You won’t find endless songs about drinking and partying with friends on McConnell’s three albums and three EPs. McConnell is too busy writing songs with something to say.
“Well the hardest part of living is knowing you’re gonna die
And trying to leave a legacy with only so much time”
“There’s nothing stronger than a heart that’s fighting for the truth
So hold your nose, cannonball, someone let me through”
McConnell’s song is about searching for something better within himself—digging deep within himself to find his purpose. In the chorus he admits that even if he fails in this attempt, even if life beats him down in the process, it’s worth the attempt that is made.
“I’m going down to the bottom of the sea until I’ve found
The deepest part of me and if I drown
At least I’ll know that I died free
Searching for my destiny without a doubt
I’m going down”
It reminds me of a line from an episode of One Tree Hill – “Sometimes the beauty is in the attempt” (Ref. 1).
McConnell is not taking the attitude that “failure is not an option.” Instead, he knows that sometimes, failure is inevitable, but this shouldn’t stop him from searching for all he is capable of, for the best part of himself. Nor should it stop anyone else.
Unfortunately, McConnell’s song is only on radio in Texas right now, meaning it won’t get the national attention a song of this caliber deserves. But as long as McConnell continues to write and record music like this, he’s doing a great job down at the bottom of the sea fulfilling his destiny.
Ref. 1
One Tree Hill, Season 6, Episode 18, “Searching for a Former Clariity.”