I Can See Clearly Now

Lying to yourself can get you through a lot, or at least make you laugh at the irony.

This song has always had a hypnotic effect on me, but never one that was probably intended by Johnny Nash when he wrote it back in 1972.

You’ll hear it in a diner, as part of a film trailer, during a particularly tender scene in The Wonder Years, or maybe ironically used during a slowed down massacre sequence on a war battlefield. It’s so optimistic and uplifting, it almost casts a shadow of contrast on reality.

“Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day“

Try listening and not thinking of someone who’s no longer living, but deserves to be.

Nancy Sinatra covered this song beautifully on her 2013 covers album “Shifting Gears,” and sings from the perspective of someone who was there in the “good old days.” I have no idea if things were actually easier then, but it’s nice to think so. I trust Nancy.

For me, when I hear this song, I try to put myself in the position of anyone who can truly relate. I’m happy for that person, and I’m glad that they’re out there enjoying some good fortune. But I’m not that guy. Any personal victory or moment of true alignment will have me playing “Dancing on my Own” or some Lana Del Rey. Some of us are just wired differently, and that’s ok.

I leave this song in my music collection so that, in the odd event that I’m in a sad place and it comes on shuffle, I won’t skip it. That whole thing about smiling while you’re sad or in pain to trick your body… look it up.

Challenge yourself to let it spin the next time you’re crying. Even if you’re gritting your teeth and trying to avoid a blink that would send tears streaming past your jaw, sing it:

“Look all around. There’s nothing but blue skies.
Look straight ahead. NOTHING but blue skies...”