I spent a lifetime scared to death of dying. I remember as a junior in college waking up in a cold sweat from a nightmare about it. It had subsided to a degree but then began to rear its ugly head again this past year. So when I sat down to write the last couple of songs for "Brand New Me," it was a topic that was top of mind.
"Punch My Ticket" is an attempt to face that fear head on. Perhaps it has to do with turning 54. Maybe it's seeing my kids growing up and going off to college. Maybe it's just what happens when you've witnessed enough crazy in your lifetime. But I think eventually we all reach a point where we get just tired enough where the idea of death becomes more of a relief than a sense of anxiety. That's not to say that I look forward to it. I am very fortunate to have a zest for life and a love of being on this planet. So the idea of leaving this world is very much one that I'm happy to put off. But I think on some level your soul begins to come to terms with the fact that life is special; due in part to the fact that it is indeed finite. And that's OK. It's how it was intended.
Musically the song was inspired by an overabundance of hours listening to the likes of Ray Wylie Hubbard and Larkin Poe (if an overabundance of such joy is even possible). It led to hours honing acoustic slide riffs which in and of itself was its own journey. To top it off the lyric seemed to fit the track perfectly.
That's the idea behind "Punch My Ticket." It's coming to terms with the fact that each journey has a beginning and an end. That's what makes it a journey. Accepting that and embracing it is a sign of growing up and I think too a sign that your faith is growing. Once you come to terms with the fact that life is finite, the small shit really doesn't matter any more.