THE DISTANCE - LAURENCE FOX

I had never heard of the fellow, but this video was brought to my attention by Cuz Essenman - interesting lyrics.

They have put something in the water. They seek a cure for the conversation. They stole a march on your indecision. And the first to fall was laughter just to quell the unoffended they seek to murder your opinion.
And the light has been turned down on the age of reason
replaced by blinding fires that burn wild across the region
But the wrong to rule the good must just stand idly by
So I need you more than ever
I need your hand in this resistance
If we´re going to go the distance
And if I ever doubted I think about my future and if I want to live there.
And the world outside is wondrous wide for a reason if I can´t decide you must blow your own mind for that reason
For the wrong to rule the good must just stand idly by and that´s no lie.
Can´t be hard to know what you´re feeling what with all the lies that you´re reading if it´s hard to say you may mean it. Don´t be lost! Thinking about tomorrow when today is what you are living. Make today a new beginning.
And the light has been turned down on the age of reason. Replaced by blinding fires that burn wild across the region. For the wrong to rule the good must just stand idly by.
So I need you more than ever. I need your hand in this resistance if we´re going to go the distance. And if I ever doubted I think about my future and if I want to life there.
And the world outside is wonderous wide for a reason. If you can´t deside you must blow your own mind for that reason. For the wrong to rule the good must just stand idly by and that´s no lie.
So I need you more than ever I need your hand in this resistance if we´re going to go the distance and if I ever doubted I think about my future and if I want to life ... there

WHAT'S UP - 4 NON BLONDES

Time for some more music - turn up the volume!!

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

I realized quickly when I knew I should
That the world was made up of this brotherhood of man
For whatever that means

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying in bed just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?

And I say, hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey yeah yeah, hey yeah yeah
I said hey, what's going on?

Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh

And I try, oh my god do I try
I try all the time, in this institution

And I pray, oh my god do I pray
I pray every single day
For a revolution

And so I cry sometimes
When I'm lying bed
Just to get it all out
What's in my head
And I, I am feeling a little peculiar

And so I wake in the morning
And I step outside
And I take a deep breath and I get real high
And I scream from the top of my lungs
What's going on?

And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?
And I say, hey hey hey hey
I said hey, what's going on?

Oh, oh oh oh

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

GIRL FROM CONEJO VALLEY - M. WARD

I recently learned about M. Ward via Charlie D, one of the regulars at Herm's Breakfast Gang gatherings on Saturday mornings at the Sundance in Ned.  Interestingly, the Conejo Valley is not far from where we lived in California.  Learn more about M. Ward here.  Be sure to watch Slow Driving Man.

h/t Charlie D

SLIP SLIDIN' AWAY

TAKE ME TO CHURCH

I have heard this song in the past, and then recently heard it again on Globe Radio, Goshen College's FM Station - Link on the Right Panel of This Blog.  And interestingly, Jerry Coyne hosted a guest post about the song, so go over there to read some very interesting comments.  Summary - many take it to be a very anti-theistic, anti church song, while a couple of wags said that it is simply a metaphor for sex.  And then one person trumped that by saying virtually every pop song is a metaphor for sex!!!  Har!  I will let you decide.

"Take Me To Church"

My lover's got humour
She's the giggle at a funeral
Knows everybody's disapproval
I should've worshiped her sooner

If the heavens ever did speak
She's the last true mouthpiece
Every Sunday's getting more bleak
A fresh poison each week

'We were born sick,' you heard them say it

My Church offers no absolutes
She tells me, 'Worship in the bedroom.'
The only heaven I'll be sent to
Is when I'm alone with you.

I was born sick,
But I love it
Command me to be well
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life

If I'm a pagan of the good times
My lover's the sunlight
To keep the Goddess on my side
She demands a sacrifice

Drain the whole sea
Get something shiny
Something meaty for the main course
That's a fine-looking high horse
What you got in the stable?
We've a lot of starving faithful

That looks tasty
That looks plenty
This is hungry work

Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife
Offer me my deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life

No Masters or Kings
When the Ritual begins
There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin

In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene
Only then I am Human
Only then I am Clean
Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life

SONG OF THE YEAR

By Mary J. Blige and Sam Smith

Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand
But I still need love 'cause I'm just a man
These nights never seem to go to plan
I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand?

