The Last Grains In This Hour Glass

Well here's the recording of Sand done on the nylon strings. It's a song of sand and Rock for the end of this year as the last grains of sand drop through the hour glass of 2008.

To the glory of the Everlasting God.

Sand

Poetry Tuesday - "Sand"

I'm excited to post this one. It's definitely not the greatest in terms of poetry but it successfully expressed an emotion that was felt at the time that it was written and takes us into a type of song that I'm particularly fond of - those that tell more of a story-statement than just a statement.

Sand

I came to this land but I don’t know why
It’s cold and it’s weary and it begs me to die
The one you think loves you might not love at all
The one you think is weak might be the last to fall
I hold a fist of barley and I hold a fist of rye
I hold a fist of hope and a fist that says it’s a lie

I want to move on but the engine won’t take
I want to break the silence but the silence won’t break
I want to feel your warmth but all I feel is cold
I want to be young but I keep getting old

I used to have faith but dead faith it fails
I used to have a house built of rusty nails
I said “sand is my friend at least it stays the same
It doesn’t break down it doesn’t falsely claim”
I’m cold and I’m weary, I’m beat and I’m sorry
The end has no clearing ‘cause sand has false glory

I want to move on but the engine won’t take
I want to break the silence but the silence won’t break
I want to feel your warmth but all I feel is cold
I want to be young but I keep getting old

I know in the end nothing will matter
None of this noise, none of this chatter
You say there’s a way, show me now please
I’m begging you Father now I’m on my knees

I’m tired, my God, of trying my luck
Take this sand and make it a rock

A Song For Christmas?

I think Christmas is a funny time in the music scene. We find a lot of songs to bundle into the genre of Christmas from "Here Comes Santa Clause" to "Silent Night", from "Frosty The Snowman" to "O Come All Ye Faithful" and I can't help but shut them all out of my ears (if I have the choice) in my frustration of irreverent commercialized worship music. I don't want to hear the mainstream crooning of pop stars singing about chestnuts and snow and warm fires and mistletoe because it has no relevance to the meaning of the celebration of Christmas. And my attitude towards the music that is relevant to this celebration is spoiled by that. I have a lot of trouble with this, because I think that we should rejoice as a world about the birth of Jesus... but in truth and reverence!

I am glad that this whole music conundrum will pass soon (for 10 months) but in the meantime I want to be singing my share of words of praise, acknowledgment and in reverence of the birth of Christ into the world! I am going to church and will join in the anthem of the birth of the Savior, being sung around the world tonight. Oh what a glorious thing it is!

----

I also have a song freshly written to add to the multitude (but still not nearly enough) of songs written for this event.

I promised myself I would post my first take without any editing or layering as an act of worship and trust and so here it is.

Immanuel

Poetry Tuesday - "Immanuel"

This was just written now. I will add to the noise another song.

I'll post the audio tomorrow afternoon.

Immanuel

I can’t grasp the importance of that night
When the guiding star shone dim above the Light
I know the Lord intended it to be that way
So sovereign, so subtle in His ways
I will praise You like You’ve taught me to
Like a bell is meant to ring
Like a bird loves to sing
To my Lord, Immanuel
Here with us, Immanuel

To us in sin a Child is born!
For a life of love, a crown of thorns
I thank You my Father, for giving us Your Son
For the gift of grace and victory won
The world will see the Your greatness Lord
Like the stars shine
The glory is Thine
Jesus Christ, Immanuel
Here with us, Immanuel

Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God in the highest
Glory to God in the highest
And on earth peace
Among those with whom He is pleased

An Article To Consider

My Dad sent me this article today about worship and I thought it was worth reading.

www.newoxfordreview.org/article.jsp?did=0202-harwood

Fixing What Needs To Be Fixed

Why did I even try to make it all fancy as if it made it better?

I tried so hard to make an impressive song and failed terribly at it... here's the way the song was written and the way it should be I think. One take with a mic and a broken guitar.

Lost and Found

From A Basement On Forest Hill

Okay! Finally I will post the song. It's far from perfect - but maybe that's a good thing?

I hope you enjoy it and that God is glorified by it.

Lost and Found

Poetry Tuesday - "Shadows"

I bring my regrets in saying that the audio for last week (Lost and Found) has proven to be very difficult. It is almost finished and so far has taken 4 complete re-starts, all with at least a dozen takes, the invention of a harmonica box rice shaker, the loss of a harmonica, the breaking of a guitar (not a joke), the disappearance of my self-confidence as an electric guitar player, bassist and tambourine player, and a lot of learning. But I'm almost done, I'll be posting it this week Lord willing! (I'm not going to quit).

