MULTIMEDIA-ENGLISH
Go forth (Levi's)
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1:01
Video page URL
https://multimedia-english.com/videos/esl/go-forth-levis-3802
Description

A truly inspiring commercial: it's every person's legacy to make the world more to their liking. Now is our time. Go Forth!


It uses the poem "The Laughing Heart" by Charles Bukowski, a great American poet, novelist and short story writer. His writing was influenced by the social, cultural and economic ambience of his home city of Los Angeles.


 

Transcript

your life is your life
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.

there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.

be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.

you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.

your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvellous
the gods wait to delight in you.

Meaning

"When all is said and done, have you done or said enough?
Have you just gone along for the ride, or have you steered destiny's hot rod?
When you leave this world, did you make it any better than it was when you arrived?
All you need is all you've got; your wits and the clothes on your back.
Your epitaph is yours to earn, your legacy is yours to make."

In the UK, jeans could encourage riots. After facing criticism that the ads might encourage more rioting, the spots were canceled in England “out of sensitivity for what is happening in the UK”.

According to a Levi’s spokesman:
"The scenes, which were accompanied by images of teens in loving embraces, playing in the wind and partying in clubs, were never meant to advocate for violence."
“‘Go Forth’ is about embodying the energy and events of our time, it is not about any specific movement or political theme; rather, it’s about optimism, positive action and a pioneering spirit”.