We’ve all heard the saying, “Sh** or get off the pot.” I have a sneaking suspicion artists hear it a lil’ more often than others. So, how do you sew up such colorful conviction and diligence with wavering faith in a song? Very carefully. Thank God for metaphor! I’ve been “paying my dues” longer than I can remember. I don’t think it’s something a wise artist ever believes he stops or should stop doing. There’s a huge failure in my teaching and mentoring community to recognize and therefore distinguish the difference between chasing a “big break” vs. developing a career in the arts. Big breaks find you, not the other way around. This failure breeds impatience and contempt. I grew up with Mom’s attached “Eat Your Vegetables” cutout on our fridge. In typical artist fashion, I had to attach deeper meaning to our refrigerated reminder and exploit its significance to any struggling artist.

Eat Your Vegetables
Words and Music by Jeff Hartman

Isn’t complicated
It isn’t complicated
I swear it isn’t hard
It’s not that hard to understand

Rather not be hated
I’d rather not be hated
Loosening the grip
The grip that’s loosening my hand

Sit down
The seat is cold but it gets warmer
Your turn
Enjoy a New York Times best-selling novel
That’s right
It’s a dirty job but someone’s got to do it
Stand up
Pull yourself together
Nothing to it

Don’t get so excited
Don’t get too excited
Good things come to those
Good things come to those who wait

Bitching’s overrated
Fit pitching’s overrated
Better not complain
Best you eat what’s on your plate

Why does it pour when it rains
(Mainly on the plain and interrupted)
Who moves on and who remains
(Plainly the meek and the disrupted)

Give me a chance to fill the shoes I’m walking in
On bended knees I pray

Eat your vegetables
They’re good for you
Eat your vegetables
They’re good for me, too