 

Oh, won't you stay with me?
'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love, it's clear to see
But darling, stay with me

 

Why am I so emotional?
No, it's not a good look, gain some self-control
And deep down I know this never works
But you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt

 

Oh, won't you stay with me?
'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love, it's clear to see
But darling, stay with me

 

Oh, won't you stay with me?
'Cause you're all I need
This ain't love, it's clear to see
But darling, stay with me

Oh, won't you stay with me?
'Cause you're all I need
This ain't love, it's clear to see

OF MONSTERS AND MEN

There's nothing like living with about fifty 18-22 year-olds to catch up a bit with youth culture.  For example, this old fellow had never heard of One Direction, apparently one of the largest stars in an ever-expanding music universe.  One ditty that I enjoyed hearing Sam and other students play and sing is below - again - had never heard of the song or the group, but as you will note, the video has had over 83 million views. 

"Little Talks"

Hey! Hey! Hey!
I don't like walking around this old and empty house
So hold my hand, I'll walk with you, my dear
[Video version:] The stairs creak as you sleep, it's keeping me awake
[Live version:] The stairs creak as I sleep, it's keeping me awake
It's the house telling you to close your eyes

And some days I can't even trust myself
It's killing me to see you this way

'Cause though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Hey! Hey! Hey!

There's an old voice in my head that's holding me back
Well tell her that I miss our little talks
Soon it will be over and buried with our past
We used to play outside when we were young
And full of life and full of love.

[Video version:] Some days I don't know if I am wrong or right
[Live version:] Some days I feel like I'm wrong when I'm right
Your mind is playing tricks on you, my dear

'Cause though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Hey!
Don't listen to a word I say
Hey!
The screams all sound the same
Hey!

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Hey!
Hey!

You're gone, gone, gone away
I watched you disappear
All that's left is the ghost of you.
Now we're torn, torn, torn apart,
There's nothing we can do
Just let me go we'll meet again soon
Now wait, wait, wait for me
Please hang around
I'll see you when I fall asleep

Hey!
Don't listen to a word I say
Hey!
The screams all sound the same
Hey!
Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Don't listen to a word I say
Hey!
The screams all sound the same
Hey!

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

Though the truth may vary
This ship will carry our bodies safe to shore

h/t  dom

50K

No, I did not recently run 31.1 miles [although I did run at least 5K this morning]; rather, you may have noted that the counter on the right side of this page recently went past 50,000.  Yes, I know that some folks get 50,000 visits per day - but they usually write about interesting or controversial stuff!!  And yes, I know that some of those 50,000 visits were from spammers, before I put the kibosh on that by requiring a word verification before making a comment.  Also, this will be the 431st post, so it won't be a real long time until that hits 500.  Remember that you can aggregate posts by clicking on the category labels - I sometimes use it to watch/listen to music.  And speaking of music, I will throw one in here - not particularly relevant other than some folks think blogging is crazy :-)

I remember when, I remember I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place  
Even your emotions have an echo in so much space
And when you're out there without care  
Yeah, I was out of touch  
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough  
I just knew too much
Does that make me crazy?  
Does that make me crazy?  
Does that make me crazy?
Possibly
And I hope that you are  
Having the time of your life  
But think twice  
That's my only advice
Come on now, who do you  
Who do you, who do you, who do you think you are?
 Ha ha ha, bless your soul
You really think you're in control?
Well, I think you're crazy  
I think you're crazy  
I think you're crazy  
Just like me
My heroes had the heart  
To lose their lives out on a limb  
And all I remember Is thinking, 
I want to be like them
Ever since I was little  
Ever since I was little It looked like fun  
And it's no coincidence I've come  
And I can die when I'm done
But maybe I'm crazy  
Maybe you're crazy  
Maybe we're crazy  
Probably

DAVID GRAY

I have previously posted about David Gray, one of my all-time favorite musicians.  So here are three more songs for my, and possibly, your enjoyment!

"Be Mine"

From the very first moment I saw you

That's when I knew

All the dreams I held in my heart

Had suddenly come true

Knock me over stone cold sober

Not a think I could say or do

'cos baby when I'm walking with you now

My eyes are so wide

Like you reached right into my head

And turned on the light inside

Turning on the light

Inside my mind hey

Come on baby it's all right

Sunday monday day or night

Written blue on white it's plain to see

That rainy shiny night or day

What's the difference anyway

Baby till your heart belongs to me

If I had some influence girl

With the powers that be

I'd have them fire that arrow at you

Like they fired it right at me

And maybe when your heart and soul are burning

You might see

That everytime I'm talking with you

It's always over too soon

That everyday feels so incomplete

Till you walk into the room

Say the word now girl

I'll jump that moon hey

Come on baby it's ok

Rainy shiny night or day

There's nothing in the way now

Don't you see

Winter summer day or night

Centigrade of fahrenheit

Baby till your heart belongs to me

Thursday friday short or long

When you got a love so strong

How can it be wrong now mercy me

Jumpin' jesus holy cow!

