Verse 1:

We’re always in a hurry, yet we’re always running late

Always trying to fit too many things on our plate

Working hard, always tryin’ keep it up to date

Don’t forget, it’s okay to feel the heartbreak

[You should know]  There’s always more to learn

[You should know]  There’s always more to earn

Every day, dreaming of what could be

We always wait for our turn

Chorus:

Slow down, don’t let the weight of the world drown

You out of-a your own sound.

I can feel inside that I know there’s more to life

So let’s just take our time

Slow down, don’t let the weight of the world drown

You out of-a your own sound.

I can feel inside that I know there’s more to life

So let’s just take our time

Verse 2:

Makin’ a job to please, even when we want to leave

Agree to disagree, Even when we don’t believe

I understand we Fight for all the opportunities

But take your time, chances are they wont leave

[You should know]  There’s always more to learn

[You should know]  There’s always more to earn

Every day, dreaming of what could be

We always wait for our turn

Bridge:

Can we go back to a time, with a simple life in mind

Where we can take control, even when they tell us no

That’s what i want inside

Can we go back to a time, where we let our hearts decide

When love was worth-a more, than money and the score

So we can do what’s right

Slow Down is a song that arose from seeing parents and older friends working hard yet have no time to breathe and focus on themselves, as they are trying to make more money and support their families. The song also coincides with the experience of being a student in a highly competitive school, taking into account the various academic and extracurricular stressors. As students, we are faced with different tasks to complete and roles to fill every day, such as being a good student, child, leader, sibling, etc.

These roles are not only time-consuming but emotionally draining, making us feel as if every day passes by in the blink of an eye. Because we are constantly trying to meet deadlines, achieve goals, and win competitions, we often forget to slow down and enjoy the process.

In general, internal and external pressures cause many people, not just students, to feel overwhelmed and to lose sight of the things that matter most in life, things beyond more money and test scores. This song portrays the struggles of the working people and students in our goal and accomplishment-driven society. Just as the bridge says, “you should know, there is always more to earn/ you should know, there is always more to learn,” there are endless things that we will want to have and learn, so just take your time with it instead of hurrying to make everything happen overnight.

The society we live in values living in fast tempo, sometimes life feels even in two-times speed, for example with advancing technology, we look forward to the new iPhone every year; on transportation speed, people get frustrated when they are stuck in traffic; and even on the speed on the internet connection, we get frustrated that if it takes longer than a minute for our favorite television show to load.

There is a particular emphasized value on time, and I get it. We have no way to make up for the lost time seeing as there are only 24 hours in a day, no more, no less, but what use does rushing to conserve time, cramming in tasks after tasks, and stressing out all the time do other than put a severe strain on mental health?

I understand the need to achieve and the need to accomplish, but we only get one body per life, and it is up to us to manage our mental health and try to stay healthy and happy while reaching goals and points of success. Sometimes we just need a reminder that there is “more to life,” and it is okay to “take our time” for things that bring us bliss and joy. This song, Slow Down, serves as a great reminder to my audience of the importance of rest, relaxation, mindfulness, and time for ourselves.