For The A to Z Challenge this year, I am focusing on everyday holidays. Each day there are multiple unusual things to celebrate. Every day of the challenge I look for an event taking place that day and pair it with the letter of the day. I have also made up 5 holidays to coincide with the vowel days of the challenge. At the end of each post I will share a special song of the day for that day's letter. At the end of the month, these songs will be assembled in an A to Z keepsake playlist on Spotify. Every day is a celebration, let's unwrap today's together.
A Very Special Installment Today
Dave Out Loud Presents Undecided, Undeclared & Uncertain Day
21 letters 21 songs assembled in a playlist. 5 more remain. Here is what we have so far.
To go to the home of the A to Z challenge click here, to see the 2024 master list of participating blogs click here. Enjoy the 2024 A to Z challenge, and Happy Holidays!
For The A to Z Challenge this year, I am focusing on everyday holidays. Each day there are multiple unusual things to celebrate. Every day of the challenge I look for an event taking place that day and pair it with the letter of the day. I have also made up 5 holidays to coincide with the vowel days of the challenge. At the end of each post I will share a special song of the day for that day's letter. At the end of the month, these songs will be assembled in an A to Z keepsake playlist on Spotify. Every day is a celebration, let's unwrap today's together.
I'm gonna be honest. Most of these holidays I am highlighting for the challenge. I am going to forget about for next year. Some I've probably already forgotten. World Table Tennis Day is one holiday I don't want to forget. In fact, I am kind of bummed that I probably won't ping some pong today. Ping some pong is what I call playing ping pong or table tennis.
When I think of table tennis the first thing that pops into my head is this commercial from when I was a kid.
Gnip Gnop not only sparked a passion for ping pong but also a passion for gnikaeaps sdrawkcab (speaking backwards) which turned into my love for all things palindromic.
When other people think of ping pong this scene from Forrest Gump may pop in their head ...
I love playing table tennis. I may lack the Gumpian endurance or skill but what I lack in endurance and talent I make up in zeal. In college I played a lot of table tennis, it is a great way to spend time between classes or as a study break. It is both social and athletic. I even had an album that I thought was the best accompaniment for playing ping pong. It was Jacob's Trouble's debut album, Door Into Summer. When I hear other people incorrectly say that this group has better albums, my initial thought is not to play ping pong with. You listen and you tell me if the beat doesn't want to make you ping some pong.
One fun thing to on World Table Tennis Day would be to play a variation called round robin. It is basically a cross between table tennis and musical chairs. You play with 2 paddles and as many people as can fit around a ping pong table. Instead of describing it, here is play in action ...
To get a full ping pong experience play the round robin clip without volume while listening to the Jacob's Trouble and you'll see what I'm talking about. So, ping some pong today if you get a chance and if you can't that's just how the ball bounces.
The song of the day today is Tell It Again by J.J. Heller
20 songs now comprise the A to Z playlist.
To go to the home of the A to Z challenge click here, to see the 2024 master list of participating blogs click here. Enjoy the 2024 A to Z challenge, and Happy Holidays!
For The A to Z Challenge this year, I am focusing on everyday holidays. Each day there are multiple unusual things to celebrate. Every day of the challenge I look for an event taking place that day and pair it with the letter of the day. I have also made up 5 holidays to coincide with the vowel days of the challenge. At the end of each post I will share a special song of the day for that day's letter. At the end of the month, these songs will be assembled in a to z keepsake playlist on Spotify. Every day is a celebration, let's unwrap today's together.
April 10th is Indicted Illinois Governors Day
In U.S. history there have been 25 state governors who have been convicted of federal crimes. 4 of these have come from the state of Illinois. . That's righr 4 of the last 10 Illinois governors have served in federal prisons.
As a non public official of the state of Illinois with all the power invested in me by this great state, I proclaim April 10th as Indicted Illinois Governors Day.
There have actually been 5 Illinois governors to be indicted.
Joel Aldrich Matteson, the 10th governor of Illinois (1853-1857) was charged in 1859 in the Canal Scrip Fraud Scandal. Matteson redeemed Scrip for the Canal for himself. He was indicted but then acquitted and returned the majority of the funds to the state.
