When my sister was a teenager, she had a thing for Mac Davis, the songwriter, singer, performer and actor who wrote for Elvis Presley and sang his own hits including “Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me.” He also starred in Broadway musicals and various films and even had his own TV show from 1974-1976 appropriately named “The Mac Davis Show.”
Our console Zenith TV was locked in to NBC on Thursday nights, and my sister was planted in front of it to watch her show. Dad preferred Lawrence Welk, but he was an accommodating guy and usually dozed off in his recliner by then anyway.
Davis wrote songs including “In the Ghetto” for Elvis, “Home” for Nancy Sinatra and “I Believe In Music” for B.J. Thomas and others, but he may be best known for his 1980 international hit “It's Hard to be Humble.”
The chorus of this novelty song goes like this: “Oh Lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, cause I get better lookin' each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh, Lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.”
Yes, you will be singing this all day now, but that’s OK. In fact, it’s a good thing. Davis wrote and sang the song in jest, and his true message is that we all could use a slice of humble pie.
Have you noticed how many of the most successful people in this world don’t drive foreign luxury cars, live in the biggest houses on the block or wear flashy jewelry? Sure, some who benefited from inheritances, won the lottery or signed big-money contracts do, but the folks who worked their way up from nothing over a long haul seem to take a different approach. They pinched pennies in their early years, and they continue to live their lives in thrifty ways. These folks don’t brag about their financial earnings, or their globetrotting travels, or how much they spent on their shoes. They roll up their sleeves every day and continue to get to work with a focus on improving themselves and others. Of course, dollar signs shouldn’t be at the top of any success list. These folks know what should: relationships, peace and a continual focus on helping others. Lots of other focuses fall within these categories, but they seem to encompass the main points.
As my years add up, I am becoming more cognizant of what’s really important in life, at least to me, and I have been fortunate to have many humble people as role models who are continuing to make incredible contributions, often behind the scenes without any need for recognition.
Mac Davis died in 2020 at the age of 78. I don’t know if he died with a big bank account or not, but he certainly was successful, as he contributed to the song catalogs of many artists and still has us singing his tunes today, reminding all of us about the importance of humility.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
