Commitment!

Whenever I hear this I always thinking of John Adams singing “Is Anybody There?” in the musical 1776.  Such a powerful song. George Washington writes to Congress “Is anybody there? Does anybody care?” John Adams looks at the letter and sings “Does anybody see what I see?” as he fights to start the American Revolution.

Lyrics:

Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?

They want me to quit; they say
John, give up the fight
Still to England I say
Good night, forever, good night!
For I have crossed the Rubicon
Let the bridge be burned behind me
Come what may, come what may

Commitment!

The croakers all say we’ll rue the day
There’ll be hell to pay in fiery purgatory
Through all the gloom, through all the gloom
I see the rays of ravishing light and glory!

Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?

I see fireworks! I see the pageant and
Pomp and parade
I hear the bells ringing out
I hear the cannons roar
I see Americans – all Americans
Free forever more

How quiet, how quiet the chamber is
How silent, how silent the chamber is

Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?

To be a visionary is an enormous talent and most likely a burden at times. To see grand ideas and then to have to get others to buy in. But if you pair your vision with commitment – hopefully you’ll see your ideas come to fruition sooner rather than later.

Here’s a recording of the song:

And here’s a person singing it fairly well although William Daniels will always be my John Adams. (You know, Knight Rider’s car “Kit” voice and as Mr. Feeny in Boy Meets World.)