In 2009 I went on a couple of fun bus tour adventures that crossed the US. I remember a couple of friends I made along the way making fun at me always pointing my camera down at the ground. While most others seemed to be taking in the grandeur of the world rising up above us, I was pointing my direction downwards.

 

but oh the flowers

the butterflies

the rocks

the leaves

and all the other

wonderful small ones

hidden below our

line of

sight

 

 

And, of course, it was good to be reminded by my travel companions to look up sometimes. How could I miss the marble blue surface of Crater Lake, the tall Redwoods rising up around us in the Avenue of the Giants, the bubbling geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone National Park, to name just a few of the wonders.

 

 

At the end of last year a lot of storms came sweeping through our surrounds and it seemed like rainbow after rainbow filled the skies. I remember setting out on one morning run with friends and noticing stormy clouds in the distance. Being rather unfit after not running for a while, all my concentration had been looking down on the track, making sure I wasn’t tripping up on anything. Then, a couple of kilometres into the run, drops of rain started to fall, breaking my downward focus. I looked up and the most vivid double rainbow stretched across the electric grey, blue sky. So, yes, this song is about not missing out on those electric rainbows filling the sky, but also taking the time to sit with the smaller details when you get a chance.

 

If you only look down

You’re gonna miss the rainbows

If you only look up

You’re gonna miss the goin deep down

I’m gonna go deep down

Right down

If you only look in

You’re gonna miss the sunrise

If you only look back

You’re gonna miss the sunset goin down

I’m gonna go deep down

Right down

 

All this goin places is getting me dizzy

Like some tumbleweed I am restless

Rambling and prickly

With a gust of wind my bones break free

I rattle and roll on the open road

 

If you only look down

You’re gonna miss the rainbows

If you only look up

You’re gonna miss the goin deep down

I’m gonna go deep down

Right down

 

Down with the river, take me downstream

Where the wild rivers run free

Take my bones so deep

They rattle and roll

With the ancient stones

Tumble and fall

Til they reach the ocean shore