What's the difference anyhow

Baby till your heart belongs to me

Be mine, be mine



  "Meet me on the other side"


Meet me on the other side
Meet me on the other side
I'll see you on the other side
See you on the other side

Honey now if I'm honest
I still don't know what love is
Another mirage folds into the haze of time recalled
And now the floodgates cannot hold
All my sorrow all my rage
A tear that falls on every page

Meet me on the other side
Meet me on the other side

Maybe I oughta mention
Was never my intention
To harm you or your kin
Are you so scared to look within
The ghosts are crawling on our skin
We may race and we may run
We'll not undo what has been done
Or change the moment when it's gone

Meet me on the other side
Meet me on the other side
I'll see you on the other side
I'll see you on the other side

I know it would be outrageous
To come on all courageous
And offer you my hand
To pull you up on to dry land
When all I got is sinking sand
The trick ain't worth the time it buys
I'm sick of hearing my own lies
And love's a raven when it flies

Meet me on the other side
Meet me on the other side
I'll see you on the other side

"Say Hello Wave Goodbye"

Standing at the door of the pink Flamingo crying in the rain,
It was a kind of so-so love and I'm gonna make sure it doesn't happen again,
You and I had to be the standing joke of the year,
You were a run around, a lost and found, and not for me I feel

Take your hands off me, hey,
I don't belong to you, you see,
And take a look in my face, for the last time,
I never knew you, you never knew me,
Say hello goodbye,
Say hello and wave goodbye,

We tried to make it work, you in a cocktail skirt and me in a suit but it just wasn't me,
You're used to wearing less, and now your life's a mess, so insecure you see,
I put up with all the scenes, this is one scene that's going to be played my way

[Chorus:]
Say hello and wave goodbye

Under the deep red light I can see the make-up sliding down,
Well hey little girl you will always make up so take off that unbecoming frown,
As for me, well I'll find someone who's not going cheap in the sales,
A nice little housewife who'll give me a steady life and not keep going
off the rails,

[Chorus:]
Say hello and wave goodbye

SOME SONGS FOR SATURDAY

Some of you may have noted that one of the hotlinks on the right side of this blog is to Globe Radio, which is WGCS, the Voice of Goshen College, and a number 1 ranked college station.  Their playlists are incredibly eclectic - some great, some good, some so-so, but guaranteed to bring you new tunes.  I heard this one recently, and since I am a fan of steel/slide guitar, I was taken in....it's Walking Over The Water by Mat Kearney, Mercyland:  Hymns for the Rest of Us.



 

The next one is from niece Anna Montgomery - After The Rain

What it was
A simple kind of ordinary dream
look arou  nd me now
Everything's changed somehow
As it does
Cause nothing is as perfect as it seems
So many with bad intent
Pray on the innocentIn darkness they inspire
Lies driven by desire to possess

At all cost
Before whatever hope I had is lost
For angel I must abide
Wherever those demons hide
I search for resolution
It's all that I could hope to gain
Must put the past behind me
Silently my last refrain
Like the eerie kind of quiet after the rain

Drum them out
The echoes in my head are filled with doubt
Are all of my feelings known
What the hell have I become
Still I try
But emptiness is all I ever find
With shadows I walk alone
The struggle is all I've known

I search for resolution
It's all I hope to gain
Must put the past behind me
So silently my last refrain
Like the eerie kind of quiet after the rain

Search for a remedy
And somewhere I can lay the blame
Can't walk from memories
So desperately I hide in vain
From this eerie kind of quiet after the rain

And lastly, Goshen by Beruit



You're on in five, it's time you rise or fail.
They've gone before, stood by your door all day.
For what it's worth, defend your kind from shame.
The lights are down, go on inside, they've paid.
You're the face in stone, through the land I own.
You never found it home.
You're not the girl I used to know.

What would you hide from such a glow
If I had only told you so?

