Help me think of other songs like "Watching the Wheels"

January 4, 2015 4:44 PM

John Lennon's "Watching the Wheels" has a great message about just being yourself, and not listening to others' expectations. Can you think of more songs about stepping out of the rat race? Old, new, and in other genres?

I'm curious about songs about getting over ambition, or learning how to decide for yourself what you want out of life. Growing up, I guess?

This seems like a sentiment that might be more common but I really can't think of similar examples. I was thinking that "Ben's my Friend" by Sun Kil Moon is an example of another member of the set I'm imagining, even though it's a little more melancholy.

Can you think of similar great songs?

Any genre accepted, and I'm especially curious to hear about rap songs that fit.

posted by mmc to Media & Arts (24 answers total)

Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall.
posted by tomboko at 4:51 PM on January 4, 2015

Fiona Apple - Waltz
posted by Lanark at 4:57 PM on January 4, 2015 [1 favorite]

Garden Party-Ricky Nelson
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 5:01 PM on January 4, 2015 [5 favorites]

If 6 was 9, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:22 PM on January 4, 2015

All You Need Is Love takes that on pretty well.
posted by j_curiouser at 5:24 PM on January 4, 2015

Robyn Hitchcock's "Ride"
posted by johngoren at 5:56 PM on January 4, 2015 [2 favorites]

Nico and Vinz, Am I Wrong
posted by shw at 6:04 PM on January 4, 2015

Beth Orton - Conceived
posted by Majorita at 6:05 PM on January 4, 2015

Drive by Incubus, sort of? The Distance by Cake.
posted by getawaysticks at 6:21 PM on January 4, 2015

This one is a little activist-y but Ani DiFranco did a musical back part for Utah Phillips' spoken word piece called Korea about how he had some realizations about his role in the Korean War and as a man and as an American with the lousy history of some parts of America. Worth listening to, even though it's long and rambly. Here are the words. I get chills when I listen to it. It ends like this: "I realized, right then," I said, "Brendan, right then, I knew that it was all wrong. That it all had to change. And that that change had to start with me."
posted by jessamyn at 6:50 PM on January 4, 2015 [2 favorites]

"The Straight Life", Bobby Goldsboro
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:54 PM on January 4, 2015

Dylan - My Back Pages
Dylan - Every Grain of Sand
Oasis - Who Feels Love
Oasis - Getting Older
Oasis - Solve My Mystery
posted by mrmarley at 6:58 PM on January 4, 2015

"Peace of Mind" from Boston's first album.
posted by 2N2222 at 7:13 PM on January 4, 2015

Minority - Green Day
I Don't Want To Be - Gavin DeGraw
The One And Only - Chesney Hawkes
posted by SisterHavana at 7:24 PM on January 4, 2015

Ray LaMontagne's "Beg Steal or Borrow"
posted by 2N2222 at 7:24 PM on January 4, 2015

Missy Higgins - Scar is all about not changing yourself to fit with what people think you should be.
posted by Athanassiel at 7:26 PM on January 4, 2015

Isn't Otis Redding's Sitting on the Dock of the Bay the ur-song in this genre?

I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I'll remain the same, listen

posted by elmer benson at 7:29 PM on January 4, 2015

Make the Money - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
posted by mogget at 7:53 PM on January 4, 2015 [1 favorite]

Old Man Luedecke - Baby We'd Be Rich (I prefer the cuss version, but your mileage may vary)
posted by Tara-dactyl at 2:33 AM on January 5, 2015

Katy Musgraves - Follow your arrow
posted by krisb1701d at 5:47 AM on January 5, 2015

Snow Patrol - This Isn't Everything You Are
Vienna Teng - Level Up
posted by jbickers at 5:51 AM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

Aesop Rock - No Regrets
posted by Gortuk at 8:03 AM on January 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

"That Old Pair of Jeans," Fatboy Slim
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:21 AM on January 5, 2015

"My Way", by Frank Sinatra (see also the Sex Pistols' cover).
posted by akk2014 at 8:54 AM on January 5, 2015