“Meant for Livin’” by Mondo Cozmo - A Song Feature

 

     Mondo Cozmo uses a “quick-think” stream of consciousness approach to announce his guide for successfully navigating the pandemic-stricken world. “Meant for Livin’” includes references that require investigation or explanation, which is true for most songs in which lyrics withstand the test of time. But other references are clear and interesting, particularly in the context of priorities and individual behavior in today’s health and political climate. The big-picture verse is:

Watch the stars and watch your drinking

Go for walks and find religion

Recovering the simple dreams of modern men in stretch jeans

Tell your lover that you love her, hold her hand when you discover

That dreams are meant for dreaming and life is meant for living

 
     Much of what can be said about “Meant for Livin’” applies to the Bob Dylan song “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” which has a vocal style described as the “talking blues.” One difference is that Dylan separates his verses with harmonica, while Mondo Cozmo’s verse separations are more clamorous and employ an instrument we cannot identify. For the video, Mondo Cozmo did not systematically drop cue cards, unlike the iconic video of Dylan.

     Mondo Cozmo is the performance name of Josh Ostrander. He is from Philadelphia, but now resides in the Los Angeles area.

     “Meant for Livin’” by Mondo Cozmo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MondoCozmo
Website: https://www.mondocozmo.com/

Lyrics of “Meant for Livin’” by Mondo Cozmo
Pay your taxes, send your faxes
Wash your hands and mend your fences
Conversations, limitations, speculation at the station
Pay to Caesar what is Caesar's, all the meat inside your freezer
I’ve been waving to the neighbors, I've been looking for the answers
 
Say a prayer for Mama's wears
And here’s to hoping that you get out alive
 
Do your drugs and pray to Jesus
Brush your teeth and take your meetings
Revelation, compensation, memories of masturbation
Tell the reaper to come meet us in the Library of Congress
I'll be sittin' with Johanna, wе'll be smoking marijuana
 
Say a prayer for Mama's wears
And hеre's to hoping that you get out alive
 
Watch the stars and watch your drinking
Go for walks and find religion
Recovering the simple dreams of modern men in stretch jeans
Tell your lover that you love her, hold her hand when you discover
That dreams are meant for dreamin’ and life is meant for living
 
Say a prayer for Mama's wears
And here's to hoping that you get out alive
Say a prayer for Mama’s wears
And here’s to hoping that you get out alive
Yeah
 
Be a whore and be a miser
Tie your shoes and be a liar
Memories of simple things and pretty girls in magazines
Any fool can speak the truth when he's screaming from a roof
I’ll be pushing through the mire, cause God loves a trier
 
Say a prayer for Mama's wears
And here's to hoping that you get out alive
Say a prayer for Mama’s wears
And here's to hoping that you get out alive
Say a prayer for Mama's wears
And here's to hoping that you get out alive