Sunshine State Of Mind by Matt Wahl

” Being from Wisconsin, I may not know too much about the actual beach, but I think I know about the attitude of the beach. That’s what this song is about, the attitude and the ability to keep that attitude with you no matter where you are. Thanks Billy!

I Get To Choose: One of the most powerful things I have ever learned is that I get to choose my thoughts, my feelings and my actions. No person or situation can make me think, feel or do anything. It is all up to me. This can be tough to remember in trying times. I can often fall into the habit of reacting, but it’s always so empowering to remember, “I Get To Choose.”

Walk With Me Through Forever: Co-written with Jason Phillips. I was scheduled to play a party for Jason and his then fiancé, now wife Jeana on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. Jason sent me some of his lyrics to see if I could put them into a song in time for the party. This song is the result of our collaboration. It’s about heading for a tropical paradise, leaving behind everything that doesn’t feel authentic, sitting hand in hand on the beach under a palm tree, and watching the sunset with someone you love. Thanks Jason!

A Simple Kind Of Fun: I got stuck in traffic on the Florida Turnpike on my way to North Palm Beach, FL. That’s when this song started to take shape. I love parties and adventure and cramming as much as I can into every moment of life, but sometimes it feels good to simplify things a little bit.

Like A Beer Commercial: This song is about a guy who doesn’t have much “real world” experience. He’s never gone out and had too many beers before and he’s never tried to pick up any ladies. But he has watched a lot of beer commercials on the television and he thinks he has things figured out by what he’s seen on TV. This is about his day at the beach trying to “Live Like A Beer Commercial.”

There’s No Way You Can Drink All Day (Unless You Start In The Morning): I saw that exact line on a bumper sticker on the back of an old pick-up truck the day after seeing Jimmy Buffett in Tinley Park, IL in August, 2003. We abided by that rule the day of the Buffett show! I was thinking about how much fun we had when that truck passed me and I instantly started writing this song.

Nothing We Have To Do: This is about ditching all responsibility, hitting the open road and taking comfort in the thought that there’s Nothing We Have To Do!

Two Chairs: The morning after our wedding, Cynthia and I sat in two Adirondack chairs for a few hours, drinking coffee and just enjoying the day. Ever since then, we’ve had a thing for Adirondack chairs. A few years later, I got out of my car at the Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior and there were two Adirondack chairs looking out at the lake. I sat in one and wrote this about the empty chair next to me.

Just Because: I put this on the CD just because! It’s about my love of adventure and about my hopes to keep exploring for years to come.

Windows Down: This song started in Naples, FL. It was a beautiful day and I had just traveled to sunny Florida from the frozen north. It felt so good to roll down all my windows and drive down the road with the wind whipping around. I had a baseball cap on and nothing to do all day! It’s about leaving behind some of the thoughts and actions that don’t make me happy and about feeling good for absolutely no reason other than being alive!

Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think): I have been playing this song for a couple of years now and I love the words! I think it can be easy to forget how quickly life can pass us by and I use this song as a reminder to myself to enjoy it while I can!

Thanks for reading. Enjoy the day!

Take Good Care,

Matt

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