Winning isn't everything when compassion is lost.

About This Interpretation

This recording presents one possible musical interpretation of David Nathanael Kelly's original lyrics. Produced using contemporary AI-assisted music technology and curated by Dreamstate Audio Works Publishing, it is intended to demonstrate how these lyrics might be realized musically while preserving opportunities for future artists to create their own interpretations.

About This Work

A Universal Race uses the metaphor of a footrace to explore how people measure success throughout life. From childhood ambition to the pursuit of achievement, the lyric examines the temptation to focus solely on reaching the finish line while overlooking the people around us.

At its heart, the song asks a simple but profound question: What is the value of winning if we fail to help others along the way? Through its powerful narrative, the work reminds us that true success is measured not only by what we accomplish, but by the compassion, kindness, and humanity we show to others during the journey.

A Universal Race

Written By David N. Kelly

Published by Dreamstate Audio Works Publishing

Listen

Lyrics

The starting gun goes off

And life’s race begins

You’re unprepared as yet

And without any sins

But you take it one stride

Right after another

And as you sprint by

You wave to your mother

Competition runs heavy

All want to be first

Then you trip mid-stride

But return with a burst

Legs pumping and thumping

Arms quickly flailing

Halfway to finish

And you’re barely trailing

Still sprinting still cruising

Now it’s head-to-head

If you don’t get first

How you will wish you were dead

It’s almost over

The tape is ahead

You look to your left

And you see the man dead

He’s cut short from the race

He will never finish

But as for you

You now get your wish

You continue to run

You break the tape

You win the race

But your soul is raped

Your look around

And no one’s there

No crowd cheering

Because nobody cares

You had failed to help

The man in need

Failed to watch

His soul get freed

So in the end

You lost the race

You had sprinted through

And didn’t pace

You chased a dream

And that’s not a crime

Until it takes up

All your time

You must take time

For little things

Relish each step

And what it brings

You have only one chance

To win this race

So never give up

And live many days.

Song Credits

Original Lyrics - David Nathanael Kelly

Demonstration Recording - Created using Suno AI

Produced by - Dreamstate Audio Works

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