Desire Lines (Song)

Map of Walk 1.01 Miles

desire line n. An informal path that pedestrians prefer to take to get from one location to another rather than using a sidewalk or other official route.

In everyday life, it’s hard to spot desire lines. Once you’re aware of them, they stick out like sore thumbs. Ohio State University is known for allowing the students to create the desire lines that would be used to make official sidewalks. The purpose of sidewalks are to get you where you’re going. Why go all the way up to the end of the side walk when you can save some time and cut under a tree?

Starting off, it was pretty difficult to spot desire lines because foot prints can get obscured in the sand. When I got into the mind of a pedestrian, then I started to find them. I often found desire lines crossing through shade to avoid the Arizona heat. This just shows it also has to do with climate conditions as well. Here are three I found in my neighborhood:

Here are the desire lines without the lines so you can see them for yourself (if you are even able to).

While I was walking, I kept thinking of Blackbird by the Beetles. I was walking to the beat of it and it was the only thing keeping me hanging in the dry heat. Looking at these desire lines, I started thinking about how people expect you to go on a certain path, but it feels right making your own. With it being Pride Month and all the hateful hoopla that comes our way, I wrote a little song of my own to sing while walking. It feels more country which is usually not the type of song I like to write. It makes me feel nostalgic, happy, and free because it feels like my childhood in Tennessee. The song sheds light on loving shamelessly in a non-conventional relationship. Here is the song along with a lyric sheet I designed:

I really enjoyed writing this song. I wanted to record it because I think it would be better to map out how I hear it in my head. It was pretty hot this day, but I still enjoyed seeing the trails people make to get to places faster.