In the meantime I'll post a poem for this week that was written last week. The audio demo has already been started and will be up here soon too.

Shadows

It’s morning and the shadows are drawn
Beside the false light of dew drops in the sun on the lawn
It’s been so long
Where’d I go wrong?
Has it been too long?
'Cause the shadows are drawn

There are white lights fading up above
The shadows are showing what once was love
Do we belong?
With shadows so long?
But this is your song
The shadows are drawn

There are places the dark can’t touch at all
I’ll be singing for you
I’ll be singing for you
Where the shadows don’t fall
There may be vices that are standing oh so tall
But I’ll be singing of you
I’ll be singing of you
Where the shadows don’t fall

When it’s evening and the sun fails the test
In the cold and dark world of moth and of rust
Will I belong?
So close in your arms?
After all of these wrongs?
Tight in your arms?
Thank God it’s your song
Thank God I belong
And they will be gone
These shadows so drawn

Poetry Tuesday - "Lost and Found"

It's been a week already?

I can't but laugh as I write this one out. I've spent the last few hours trying to make a decent recording of this poem, along the song that goes with it, and have failed thoroughly. It's definitely the kind of song that needs a band (and people who can actually play their instruments!). I hope you're not disappointed though and I am certainly not going to stop trying... it'll be up here this week Lord willing.

Dave (Da-eh-ave) and Megan (Megs and bacon) this one was written in N.Ireland (on your guitar Dave, as I recall) and was played quite a bit around the house, so this round is for you guys cause I miss you (to reminisce). It's a simple one, no metaphors or odd allusions, it was written as a song of redemption, thankfulness, and joy based on the parable of Jesus - the prodigal son.

Lost and Found

My mind keeps on saying I'm a failure

And my feet keep on taking me away

I receive Your estate and I throw it all away

For treasures of this world, for pleasures of myself

How many wrongs can make me a failure?

And how many steps can be to far?

How many times can I throw Your estate away?

Before You say, you're no child of Mine

I'm sorry my great Father

For all the wrong I've done

I'm sorry my great Father

For what I've become

For what I've done

Hope seems to be a false saviour

Cause hope isn't always all I need

It's hope that's broken down almost all of my dreams

It's You I want, It's You I need

Oh how abounding are Your mercies!

Oh how far does Your love stretch!

You are King of kings, You are Lord of lords

And I'm Your child, lost and found

I'm Your child, in graces anew

I Bought A Microphone

As the title declares... I have made the purchase of a condenser microphone. I still don't really know how to work it all (and I'm certainly no musician or producer - hence the frequent popping sounds and poorly mixed instruments) but I thought I'd share with you the song behind the poem that I posted just a few days ago (check previous post). I spent an hour or so in the basement laying this down and hopefully you'll enjoy it (and maybe you will if you're not too critical). Perhaps it'll be a weekly thing?

To the glory of God.

(Yes, there's a picture of a monkey. It would only let me post this as a video so I improvised... with the monkey.)

We Don't Remember (Your Glory Won't Die)

Poetry Tuesday - "We Don't Remember"

Well, I've officially declared Tuesday the day of Poetry!

Perhaps it's not really official, but if you stop by here every Tuesday I'll have an original poem posted. More often than not the poem is actually lyrics to song and therefore if you don't like poetry that isn't structured (generally cubist) then I'm sorry. Deal with it.

Today's song/poem is called "We Don't Remember" and I've chosen it as my first post for two reasons.

Firstly. It was written when I first called this blog "Vanity Of Vanities" and has a lot of connections to the purpose and thought behind this blog. They're both very obviously based on Ecclesiastes.

Secondly. It reflects my heart on the matter of original artwork and it's purpose (and lack of purpose!). This poem is foundational for the poems that are to follow (if the Lord wills). Naturally as a poet, I will not elaborate and leave that for you!


We Don't Remember (Your Glory Won't Die)

I thought I had it all together
I thought I’d seen it all through
I had ten lovers but the love wasn’t true
And I knew it too

The sun goes up and down
The wind goes round and round
All that lives returns to the ground
And so does renown

So I’m learning how to fear
Cause the end is drawing near
And we don’t remember
So this is for You
This is for You

I thought I wrote this song
I thought maybe You’d play along
I sang ten thousand songs that I thought belonged
I was wrong

I’ve been chasing after wind
For a name in humanity
I put hope in vanity only to see
That it’s a dead sea

So I’m learning how to fear
Cause the end is drawing near
And we don’t remember
So this is for You
This is for You

And the dust returns to the ground it came from
And the spirit returns to God who gave it
Your glory won’t die
Your glory won’t die