the rock / martial vibe I envisioned. Kind of a cross between The Who's "Join Together" and "Street Fighting Man" by The Rolling Stones... two of my all time favorite rock anthems.
Well, when it comes to reaching for your destiny and striving for your dreams, don't let the nay-sayers get in your way. Always live your truth, be who you are, and get busy making that dream come true!
My grandfather and namesake Joseph "Dewey" McGrath was a bartender for 40+ years of his life, helping patrons from behind the counter, serving up drinks and uplifting the downhearted working people of our blue collar town.
A relative gave him an acoustic folk guitar a week or two before he died, so my grandmother gifted the guitar to my brother and I because we were the only musicians in the family. (I'd been desiring a guitar so badly for months before this, so I was relieved that Grandma gave it to us, and not one of the cousins, as it would help us to grieve the loss of my Pops and help with processing the death of our brother who got killed the year before).
Well, that guitar set me off on a destiny of my own, and I realized all these years later that I too had tended bar my entire working life... but from the OTHER SIDE of the counter, on the stages and from the corners of countless bars and nightclubs around the world uplifting patrons with a song, a laugh, a story, a tear, a hopeful message, and a good time.
I began writing this song with my grandfather in mind, and even the working title was "Bartender", but with the way songs come thru me, I never know what the lyrics, title, or message are going to be until they start to dribble out of my mouth, into the melody, and finally onto the page.
In the end the song wanted to be a fight anthem, a pounding, driving, marching, battle-cry to urge the listener to his feet and to FIGHT ON!
It was important to me that this song honor my Pops and his Irish roots in some way, so I decided to embellish this song with pennywhistle, bagpipes, and drums, which really gives it the rock / martial vibe I envisioned. Kind of a cross between The Who's "Join Together" and "Street Fighting Man" by The Rolling Stones... two of my all time favorite rock anthems.
lyrics
Difference of opinion, Hate and opposition,
Doesn't make much sense to me.
But too much indecision, and you'll
Lose sight of your vision,
You got to proceed carefully.
Ya gotta suck it up, you got to stick it out
Ya gotta let your story unfold,
Ya gotta toughen up, you got to shout it aloud
That you'll never surrender control
Cos, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Yeah, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Well if you want to make it, Sometimes you got to fake it,
But never give up on your song
No matter what is happenin,'
You got to keep on laughin'
You got to show the world that you're strong
Ya gotta toughen up, ya gotta speak your truth,
ya gotta never let them get you down
It's gonna piss them off, yeah, but don't it feel good,
To know that you have stood your ground?
Cos, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Yeah, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Don't Give Up Yet, because your story ain't over,
Don't give up Hope, cos you're a little bit older,
You gotta stay strong, Hold on a little bit longer,
Cos when it's your life, you gotta answer the call!
This is your life, and destiny's calling!
Cos, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
CAN'T YA HEAR IT!?
Ya gotta suck it up, you got to stick it out
Ya gotta let your story unfold,
Ya gotta toughen up, you got to shout it aloud
That you'll never surrender your soul.
Cos, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Yeah, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
("Oh Danny Boy, the pipes are calling!")
Doesn't make much sense to me.
But too much indecision, and you'll
Lose sight of your vision,
You got to proceed carefully.
Ya gotta suck it up, you got to stick it out
Ya gotta let your story unfold,
Ya gotta toughen up, you got to shout it aloud
That you'll never surrender control
Cos, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Yeah, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Well if you want to make it, Sometimes you got to fake it,
But never give up on your song
No matter what is happenin,'
You got to keep on laughin'
You got to show the world that you're strong
Ya gotta toughen up, ya gotta speak your truth,
ya gotta never let them get you down
It's gonna piss them off, yeah, but don't it feel good,
To know that you have stood your ground?
Cos, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Yeah, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Don't Give Up Yet, because your story ain't over,
Don't give up Hope, cos you're a little bit older,
You gotta stay strong, Hold on a little bit longer,
Cos when it's your life, you gotta answer the call!
This is your life, and destiny's calling!
Cos, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
CAN'T YA HEAR IT!?
Ya gotta suck it up, you got to stick it out
Ya gotta let your story unfold,
Ya gotta toughen up, you got to shout it aloud
That you'll never surrender your soul.
Cos, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
Yeah, This is your life, and your destiny's calling!
("Oh Danny Boy, the pipes are calling!")
credits
released February 8, 2022
Written and Produced by Joe Normal
Joe Normal: Vocals, Guitars, Bagpipe, Pennywhistle
Tony Snow: Drums
Tony Babylon: Bass
Recorded by Billy Burke at Montecito Music & Media
Photo by Puupsik Prods.
Written and Produced by Joe Normal
Joe Normal: Vocals, Guitars, Bagpipe, Pennywhistle
Tony Snow: Drums
Tony Babylon: Bass
Recorded by Billy Burke at Montecito Music & Media
Photo by Puupsik Prods.
license
all rights reserved
tags
about
Joe Normal Los Angeles, California
VIDEO: youtu.be/h9Lrwxh2lxc
Joe Normal® is a founding member of 80's Sunset Strip glam-
pop legends The Zeros. He's a co-writer on Sammy Hagar’s “Not 4 Sale” LP, and even recorded with punk icon Stiv Bators.
Compared to Cleaners From Venus, Paul Westerberg, and Jesse Malin, Joe Normal is an "Authentic underground storyteller with a Glam Rock heart." -Aquarian (NJ)
FOLLOW ME
... more
discography
-
Apr 2024 -
Mar 2024 -
Feb 2024 -
Mar 2023
contact / help
Joe Normal recommends:
-
I saw Alvvays open for CourtneyBarnett 2016 'n checked out this album that week on Spotify, made me a fan for life. They make brilliant records if you ask me. Great vocals, songs, guitar parts.
go to album -
The original release without the last two tracks. Sloan is hecka-talented, I'd say he's the next Paul McCartney. I'm grateful to find a young artist/producer so inspiring, good natured, and melodic.
go to album -
Christmassy Music
by The Light Music CompanyIf Dayglow's the youthful side of my inspiration, Martin Newell's the older hero that pushes me on, to stay prolific 'n that 'every dog has his day.' I wish him good health, abundance, and much love.
go to album
If you like This Is Your Life (And Your Destiny's Calling), you may also like:
-
Echo Dancing
by Alejandro EscovedoThe legendary Alejandro Escovedo returns with another country-rock scorcher.
go to album -
Disheveled Cuss
by Disheveled CussBig, brawny, hooky songs with 20-ton riffs and choruses as sweet as candy make this one of the month’s strongest rock albums.
go to album -
Serrated alt-rock from this Washington group hits the perfect combo of big riffs and bigger hooks.
go to album
