‘I want to talk about me’

By Brenda Cannon Henley
Ted isn’t much into country music other than his one favorite song, “Amarillo by Morning,” by George Strait. He knows the man that wrote the big hit, and combine that with the great love he has for the Texas Panhandle, and he has a keeper. He does, however, like and remember a song Toby Keith did a few years ago, “I want to talk about me.” Keith was highly criticized in 2001 when the song was first released because of the near rap lyrics that many thought were very “uncountry.” Plus, it seemed downright rude. Who really wants to hear someone talk only about themselves all of the time?

Bobby Braddock is the writer of the song, which he pitched to Keith because he believed he could do it justice and he did. It became the seventh No. 1 single for the country star and was released on Keith’s Pull My Chain album. Many remember Braddock as the writer of the huge George Jones’ hit, He Stopped Loving Her Today, voted the No. 1 song in all of country music time and time again.

BCH_2014-0715The jest of the lyrics in the song that went on to be very popular was that Keith (as portrayed in the hit video of the same name) was plagued by his girlfriend wanting to only talk about herself and the events in her life. Shopping, health issues, former beaus, her relatives, runs in her hosiery, beauty products, hair salons, trips she wanted to take, dreams, schemes, her boss was a jerk, and her head when it hurt, among other things he humorously depicted.

The repeated chorus is:
I wanna talk about me,
Wanna talk about I.
Wanna talk about number one,
Oh my me my.
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see,
I like talking about you, usually, but occasionally,
I wanna talk about me.
I wanna talk about me.

I would surmise that most of you reading this column just now are smiling (as I am typing it) because we know at least one friend or family member that this comedic song describes perfectly. They always want to talk about themselves in every conversation, plan, party, health issue, in travel, or free moment. Never do they seem to get it that other people are involved in this thing called life and that others might have something to contribute. I have learned from experience that no one has a monopoly on the prettiest, wittiest, or most intelligent grandchild, even though I would put mine up against yours any day. It doesn’t matter where you live — really — we sleep, eat, work, and grow wherever we are planted. No one person has all of the answers, ideas, or dreams. It is open to the public. God created each of us for a reason and no one can fill our place better than we can.

There are times when a very selfish person is that way because of years of insecurity and pain. Perhaps they are trying desperately to “make up for the bad things of the past,” or perhaps they are guarding against being not quite ready for the future. Many have been hurt deeply as children or young adults, and they’ve never gotten over that fact. So, in order to compensate, they boast, brag, and turn a deaf ear to others’ contributions all around them.

Facebook and other social media have given way to every person, no matter how limited the education, writing skills, or deep personal limitations, being able to brag, boast, and exaggerate. If folks’ lives were like they wrote them to be, what a wonderful world we would have in which to live. Women (and men) post photos taken as glamour shots, pictures from the high school yearbook, or 20 or more years ago, when bodies were leaner, thinner, and we all had more hair. And some write like there should be prizes or money for those who can confirm a bad rumor first or post about an untimely death.

People write every day about how great their home life is, how super the job they hold is, and how much their spouse or children loves them. Many times these are simply dreams or wishes. Every little detail of life is posted for the world to read. I’ve often wanted to write, “Who cares?” Or, perhaps even, “You are lying.” I don’t have time to know when you leave for work, how long it takes you to drive to the office or jobsite, what you ate for lunch (unless it is a truly great recipe that you will share), that you have a splinter in your finger, which friend hurt your feelings or said something unkind about you, or many much more personal insights. My personal favorite is when I read that someone is getting their bi-monthly mani-pedi at their favorite salon. I do enjoy sharing news of friends and photographs of families, events, and places. And, social media is wonderful for sharing needs, prayer requests, and general news of interest. Don’t get me wrong — I enjoy Facebook and my friends.

Keith would love it that the song he sings, “I want to talk about me,” is coming to such fruition in these modern days. God wants us to think of others first and He says so many times in His Word. One of my favorite verses has been for years, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly (or sisterly) love, in honor preferring one another.” (Romans 12:10) Let’s try putting others first in the coming days and weeks and see how it changes our lives and those of the people we love most.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788 or at
[email protected].

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