A Troubled Soul

29 Dec 2023 · 3 min

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3:05

The video features a single narrator delivering a lyrical, spoken‑word piece titled “A Troubled Soul.” The speaker recounts meeting an elderly, fearful man on a train who worries about his remaining time and physical pain. The narrator repeatedly shares a comforting refrain attributed to a “wise man”: if worries crowd the mind, shift focus, lay doubts to rest, and smother heartache, acknowledging that some things are beyond control but one need not become a “troubled soul.” The refrain is echoed several times, serving as a therapeutic mantra. The interaction ends with the man thanking the narrator, feeling temporarily relieved. The piece closes with a final reminder that life is short and no one needs to carry the burden of constant worry. The tone is poetic, empathetic, and encouraging, aiming to soothe listeners and promote a mindset of letting go of unnecessary anxieties.

Chapters

A troubled soul was on the train. I saw him there in all his pain. His face was low, his body was faint. He said, "I'm old and full of fear. What if I don't live out the year?" I told him the words the wise man said. If there's worries in your head, think about something else instead. You got a load upon your chest, lay those doubts all to rest. If it aches inside your heart, smother them until they depart. There are things that you can't control, but you don't have to be a troubled soul. "Forget the worries," he exclaimed, "and disregard what's on my brain. I can't just ignore what's going on. Every day I'm wracked with pain. My belly aches, I grind my fangs." Again I told him what the wise man said, If there's worries in your head, think about something else instead. You got a load upon your chest, lay those doubts all to rest. If it aches inside your heart, smother them until they depart. There are things that you can't control, but you don't have to be a troubled soul. When we arrived at his stop, he thanked me for cheering him up. He forgot about all his woes for a while. To walk around with such unease, life's too short for this disease. There's no need for anyone to be a troubled soul. So if there's worries in your head, think about something else instead. You gotta load upon your chest, lay those doubts all to rest. If it aches inside your heart, smother them until they depart. There are things that you can't control, but you don't have to be a troubled soul. Thank you.