My Gen X Playlist: Human – The Human League

Episode 5 of Ripple, the second time around. Here is a quote that spoke to me.

Nobody wants to hear they can’t handle life alone. Maybe we shouldn’t try to. It’s kind of what it means to be human.

After putting in sixty hour work weeks, I used to go out for drinks to let off some steam. It eventually caught up with me when I got pulled over for a DUI. I blew right at the blood alcohol limit to be taken in.

Because I was a fan of detective shows, I was very familiar with the scene of a perp being handcuffed from behind and the cop telling him to watch his head while being lowered into the backseat of a patrol car. The only difference, this time it was me and this wasn’t an episode of Law and Order. The most fortunate part of this whole story was nobody was hurt.

Up until then, I took pride in my independence and being able to navigate my way through life on my own. Some days were messier than others, but I always managed to stand on my own two feet at the end of the day. This time, though, was different. For the first time in my adult life, I called someone for help. My dad. And just like when I was a kid, he showed up. This time no questions asked, no judgement placed or lectures of lessons to be told. Just his presence and support. As I appeared before the judge, I will never forget the feeling of relief, safety and love I felt as when I saw him sitting in the courtroom. It is a moment I will never forget.

That was over twenty years ago, but I remember it well to this day. One day I’ll write about my time between the patrol car to the courthouse. There’s nothing like being in a jail cell over night in a bad part of LA to change your ways. I’ll save that tale for another day. I made some life changes after that ordeal. I stopped drinking for over ten years. I only have an occasional drink even now. It was a scared straight moment and I count my blessings because it could have been much worse.

There always are silver linings if you look for them. The first is the obvious, I no longer drink and drive. In this day and age, Uber is a welcomed lifeline. I wish it was around back then.

The other not so visible change is the crumbling of a longstanding barrier in my life. I now understand it’s OK to ask for help and lean on others when in need. Nobody should try to bear the entire world on their shoulders. I tried that for so long and the voice inside my head began questioning how that was working out for me. It wasn’t. And just like the quote above says, we shouldn’t have to. There’s no shame in asking for help. After all, we’re only human.

There were a number of songs in Episode 5, all new to me. But when I wrote the last line above, I thought about the chorus in the Human League’s Human.

I’m only human
Of flesh and blood I’m made
Human
Born to make mistakes

But as I read the backstory of the song, maybe it’s not quite as fitting for the theme of this post.

In this song, a guy is coming clean after cheating on his girl, telling her he only did it to fill the empty void inside him while they were apart. He comforts her, assuring her, “No one else could ever take your place.” His excuse is a lame one, but it’s all he’s got: “I’m only human.”

Later in the song, we hear from the woman, who reveals that she also cheated on him while they were away. She’s human too.

Songfacts

Square peg, round hole. The chorus is stuck in my head, though, and I’ve already written a paragraph about it so here you go. No turning back now.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Come on baby, dry your eyes
Wipe your tears
Never like to see you cry
Won't you please forgive me

I wouldn't ever try to hurt you
I just needed someone to hold me
To fill the void while you were gone
To fill this space of emptiness

I'm only human
Of flesh and blood I'm made
Human
Born to make mistakes

So many nights I longed to hold you
So many times I looked and saw your face
Nothing could change the way I feel
No one else could ever take your place

I'm only human
Of flesh and blood I'm made
Human
Born to make mistakes
(I am just a man)
(Human
Human)
Please forgive me

(The tears I cry aren't tears of pain
They're only to hide my guilt and shame
I forgive you, now I ask the same of you
While we were apart I was human too)

(Human
Human)

I'm only human
Of flesh and blood I'm made
(I am just a man)
Human
Born to make mistakes

(Human
Human).