… cause I don’t want my boat to be rocking.”  (Bob Marley)

I love this song (Don’t Rock the boat) and everytime I hear this refrain, “Please don’t you rock my boat,” I smile.  How’s that for an anti-change mantra?

I smile because it’s simple and yet profound.  It brings up such satisfaction with life; with the way things are.  No matter how bad things get, there’s some things that just work and you don’t want whatever that is to change.

“I’m tellin’ you that, oh, ooh-aah, I like it a-like a-this”

Despite the rapid pace of change and everybody—including me—telling you to keep up with and learn to cope with change, here’s an undercurrent of profound satisfaction with the way things are and a request not to mess it up.

It speaks to the part of me that likes some parts of my life exactly the way it is.  I don’t want anything to change, and just in case you’re thinking of changing anything I want you to know.

“I’m telling you that, oh-whooh-whooh
I like it like this, I like it like this.”

Clear?

“And you should know, you should know by now
I like it, I like it like this, I like it like this”

And why, pray tell, do I not want you to rock my boat?

‘Cause I don’t want my boat to be rockin’

Brilliant!

The lyrics are below. I got it somewhere on line awhile ago and didn’t record where (my bad).  But enjoy it all the same.  So look for it in your iTunes collection or dust off your old LP and enjoy.

(If you’re the person that doesn’t have even one Bob Marley greatest hits then go out right now and correct this affront to your dignity. ;-))

And while you’re listening, think of who in your life that you can say

“I like it, I like it like this, I like it like this”

and listen to it with them.

Lyrics for “Don’t Rock The Boat” (Bob Marley)

Huh, please don’t you rock my boat
‘Cause I don’t want my boat to be rockin’ anyhow
Please don’t you rock my boat, no
‘Cause I don’t want my boat to be rockin’

I’m tellin’ you that, oh, ooh-aah, I like it a-like a-this
Can you miss?
And you should know, ooh-aah, when I like it a-like a-this
Am I really it? Ooh yeah
You satis- satis- satisfy my soul, morning time
Evening cold, -fy my soul
Yes, I’ve been a-tellin’ you, bake me the sweetest cakes
I’m happy inside all the time
Oh, can’t you see what you’ve done for me? Yeah

You make me feel like when we bend them new corners
We feel like sweepstake winners, yeah
When we bend them new corners
We feel like sweepstake winners

And I said, oh, ooh-aah, I like it a-like a-this
Yes, I do
And you should know, ooh-aah, when I like it a-like a-this
I’ve got it, just can’t miss, ooh
Satis- satisfy my soul, darlin’
Make me love you in the morning time, yeah
If ever I treated you bad, make it up to me one time
‘Cause I’m happy inside all the time
I want you beside me, yeah, to be mine

One thing you’ve got to do, is when a-we holding hands together
You’ve got to know that we love, a-love each other, yeah
And if every time you should walk away from me now
Uh, you’ll now I need your sympathy, yeah

Can you see? Do you believe me?
Oh, darlin’, darlin’, I’m callin’, callin’
Satisfy my soul, satisfy my soul
Never, never, never give it up now

All in the same boat
Rockin’ on the same route
We gotta get together, join each other
And can’t you see what I’ve got for you? Yeah

I’m happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, and not you can turn me blue now
Come a little closer, satisfy my …