The Measure of a Life

Joan Fullerton is a talented artist and great friend of ours. We share common interests, and try to keep in touch as the years drift by. She paints in Denver, and sells her work on her website which you can visit at www.joanfullerton.com/‎

We don’t buy much art because our place is so small, there isn’t enough wall space. However, one day while looking through her site, we found a piece that really spoke to where we were at the time, and it was relatively small. We decided to buy it and made the necessary arrangements. The title: “Measuring a Life.”

We placed it at the heart of our beloved studio, hanging over the fireplace. Then, we took a photo to send to Joan. It was so inspiring to have it in our work space that our conversation generated a song soon after.

We began wondering about the different ways we gauge our own lives and contributions in this crazy world. It was great to relate to Joan in that special way and it cemented a relationship that will hopefully last a lifetime. After all, “relationship” is one of the important ways we have come measure our lives.

Lyrics

Hours, ounces
How do you measure a life
Inches, or in minutes
Tell me how do you know if your life counts or not

With so many ways you can calculate
What is the measure of a life
When there are so many ways you can estimate
What is the meaning of someone’s life

Day after day the clock ticks on
It gives us one more fleeting moment, but then it’s gone
Offering one more chance to try again
To finally figure it out
Just how to gauge a life

With so many ways to evaluate
What is the measure of a life
When there are so many views to deliberate
What is the meaning of someone’s life

Footprints, good friends
How do you measure a life
Half-pints, acts of kindness
Tell me how do you know when your life counts or not

With so many terms to negotiate
What is the measure of a life
When there are so many notions to contemplate
What is the meaning of someone’s life

Seasons, reasons
How do you measure a life
Heart beats, or in good deeds
Who can know just how to measure a life

Who can know how to measure a life

Credits

From Fitting Pieces, track released 01 July 2007
Cheryl Martlage – Lyrics and vocals
Emerson Martlage – Music, guitar and vocals
Mr Toad’s San Francisco – Mastering
Inspiration – Joan Fullerton and her amazing art