Jonathan Richman seems genuinely and unabashedly imbued with kindness and an openness to the goodness of people. Like an avuncular Buddhist monk delivering a meditation on loving kindness, he urges us to recognize that the ultimate currency to the human heart is Affection.

“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without affection.” -H.H.Dalai Lama

“Material progress [including telephones, televisions, cars, records, books, and magazines] and a higher standard of living bring us greater comfort and health, but do not lead to a transformation of the mind, which is the only thing capable of providing lasting peace. Profound happiness, unlike fleeting pleasures, is spiritual in nature. It depends on the happiness of others and it is based on love and affection.” -H.H. Dalai Lama

Affection by Jonathan Richman

(Listen here.)

People all over the world,
People all over the world,
People all over the world are starving
For affection.

And to me, this ain’t funny.
To me this is real.
So I tell everybody the way I feel
About affection.

You know, I used to starve for affection.
I blamed the world, and it could be the world’s fault, I suppose.
But I was a snob of the type who said, I don’t have time for them,
And the type who says, I have nothing in common with those.

But then I relaxed a little,
And I met more folks who liked me,
And that helped me to get more of affection.
And they helped me to reach out and give,
And that helped me to live.
So I say that people all over the world are good,
People all over the world ain’t bad,
But if they keep bein’ snobs about it,
They ain’t gonna get what they wish they had,
And that’s affection…affection.

Well, there’s telephones, televisions, and cars, yes
And there’s records and books and magazines for you.
But poor Affection sits there standing in the corner,
Saying to itself, “I wish someone would give me something to do.”
Well, I know it takes nerve to reach out and give affection.

To folks who seem to want your touch but you can’t tell.
Cause they can laugh at you, and that’s rejection,
And you probably won’t like that so well.
But I say that people all over the world are good.
People all over the world ain’t bad.
But if they keep on chickenin’ out,
They’ll never get what they wish they had
And that’s affection

That’s affection.
I know they want affection.
I know they want affection.

“We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.” -H.H. Dalai Lama