“Ants Marching” is such a deceptive song. Beneath its upbeat, cheery surface lies a sobering cautionary tale about the cost of life spent without engaging in meaningful activities.
We look at each other
Wondering what the other is thinking
But we never say a thing
These crimes between us grow deeperTake these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die
At the heart of it, this is about procrastinating. We procrastinate because that’s easy. We procrastinate because the important stuff are heavy and overwhelming. It’s easier to watch TV than to work on the novel you secretly were dreaming of writing. It’s easier to order pizza than to cook a great meal, even if you know the latter tastes better and is better for you. We procrastinate because we take tomorrow for granted. We take life for granted. None of these things are promised to us.
Well, fear isn’t the greatest reason to do many things, but its great motivating power can be used to help us here. You don’t want to “up and die” with all these dreams and ideas just mere thoughts in your head. They are only valuable when they are realized.