Riding the Certainty Train

Words and music by Christopher Kent

When I was young I thought I was pretty damn smart
I had no doubts about the things I knew
I only hung around with people who agreed with me
If someone came along and said I was wrong
I told him what he could go and do

Oh I was riding the certainty train
Riding the certainty train
No need to ask questions when the truth is so plain
And you’re riding the certainty train

I did some harsh things in the name of my truth
I knew my righteous ends would justify my means
I did not worry ‘bout collateral damage
Or any consequences that were unforeseen,
‘Cause I knew I was right!

Oh I was riding the certainty train
Riding the certainty train
If my actions made you suffer, I did not feel your pain
Cause I was riding the certainty train
Riding the certainty train
I could justify anything, no matter how insane
Cause I was riding the certainty train

Certainty made me blind—I only saw what I wanted to see
Certainty replaced my common sense and overruled my morality
In the end it did not matter whether I was right or wrong
Because certainty made me weak,
While it made me think it was making me strong…
I thought I was strong, but I was

Riding the certainty train
Riding the certainty train
I would never compromise without something to gain
Cause I was riding the certainty train
Riding the certainty train
No need to check my facts, no need to explain,
The world was changing, but my certainty remained
Thank God I woke up before it shut down my brain
And I stopped riding the certainty train

Copyright 2016 by Christopher Kent. All rights reserved.

 

——————–

Stop learning

No flexibility

Poor choices

Judgmental

Can’t sway others

Undercuts problem solving

Makes you fearful and angry

Allows justifying abuse

Ignores consequences

Resists change

Makes you easy to fool

 

I knew I had all the answers

Me and my friends, we had it all figured out

I didn’t want to hear from fools who disagreed

I didn’t want to hear all their questions and doubt

 

I liked the people who agreed with me

I thought that everything was black and white

I knew the truth I saw was here to stay

If you’re not with me, then get out of my way

 

Yes I was riding the certainty train

Riding the certainty train

I could justify my actions, no matter how insane

‘Cause I was riding the certainty train

 

Well we can rise above the flaws of human nature

A path is not so hard to find

But if you want to get to where you’re going

You’d better learn to keep an open mind

 

Anyone who disagrees, I treat them with disdain

I was quick to judge others and treat them with disdain

Cause I was riding the certainty train

 

Could be someone advising me, or me reminiscing.

(He said, you’re riding the certainty train)

 

Now there are some things you learn from your parents

Some things you learn from being lost and then found

I liked to be in a position of strength

So I made up my mind and then I held my ground

 

Well, I lost some friends who didn’t see things my way

But lots of politicians got my vote

I didn’t care if they were crooked or crazy

They said they agreed with me, and that’s all she wrote

 

I was right and they were wrong, there was no in-between