This was only the second song I wrote as an adult. It had too many lyrics for anything but a patter song. Right after I finished this song, I attended a multicultural event where a young African-American man offered to close the evening with a rap he'd just written. He began, "What are you gonna do when you leave here?" The rhythm and words were so similar, my companion and I whipped our heads around to stare at each each other in amazement. The young man and I must have tuned into the same, collective-conscious "web site" to "download" our song!

A disclaimer to legitimate rap composers: I realize that the cadence of this is white-girl sing-song. Respectfully, I never intended to represent your rap genre, with its complex syncopations. But my Creator sent me this song in this particular form. When God sends you a child, you can choose how you'll dress it, but you can't send it back for a whole different body, right?

What Are You Meant To Do
Words and Music by Laura Derocher

AD LIB: Personal banter to introduce song

What if Martha Stewart hadn't taught herself to cook?
What if she decided to give basketball a look?
And what if Michael Jordan had traded places with her?
We'd be out fancy dinners and an NBA winner.

CHORUS:
What are you meant to do? (Why are you here?)
What are you meant to do? (Why are you here?)
What are you meant to do to be you?
     (Have you thought about it?)
What are you meant to do? [Why are you here?]
What are you meant to do? [Why are you here?]
What are you meant to do to be you?

MORE BANTER

Mr. Thomas Edison, he was a clever chapper,
but what if someone told him he was s'pposed to be a rapper?
We wouldn't have the light bulb, he'd have missed his mark,
this song would be a waltz and we'd be sitting in the dark.

CHORUS:
What are you meant to do? (Why are you here?)
What are you meant to do? (Why are you here?)
What are you meant to do to be you?
     (It's a critical question.)
What are you meant to do? [Why are you here?]
What are you meant to do? [Why are you here?]
What are you meant to do to be...

Talented and fabulous, shining like the sun,
serving other people while you are having fun?
If you feel your job does not express you,
go inside yourself and find out what to do.

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BRIDGE:
I hear you saying, "It's not possible. When push comes to shove,
I can't make a living doing what I love.
Who'll pay the bills? Who'll feed the kids?
I just know I'll be heading for the skids!"

MORE BANTER

So throw away your worries, cast away your fears.
Work should be a joy, not blood sweat and tears.
Figure out your mission. Use your talents best.
The world'll be the winner. God'll take care of the rest.

CHORUS (Repeat, with MORE BANTER and "sing a song" DESCANT.)

© 2001 Laura Derocher (ASCAP). All rights reserved.

Hear an audio sample of this song and order Laura’s CD Song of My Own at .

Choose another song.

Look How I’m Leading Now It Wouldn’t Be Bedford Falls When You Passed Through Song of My Own What Are You Meant To Do This Kind of Love Have Patience Once Upon Your Lifetime Only Love Towers I’m Shining