Turn The Page

I've long thought that Bob Seger's Turn The Page could easily be about EMS.  I'd like to use it for our annual company video sometime. It describes the life of a rock singer, and I think there are some great parallels between how he describes his day and how we think about ours. The song has a wickedly good sax solo&Seger's tired, worn-out voice to add ambiance.

Let me try to explain it to you...

On a long and lonesome highway, east of Omaha.

You can listen to the engine moaning out its one lone songWe've all been there, on a long-distance transfer, listening to that diesel

You can think about woman, or the girl you knew the night before,

But your thoughts will soon be wandering, the way they always do.Not much to do, now that the patient has been dropped off

When your riding sixteen hours and theres nothing much to do

And you dont feel much like riding, you just wish the trip was through.

Back to back (and sometimes back to back to back, etc) transports take up your whole shift

Say, here I am, on the road again. there I am, up on the stage.

You can't tell me that EMS isn't about working on a stage

Here I go, playing star again.

And we are the star (like it or not). We show up with bright lights & loud noises. We command attention. We're the center of action.

There I go, turn the page.

Next patient, please.

Well you walk into a restaurant, strung out from the road,
You can feel the eyes upon you as your shaking off the cold
Some people stare, some avoid your eyes. Kids generally stare.

You pretend it doesnt bother you, but you just want to explode.
Most times you cant hear em talk, other times you can.
Some like having you around - it's like insurance in case they choke.
Some are simply reminded of Uncle Joe who was taken away by ambulance and never came back.

Oh the same old cliche, as that a woman or a man
You always see my number, you dont dare make a stand.
OK, it doesn't always fit...

Here I am, on the road again. there I am, up on the stage.
Here I go, playing star again.
There I go, turn the page.
Out there in the spotlight your a million miles away,
Every ounce of energy, you try and give away,
Sometimes it's like that - you detach yourself from the ugliness at hand. Sometimes you pour your heart & soul into the treatment you offer.

As the sweat pours out your body like the music that you play.
Later in the evening as you lie awake in bed,
You bet I sweat when I'm worried about my patient & working hard to keep her alive. And yes, sometimes I think about the call long after it's over.

With the echo from the amplifiers ringing in your head,
You smoke the days last cigarette, remembering what she said.
The echo of the pagers and radios that occasionally never go quiet. Thinking about what your spouse, significant other, patient, nurse or doctor said to you that sticks with you.

Now here I am, on the road again. there I am, up on the stage.
Here I go, playing star again.
There I go, turn the page.
Here I am, on the road again. there I am, up on the stage.
Ah here I go, playing star again.
There I go, there I go.

Maybe I'm being way too philosophical for my own good. But that's how I see it.