“Watching my life go by” is a song by the late musician Michael Hedges, written from the point of view from the back seat of a station wagon. The lyrics, posted here, are a good description of Eleven Little Deaths protagonist Jacob Will’s life.

As a child traveling south on vacation with his parents, Jacob remembers stopping at a Stuckey’s for his father’s favorite nut bars. It’s only one of many things he’ll think about now on his journey in search of himself. He’s missed a lot of things in his life. And maybe now he’ll stop watching his life go by and start living it. Click this link to hear the song.   #elevenlittledeaths

Everyone sees their life a different way
Saviors even come on different days
Bleeding his colors into several shades
But I am a prisoner caught in the flesh, red-handed
Watching my life go by
I’m watching my life go by
Watching my life

Nobody knows how close “together” means
Love is a race we run at different speeds
Pacing ourselves to deal with different needs
But I am a spectator
caught in a crowd of laughter
Watching my life go by
I’m watching my life go by
Watching my life

Somebody help me find my way back down
There’s nobody left for me to lap around
Everyone’s breaking past my speed of sound
I am a dictator
I keep my soul surrounded
Watching my life go by

I’m watching my life go by
I’m watching my life