Out of context

When the excerpt or snippet misses the point.

Photo by me. Taken at an immersive Richard Serra sculpture exhibit.

I’m guilty of this and suspect that, on occasion, you are too. Looking for the easy answer. The one thing that will solve whatever thing I’m currently struggling with.

The one book, course, guru, podcast episode. The one movie, song, quote.

And baked into this desire is the tendency to take things at face value, to not look deeper, to not go back to the source material to understand the context. Social media (Instagram is my drug of choice) lends itself particularly well to sharing this type of content (I’m guilty of that too).

And yet, so much is missed when, in a rush or hoping for immediate relief, we quickly take in the single piece of information as is, whatever the format. When we don’t slow down and make the time to dig deeper, to understand where it came from and why the individual (writer, podcast host or guest, songwriter, filmmaker) was compelled to share it.

I liken this to our tendency to mis-hear song lyrics and then stick with them.

Take the “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John:

Misheard lyric:

"Hold me closer Tony Danza” (this one is so common, it made it on an episode of Friends, and yes, it was Phoebe)

Real lyric:

“Hold me closer tiny dancer"

Or “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”

Misheard lyric:

“After the Hollywood, down Inglewood
Huntin' the Holly back tow”

Original lyric:

“Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny-backed toad.” (I had to look this one up, never having heard for a horny-backed toad)

AND

Misheard lyric:

“And they'll take advantage of the fact you're in town
To set you on your feet again.”

Original Lyric:

“It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again.”

Until someone points it out, or you get tired of thinking you know what the song says and search for the lyrics, you’re singing it all wrong (this has happened to me). Beyond the embarrassment of being caught in the act and called out for it, there’s no real harm done.

But when it comes to pieces of meaningful poetry and snippets of essays and novels, and even podcast episodes, I think there is.