"Gimme One Reason!"

Philippa Foot once complained: "I am sure that I do not understand the idea of a reason for acting, and I wonder whether anyone else does either."
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I think Foot is wrong: just about everyone understands the idea of a reason for acting.  To see if you agree, listen to the songs below, all of which mention reasons for action.  If you understand any of these songs, you understand what a reason is.  (The converse of that conditional does not hold--see the cryptic "Earth, Wind, and Fire" song below.)

JOHN PRINE, "Blue Umbrella"

Just give me one good reason
and I promise I won't ask you anymore.
Just give me one extra season
so I can figure out the other four.

Tracy Chapman, "Gimme One Reason"

Give me one reason to stay here
and I'll turn right back around.
Give me one reason to stay here
and I'll turn right back around.
Because I don't want to leave you lonely
but you've got to make me change my mind.

​MC MAGIC, "REASONS"

There are so many reasons
I'm in love with you.
Make me feel so special
everything that you do.
You hold me tight
every day and night […]
These are the reasons I love you.

Honorable Mentions

  • On the distinction between "motivated belief" and reasoned belief (belief held for a good reason), see Rod Stewart's "Reason to Believe."
  • On the relation between facts about normative reasons and deontic facts (such as facts about should and ought) see George Ezra's "Budapest."
  • For another classic about motivating reasons (albeit motivating reasons for attitudes, rather than actions), try the jazz standard "(I Love You for) Sentimental Reasons."  I like this version by Ella Fitzgerald, but there aremany others.
  • On the question of whether all normative reasons are facts, or whether objects (such as persons) can be normative reasons, see the Velvet Underground's "I Found a Reason" (1970).  I used to recommend Hoobastank's 2004 hit "The Reason" on this point, but why listen to Hoobastank when you can listen to the Velvet Underground?
  • I really can't make heads or tails of the 1975 Earth, Wind, and Fire song "Reasons," but it is worth a listen anyway.

I'm always looking for more songs about reasons!  If there is another song that you think makes a distinctive contribution to this musical dialectic, please drop me a line.  

Thanks to Herman Asarnow, Susan Baillet, Tamar Schapiro, Greg Taylor, and Paul Tulipana for song suggestions.