Otto Kerner Jr, was governor of Illinois from 1961-1968. In 1972 He was a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals when he was indicted on multiple charges including mail fraud, & income tax evasions. Charges he was eventually convicted og. Kerner served six months on a three year sentence. His crimes went back to 1962 when as a governor he colluded with race track owners.
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Dan Walker was governor of Illinois from 1973-1977. Unlike Kerner, Walkers convictions came from crimes committed after his time as governor. As CEO of a savings and loan siphoned bank money for his own use, Walker was indicted, convicted and served 17 months of a seven year sentence.
George Ryan was governor of Illinois from 1999-2003 and was the Il Secretary of State prior to that, As Secretary of State he presided over a huge bribes for licenses scheme. This scheme was exposed after a truck killed 6 children in the same family and it was revealed that the trucker had paid bribes for his license. Ryan was sentenced to 6 1/2 years of prison and was released in 2013.
Rod Blagojevich was governor of Illinois form 2002 - 2009 when he was impeached by the Illinois General Assembly. When Blagojevich (Blago) rand in 2002 his mantra was no more business as usual. This was in the wake of the Ryan scandals. The problem is Blago missed his own memo, and went back to business as usual, and business was booming. Blago was caught on tape trying to sell the senate seat of President Elect Obama, and was charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and solicitation of bribery. He was convicted and sentenced to 14 years and was in prison from 2012 to 2020 when hw was pardoned by Donald Trump.
While it's true that our last 3 governors have not gone to jail. We could use the growth mindset, and say they have not gone to jail yet. Why do so many of the governors of my state go to jail. It may just be a matter of linguistical expectations. What do governors and convicts have in common. They both serve terms. So in a way their first career sets up their second.
While I made up this holiday, I unfortunately did not make up the history.
That's it for me . Feel free to add a comment before moving on with your day.
To go to the home of the A to Z challenge click here, to see the 2024 master list of participating blogs click here. Enjoy the 2024 A to Z challenge, and Happy Holidays!
Last year at this time I commemorated Sir Randy Stonehill's 71st birthday by sharing 71 of my favorite songs of his on this blog. As he is adding a candle on his birthday cake this year, I am upping my 71 song salute to a half gross. I was able to see Randy at 2 concerts since he turned 71. One with Phil Keaggy last Fall, and a few weeks ago I crossed the border into Missouri to catch an epic solo concert.
In tribute to that performance I am including every song I can find on the internet that he performed at that concert. All of the songs he perfformed on March 2nd in St. Louis are listed in Bold Letters (Just in case you don't know what Bold Letters look like, they look like this.)Many of his songs can be found on Spotify. Songs I could not find on Spotify, I found on BandCamp. Songs I could not find in either place I pulled from you-tube or Patreon.
1. Irresistable Future - Mystery Highway
2. Faithful - Until We Have Wings
3. Get Me Out of Hollywood- Get me Out of Hollywood
5. Christmas Song For All Year 'Round - Welcome To Paradise
6. I Love You - Born Twice
7. Norman's Kitchen - Born Twice
8. Bad Fruit -The Sky Is Falling
9. Still Small Voice - Celebrate This Heartbeat
10. Christine - Between The Glory And The Flame
11. Can Hell Burn Hot Enough - Until We Have Wings
12. Light Of The World - Equator
13. First Prayer - Welcome To Paradise
14. Keep Me Runnin' - Welcome To Paradise
15. Stop The World - Celebrate This Heartbeat
16. Sunday's Child - Mystery Highway
17. Love Beyond Reason - Love Beyond Reason 18. Ramada Inn (Live) - Until We Have Wings 19. Everything But Love - Stonehill 20. Didn't It Rain - Until We Have Wings 21. One True Love - The Sky Is Falling 22.Until Your Love Broke Through- Love Beyond Reason 23. Celebrate This Heartbeat - Celebrate This Heartbeat 24. The Hope of Glory - The Wild Frontier 25. Modern Myth - Celebrate This Heartbeat 26. Can't Buy A Miracle - Can't Buy A Miracle 27. Leonard Has A Toaster - Lost Art Of Listening 28. Glory And The Flame - Between The Glory And The Flame
29. Stand Like Steel - Return To Paradise 30. Hand of God - Thirst
31. Barbie Nation - Wonderama
32. Old Clothes - Until We Have Wings
33. Charlie The Weatherman - Stories
34. Try Havin' Some Faith - Spirit Walk
35. Turning Thirty - Equator
36. Lazarus Heart - Lazarus Heart
37. This Old Face - Lost Art Of Listening
38. Baby Hates Clowns - Thirst
39. Strong Hand Of Love - Welcome To Paradise
40. Stormy Winds- Uncle Stonehill's Hat
41. Die Young - Between The Glory And The Flame
42. Who Will Save The Children - Celebrate This Heartbeat
43. Arriving to Depart: Not yet on album
(Pulled from You Tube video from Jan 24 concert, song begins at approximately 19:00)
44. King Of Hearts: Welcome To Paradise
45. That's The Way It Goes (Live) - Edge Of The World
46. Shut De Do (Live) - Equator
47. Jesus - Breath Of God
48. Big Ideas (In The Shrinking World) 49. Beginning Of The Living End - Lost Art of Listening
50. Broken Places - Spirit Walk 51. Hymn - Love Beyond Reason
52. Billy Frank - The Lost Art Of Listening
53. Venezuela - The Sky Is Falling
54. What Do You Want From Life? - The Wild Frontier
55.Brighter Day - Can't Buy A Miracle 56. Get Together - The Wild Frontier
57. Ready To Go - Welcome To Paradise
58.Rachel Delevoryas - Wonderama
59.In Jesus Name - Lazarus Heart 60.Last Time I Saw Eden - Spirit Walk 61. Everything You Know (Is Incorrect) - Thirst
62.I've Got News For You (Paradise Sky Version) Welcome To Paradise -
63. When I'm Afraid Lazarus Heart
64.When I Look To The Mountains - Celebrate This Heartbeat
65.Mercy In The Shadow Land - Lost Art Of Listening
66. Backwards On Her Bike - Mystery Highway 67.Cosmetic Fixation - Equator
68.A Promise Made Is A Promise Kept - Lazarus Heart
69. The Keeper Of The Bear - Thirst
70. I Don't Ever Want To Live Without You - Return To Paradise
71. One Last Song Before I Say Goodbye - Not yet recorded on an album
72. Life is Tough, God Is Good - Spirit Walk
Happy Birthday Randy! I encourage anyone who spends time listening to these songs to buy some or all of them on Band Camp. Also you can sponsor Rand's ministry on his Patreon page.
On this Day March 12th, 1951 fellow baby boomer and my favorite singer Randy Stonehill was born in California. He turns 71 today and to celebrate I will link 71 of my favorite songs (and yes, I have that many) of his here on this very happy birthday post. Many of these songs can be found on Spotify. All of these songs are available for purchase at Bandcamp. Note: Songs are listed from the album they originally appeared. The song is not always being played from that album.
1. Never Can Repay - Born Twice
2. Faithful - Until We Have Wings
3. Get Me Out of Hollywood- Get me Out of Hollywood
4. Starlings - Return To Paradise
5. Christmas Song For All Year 'Round - Welcome To Paradise
6. I Love You - Born Twice
7. Norman's Kitchen - Born Twice
8. Bad Fruit -The Sky Is Falling
9. Still Small Voice - Celebrate This Heartbeat
10. Christine - Between The Glory And The Flame
11. Can Hell Burn Hot Enough - Until We Have Wings
12. Light Of The World - Equator
13. First Prayer - Welcome To Paradise
14. Keep Me Runnin' - Welcome To Paradise
15. Stop The World - Celebrate This Heartbeat
16. Sunday's Child - Mystery Highway
17. Love Beyond Reason - Love Beyond Reason
18. Ramada Inn (Live) - Until We Have Wings
19. Everything But Love - Stonehill
20. Didn't It Rain - Until We Have Wings
21. One True Love - The Sky Is Falling
22. Until Your Love Broke Through- Love Beyond Reason
23. Celebrate This Heartbeat - Celebrate This Heartbeat
24. The Hope of Glory - The Wild Frontier
25. Modern Myth - Celebrate This Heartbeat
26. Can't Buy A Miracle - Can't Buy A Miracle
27. Leonard Has A Toaster - Lost Art Of Listening
28. Glory And The Flame - Between The Glory And The Flame
29. Stand Like Steel - Return To Paradise
30. Hand of God - Thirst
31. Barbie Nation - Wonderama
32. Old Clothes - Until We Have Wings
33. Charlie The Weatherman - Stories
34. Try Havin' Some Faith - Spirit Walk
35. Turning Thirty - Equator
36. Lazarus Heart - Lazarus Heart
37. This Old Face - Lost Art Of Listening
38. Baby Hates Clowns - Thirst
39. Strong Hand Of Love - Welcome To Paradise
40. Curious - Uncle Stonehill's Hat
41. Die Young - Between The Glory And The Flame
42. Who Will Save The Children - Celebrate This Heartbeat
43. We Were All So Young - Edge Of The World
44. King Of Hearts
45. That's The Way It Goes (Live) - Edge Of The World
46. Shut De Do (Live) - Equator
47. Jesus - Breath Of God
48. Big Ideas (In The Shrinking World) 49. The Gods Of Men - Love Beyond Reason
50. Broken Places - Spirit Walk
51. Hymn - Love Beyond Reason
52. Billy Frank - The Lost Art Of Listening
53. Venezuela - The Sky Is Falling
54. What Do You Want From Life? - The Wild Frontier
55.Brighter Day - Can't Buy A Miracle
56. Get Together - The Wild Frontier
57. Ready To Go - Welcome To Paradise
58. Sing In Portugese - Wonderama
59.In Jesus Name - Lazarus Heart
60.Last Time I Saw Eden - Spirit Walk
61. Everything You Know (Is Incorrect) - Thirst
62.I've Got News For You (Paradise Sky Version) Welcome To Paradise -
63. Awfully Loud World - Can't Buy A Miracle
64.When I Look To The Mountains - Celebrate This Heartbeat
65.Mercy In The Shadow Land - Lost Art Of Listening
66. Backwards On Her Bike - Mystery Highway
67.Cosmetic Fixation - Equator
68.A Promise Made Is A Promise Kept - Lazarus Heart
69. The Keeper Of The Bear - Thirst
70. I Don't Ever Want To Live Without You - Return To Paradise
71. Finish Well - Spirit Walk
Happy Birthday Randy! I encourage anyone who spends time listening to these songs to buy some or all of them on Bandy Camp and give Randy a gift for the wonderful music he's been giving to us for a half-century.
On the Poetry Friday that took place on June 30th, 2022. I shared the inaugural Poetry of Music post and stated I wanted to share songs that were more like poems set to music about once a month or so. 6 months later, here I am sharing the next installment. I landed a lot closer to the or so part of my prognostication than the once a month part.
Today's song comes from the late Mark Heard, producer, singer, songwriter, and poet all wrapped into one. Mark Heard died in the Summer of 1992 a few weeks after having a heart attack while performing at the Cornerstone Music Festival in Bushnell, Illinois.
My last post contained a bit of a lament on some of the present difficulties associated with my life at this time. The Pain That Plagues Creation is a haunting reminder that while life is fraught with difficulty it also equally fraught with hope..
The Pain That Plagues Creation
By Mark Heard
As this planet falls around the sun
Trapping us in the orbit
Creation groans in unison
Like a race of frightened orphans
The darkness of this raging storm
Is covering up our portals
But a yearning for the light is born
In the heart of every mortal
And day to day we ache
With the pain that plagues creation
Night to night we lie awake
And await its restoration
Heaven knows our lonely ways
Heaven knows our sorrows
Heaven knows the things that we don't know
And the joy of eternal tomorrows
But through this glass we dimly see
This world as it was made
And the good we know must surely flow
From the heart of a kind creator
And day to day we ache
With the pain that plagues creation
Night to night we lie awake
And await its restoration
So hold on in this restless age
And do not fear your shadow
Your alternating tears and praise
Are prayers that surely will matter
And day to day we ache
With the pain that plagues creation
Night to night we lie awake
And await its restoration
The Pain that Plagues Creation appears on the Mark Heard album, Eye of the Storm. You can find the lyrics by clicking here.
Thanks for Catherine Flynn for hosting this weeks Poetry Friday at Reading To The Core.
Thanks also to my wife Amy for listening to me read the lyrics to her even though we had already said good night.
In the world of Contemporary Music their are few bigger names than Keith Green and Rich Mullins. Admittedly, there are literally bigger names as the aforementioned take up only 5 combined syllables and fit comfortably on the 1/3 of the first line of this text. Their actual names may be small but their impact on the lives of believers has been great indeed,
Keith Green share many of the same attributes including the same birthday, today, October 21st (Keith in 1953, and Rich in 1955). They were both gifted musicians and lyricists. They both were outspoken in their faith and counter cultural in their approach to ministry. They also died very young in vehicular accidents.
Due to a plane crash in 1982, Keith Green did not live to see his 30th birthday and Mullins who covered a Green song on the 1992 tribute album No Compromise died in a car crash in 1997, just over a month before his 42nd birthday.
Green before his conversion to Christianity was headed to a career as a rock and roll teen sensation. The below footage is from a guest appearance on the panel show I've got a Secret when he was 11 years old. After revealing his secret The youngster performs one of the songs he composed.
It is no secret that the music, the vulnerability, and the passion of both Green and Mullins has informed my own journey. It is fitting that they shared the same birthday , the same passion for Christ and the same method of expressing that passion. They also share a place in my heart for how their music and ministry still inspires me to this day.
I have really enjoyed my short time as part of the Poetry Friday community. Up until a month ago or so, I would just occasionally see links to it on some of the blogs I follow. It wasn't until 4 weeks ago that I started posting there.
I love music, and I have a very eclectic taste in music. There are many things I enjoy about music, but I think overall I am drawn to the lyrics. Today's "Poem" is actually lyrics from a song that I think would make excellent poetry. I think once a month or so, I will share some of these songs here and post them as well to Poetry Friday, which by the way is being hosted this week by Janice at Salt City Verse.
Today's Poem/Song is How Can They Live Without Jesus by the late Keith Green.
Before I reveal the lyrics, a few quick comments about them and the writer. Keith Green was a contemporary Christian musician (CCM) from the mid-'70s to the late '80s who died in a plane crash in 1982. He was a gifted pianist, singer, and songwriter.
This song has a very strong and clear Christian message. It is a message that many may take umbrage with. I don't share it here to be divisive or evangelical. While I agree with the tone and the message of the song, I share it here because I think it's great poetry. I find it thought-provoking, and at the same time, it is enjoyable.
How Can They Live Without Jesus
How can they live without Jesus?
How can they live without Gods love?
How can they feel so at home down here,
When there's so much more up above?
Throwing away the things that matter,
They hold on to things that don't.
The world has gone crazy,
But soon maybe,
A lot more are gonna know.
For maybe they don't understand it
Or maybe they just haven't heard
Or maybe we're not doing all we can
Living up to His Holy Word.
'Cause phonies have come
And wrongs been done
Even killing in Jesus' name
And if you've been burned,
Here's what I've learned:
The Lord's not the one to blame.
For He's just not religion
With steeples and bells
Or a salesman who will sell you
The things you just want to hear
For His love was such
That he suffered so much
To cause some of us
Just to follow, follow
So many laughing at Jesus
While the funnies thing That He's done
Is love this old stubborn rebellious world
While their hate for him just goes on
And love just like that
Will bring Him back
for the few, He can call his friends
The ones He's found true
Who've made it through
Enduring until the end
The ones He's found true
Who've made it through
Enduring until the end
If you are interested in hearing the song, here is a rendition by the CCM vocal group, Glad.
Today is Easter Sunday. Well it still is in my time zone. After church today I was driving to a family gathering and I heard this song. The song is over 30 years old and I have heard it plenty of times. As I listened to it today and reflected upon the lyrics and thought about it in the context of Easter. I realized I'm accepted by Christ, and He loved me so much to die for my sins and his resurrection shows that His love is packed with power. I hope these lyrics minister to you today as much as they did to me .
"I'm Accepted"
by Degarmo & Key | from the 1989 album The Pledge
I May not be rich Don't wear fashion clothes Don't live in a mansion Don't have much that shows Never won a contest in popularity Don't have much to offer But Jesus still loves me
I'm accepted, accepted I'm accepted by the one who matters most.
Never set a record in sports agility Never was magnetic in personality That don't really matter I'll do the best I can 'Cause there's a God above me Who loves me like I am
I'm accepted, accepted I'm accepted by the one who matters most. If you think you're a loser When you fail it seems at everything you do Just remember there's a Savior And you are worth enough He gave his life for you
I'm accepted, accepted I'm accepted by the one who matters most. I'm accepted, accepted I'm accepted by the one who matters most. I'm accepted, accepted I'm accepted by the one who matters most.
In late 2020 Randy Stonehill released a new album entitled "Lost Art of Listening". At Christmastime 2020 I became the fortunate recipient of said album. I was instantly intrigued by the title. It got me thinking that listening to an album, a process that I grew up on, is becoming an increasingly lost art, ESPECIALLY in this digital age.
Pandora , Spotify Sirius XM, and You Tube have changed the landscape of how we consume music these days. C.D. Players, Turntables and the like have been replaced with phones, smart speaker and Roku. The days of listening to an album from beginning to end have been put on an endangered list by the very conveniences that have sprung up around us. I also have had until very recently the majority of my CDs, and cassettes packed in boxes in my house since our move. I had sold most of my record albums to Half Priced Books prior to our move. A friend just returned about 60 albums I had lent him prior to our move and gave me a record player to put them on line. The only working cassette player we own is in the 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee I gave my son when he graduated high school last year, so technically, I don't even own that anymore. I won't even have the severely limited access I have to it now when he moves out.
My process for listening to an album is as intricate and as simple as I am. Ideally, I'd like to set aside a couple hours and really dig into the album. These days unencumbered hours are a luxury, so I'll generally settle for a casual listen while attending to the everyday business of family life. This initial listen the album becomes is a little more than background noise and does not yield many if any lasting impressions. This type of listen is a first step though. I equate it to walking a few blocks very day especially when you can't make your usual step count.
After this initial listen or sometimes concurrent with the initial listen I try to pore through the album materials (or the J-card as they call it in the biz). Stonehill's J-card was quite extensive , often difficult for my quinquagenarian eyes to handle but filled with lots of great information.
For my second listen, I waited until I had some undisturbed free time. With everyone out of the house., I let the music , singing, and lyrics hit me where I was. This was as freeing as it was challenging since it is counterintuitive these days to try to do just one thing at a time.
After some time passed, I listened to the album in it's entirety a few more times. These listens help me get a real sense of the album but I was still short of my goal of being able to convey that sense to others. To achieve that goal I decided to listen to each song back to back and describe the songs while in the act of listening.
Here are my observations . . .
Mercy in the Shadowland - The first song starts with strains of a hopeful melancholy that mixes world weariness with the promises of unspeakable joy both in the present journey and our permanent destination. Featured Lyrics: We'll find our rest if we just confess our sad estate. OhJesus said The Poor in spirit shall walk through Heaven's gate
This Old Face- Whimsical wisdom amid evocative imagery is one of the thing's I've come to expect from Uncle Rand these many years and This Old Face does not disappoint. This song could be titled turning 70 as this is something Stonehill, born in 52, will be doing sooner than later. Featuredlyrics: It's been weathered by the wind of sadness and of sin but it shines whenever Heaven's love appears.:
Beginning of the Living End - Stonehill goes into full rock and roll mode with this bluesy guitar driven altar call. Featured lyrics: Every soul is a precious jewel, everyone should count the cost. We should all take a wake up call from the thief upon the cross.
Thinly Veiled Threat -The rock show continues and slows the tempo down a notch but ratchets up the lyrical intensity with a song that could be titled the vanity vanity it's all vanity blues Featuredlyrics: History repeats like a nightmare you never can forget. All our grand inventions promise us a better world and yet, they leaves us bruised and bloody and they mock us like a thinly veiled threat.
She Loves Me -
A love song about the unfathomable divinity of romantic love. As a man who is constantly amazed by the love I share with my wife this song resonates throughout my marriage, Featured Lyrics: I am much more blessed than a man can be. The beauty of her soul brings me to my knees.
Coyote Moon Every album has a song that can get blipped over in the course of the initial hearings. It wasn't until I listened to this song twice in a row that I really heard the haunting simplicity of comfort found within it. The truth in this song is an oasis. If this album were available on vinyl, Coyote Moon would make a great last song for the first side. That way, you could ruminate over it's beauty as you flipped the disc. Featured Lyrics: Here we begin hearts on the wind laughing carefree children. But then one day, they run away cause nothing stays the same,
Still Not Over You This is vintage Stonehill, 3 different verses as examples of the theme; interspersed with a bridge and a crafty guitar interlude. It's A 5 paragraph essay for the soul, with enough originality to get it placed on the top of the pile. Featured Lyrics: (I chose the bridge cause it actually has the word bridge in it and I'm all for symmetry)Some bridges we cross, some bridges we burn sometimes the scars remind us what we learn. Sometimes you just have to turn and go the other way.
Billy Frank -A song by one of my favorite artists about one of my personal heroes, It's no big surprise that I love it. What is surprising about this love letter to Billy Graham is how Stonehill paints him in human colors and not with stain glassed hues. Featured Lyrics: You were just a Carolina boy who dreamed of playing ball who turned your heart to heaven when you heard a higher call.
Since this is my favorite song on the album I'll add some bonus lyrics:
You;ve been the voice of truth to presidents and kings.
But you've never been impressed by such things
Nothing is more precious in your sight
Than Jesus Christ the Savior crucified.
The next 3 songs are called father trilogy. This led me to tweak my process just a tad; instead of listening to each song in the trilogy twice in a row, I listened to the entire trilogy back to back . In short, I tried to experience it and thus chronicle it in the way I felt this section was meant to be experienced.
Leonard Has a Toaster Stonehill again uses comedy to broach a serious subject, family dysfunction. This song is at least somewhat autobiographical as Randy is the youngest son of the late Leonard Stonehill. As to whether the toaster is actual, vegetable or mineral, I don't know. Featured Lyrics:Age to age the dysfunction carries on, like the passing of some toxic baton.
Where Are You The 2nd song in the trilogy walks us through the pains and difficulties of having a loved one with Alzheimer's. Leonard Stonehill passed away in 2014 with Alzheimer's so this song is likely part of Randy's actual journey. Musically, vocally, and poetically Where Are You evokes memories of early Stonehill masterpieces.. Featured Lyrics:I'm becoming a stranger in your distant eyes. I am wrestling the weight of my despair. I keep wishing I could hold you close enough to heal you like some sacred prayer.
Goodbye Old Friend We say goodbye to the trilogy as Sir Stonehill serenades his father with a tender tearjerker laced with hope and regret. Again, one featured lyric is not enough Featured Lyrics 1: There's a certain tug of war between a father and a son. Words we spoke in anger , damage that's been done. I guess were both just broken like the fences we never got to mend. Featured Lyrics 2: I should have thanked you so much more for listening to my song. For all the caring things you did to help me carry on. There with me like a dusty long lost letter I always meant to send.
For the last 3 songs of the album I went back to the listen twice while composing strategy utilized prior to the trilogy
Worry About Money Billy Sprague once had an album called Serious Fun. This album could certainly be title Serious Whimsey or perhaps Juxtaposition Jukebox. Worry About Money is a down home bluegrass foot stomper that at the same time is a biblically accurate rebuke of how the material world has altered our spiritual priorities. Featured Lyrics:Money is a thing that we all need. It can serve you well but for heaven's sake it's always been the frosting never been the cake.
Angel of the Highway - This beautiful song is an encouragement of staying on the road God put you on. Featured Lyrics: It's true I'm always travelling guess that's just where I belong. Moving on from town to town with a prayer and a lover's song.
Dance Behind the Laughing Sky -
If the Lost Art of Listening is an Epistle from Stonehill to his listeners, Dance Behind the Laughing Sky is a worthy benediction.. Consider the opening lines:
Majesty on High, speaks a Holy Word and breathes a billion stars.
Love's the reason why, He molds us in his hands and tell us who we are.
Life is so much more than just a waking dream a road where dark shadows entwine.
Listening to an album may be a lost art, but Lost Art of Listening makes that art priceless.
2. Watch Stonehill's 2017 appearance on More Than a Song at Dave Out Loud. It features live performances of Worry About Money and Beginning of the Living End
The Lost Art of Listening is available at Stonehill.com for $15.00. It makes an excellent Christmas present, and I speak from experience. :