You're on in five, it's time you rise or fail.
They've gone before, stood by your door all day.
But you never found it home.
A fair price I'd pay to be alone.

What would you hide from such a glow
If I had only told you so? ♥

RIVER FLOWS IN YOU

As we have come to learn, Pepperdine students are talented in many different areas, and the Heidelberg group is typical.  The faculty apartment is adjacent to the Reception Room [simply a nice gathering room for study, meeting, conversation and music].  One of the young men is a highly accomplished piano player and I always enjoy the music whenever he decides to practice or simply unwind a bit.  One of the tuns he plays is River Flows in You by Yiruma.



After finding the wonderful version above by Yiruma, I found another fascinating version by Lindsey Sterling.



Sterling is rather amazing.  Check out her website as well as her YouTube videos such as Phantom of the Opera and Spontaneous Me, and Skyrim, a one-voice-one-violin piece with Peter Hollens.  Enjoy!

SATURDAY SONGS

It has been a while since I posted some music for no particular reason other than I like the songs - so here are a couple.  Heads Up - The first has some powerful indictments of lying men, and the second video is a bit too 'mooshy' for me - but I like Chapman's version.  Thus - recommendation for both is just listen to the music :-)

They say a woman's a fool for weeping
A fool to break her own heart
But I can't hold the secret I'm keeping
I'm breaking apart

Can't seem to mind my own business
Whatever I try turns out wrong
I seem like my own false witness
And I can't go on

I cover my ears, I close my eyes
Still hear your voice and it's telling me lies
Telling me lies

You told me you needed my company
And I believed in your flattering ways
You told me you needed me forever
Nearly gave you the rest of my days

Should've seen you for what you are
Should never have come back for more
Should've locked up all my silver
Brought the key right to your door

I cover my ears, I close my eyes
Still hear your voice and it's telling me lies
Telling me lies

You don't know what a chance is
Until you have to seize one
You don't know what a man is
Until you have to please one

Don't put your life in the hands of a man
With a face for every season
Don't waste your time in the arms of a man
Who's no stranger to treason

I cover my ears, I close my eyes
Still hear your voice and it's telling me lies
Telling me lies

When the night has come and the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No, I won't be afraid, oh, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
So darling, darling, stand by me, oh, stand by me
Oh, stand, stand by me, stand by me

If the sky that we look upon should tumble and fall
Or the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry, no, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me
And darling, darling, stand by me
Darling, darling, stand by me
Whenever you're in trouble
Won't you stand by me, oh, stand by me

ERIC WHITACRE VIRTUAL CHOIR THREE

WINTER NIGHT

The Making of Winter Night

21 GUNS

Green Day -  21 Guns  -  Cast Version

Songwriters: PHILLIPS, JOHN EDMUND ANDREW / BOWIE, DAVID / ARMSTRONG, BILLIE JOE / PRITCHARD, MICHAEL / WRIGHT, FRANK III

Do you know what's worth fighting for?
When it's not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away
And you feel yourself suffocating?

Does the pain weigh out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?

Did someone break your heart inside?
You're in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

When you're at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul

Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last
You're in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

Did you try to live on your own
When you burned down the house and home?
Did you stand too close to the fire
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone?

When it's time to live and let die
And you can't get another try
Something inside this heart has died
You're in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

Lyrics Provided By ZoneLyrics.net

H/T to Randy M

MY MORNING JACKET

Whilst surfing the wasteland last night as a prelude to watching the Nuggets pwn the Heat, I came across a Storytellers Concert performance by My Morning Jacket - some decent stuff amidst some mediocre - but interesting.

HALLELUJAH

At the most recent Aschliman clan gathering in Indiana, my musician niece Anna Montgomery and I worked out a decent renditon of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah - at least the relatives liked it :-)  There are quite a few versions of the song on YouTube, but here is one of my favorites, sung by kd lang.  Another great version is by Epsen Lind, Askil Holm, Alejandro Fuentes and Kurt Nilsen, World Idol winner - it has approximately 29,000,000 views and embedding has been disabled.  Nilsen is amazing.  You can find the video here.

Here are the complete lyrics, and you will note the KD leaves out three verses and also changes a few words.

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you
To a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Baby I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you.
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What's really going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dove was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Maybe there’s a God above
But all I’ve ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
It’s not a cry you can hear at night
It’s not somebody who has seen the light
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light
In every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though
It all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah