A Song of Grace

TGI-FREAKING-F!

"Gooooooooooooooood Morning Vietnam!" ~Robin WIlliams (RIP)

This is the final ballad for the week. I hope you like it.
I first heard this song via the O.A.R Pandora station.




The guitar part is so peaceful, and the violin has a haunting quality to it that is beautiful. I must admit that it took me a lot longer to pick out the song the violin plays in between the verses.

This song struck a real chord with me. The last year or so has been really tough. Some of it has been self-inflicted, other parts things that were not in my control. However, I know that coming through it I am built to be better than the versions before me. They cracked, but this version of me shall never fail!

I am not typically very outspoken about my faith, and for good reason. The lord and I have had a tenuous relationship at best throughout my life. I will say however, that I am amazed at His grace. I was the sheep that wandered from the herd. He hunted me down, broke my legs and taught me how to walk correctly.

I thought I would be much more verbose in regards to this song, but I think I will follow the "less is more" sentiment. I hope you enjoy the song!

Have a great weekend and take time to watch the Eclipse (safely) on monday!

He's still making music!?

The 4th ballad of the week comes courtesy of an artist I have not heard a lick of music from since his hit "Lullaby" in 1998!




I might watch too much dance shows because the intro to this song makes me think of a "Bollywood" dance number. I was pleasantly surprised when the vocals came in to find that was not the case.

I hesitate to say that this song is "simple," but it is a well known story of jaded love. I love the music, I love the vocals. It's such a catchy up-and-down the register singing style. I would put his falsetto voice right up there with Pat Monahan from Train in terms of excellence.

I don't have much else to say about this song other than the ending makes me smile. Not because he kills them, but I love the line "I shot them graveyard dead." As opposed to any other kind of dead? It also brings to mind (for some reason) the scene in Robin Hood: Men in Tights when they are planning to kill Robin Hood and he says ".. Dead, D-E-D, Dead."

Tomorrow will be the shortest of the ballads, and I have a lot more to say about it! Hope you enjoyed this one!

The Queen & The Soldier

Happy hump day everyone! As promised this ballad is of a royal nature.



I get a kick out of the fact that I was introduced to this song by my 18yr old coworker, and the song is only ONE YEAR younger than I am! I think this goes to show that excellent music is timeless.

I am torn about the story in this ballad. It seems like a love story... but it doesn't end well (spoiler alert.)
What is the secret burning thread that the queen swallowed?
Does she love him back but refuses to admit it?

Who doesn't want to live honestly, and get what we deserve and give what we can? The problem with our society today is there's not enough honest living, too many people think they deserve more than they actually do. If that wasn't an awful enough combo as it is, not enough people give back what they can.

I just don't understand how people can HATE someone for something that is not in their control, and has no bearing on the gifts they have to share with the world. I don't understand how anybody can be ignorant enough to believe that the color of our skin decides who is better. We all have gifts to bring to our fellow man. It's a bit terrifying to imagine what we could accomplish if instead of bullying and putting down others we did all we could to build them up.

That's enough for that soapbox. Tomorrow is a song from a one-hit wonder!!! The song isn't the hit, but it should be! Original hit HINT HINT "Lullabye"

Peace Nation
BLKoolK

Ballad of Sandy Gray (not the real title)

Hey! Today was better than Monday simply because I wasn't woken up by my toddler puking on me!

I hope everyone else has had an equally (or more) successful day. Here is the 2nd ballad of the week.



I was introduced to this song via Pandora (again.) It was just in the background while I was working but it stuck with me. The rhythm of the vocals and the strum of the guitar just hooked me. I found myself humming and working to the beat unintentionally. It's not the vocals are amazing or anything, but almost soothing. It certainly has a storyteller vibe to it. His voice reminds me a bit of Freedy Johnston, who I am pretty sure only my family and whoever introduced us to him will recognize the name.

It struck me as similar to the BraveHeart story. I hearken back to the "FREEEEEEDOM!" scene.

We all have faced a challenge that we reacted with "I'll be damned, we'll break this jam or it's breakfast in hell" or something to that effect.

Tomorrow is a Ballad about royalty!
Have a happy Hump Day readers!

Ballad week starts with Love and Hate!

Howdy all,

As promised I am going to share a song each day this week. The only requirement is that I have been addicted to it, and that is a ballad! I decided to present them to you my reader(s) in the order that I was introduced to them. Without further ado, let's play some music!



So, I must admit I was ridiculously late to the Avett Brothers love train. I wasted years of my life without enjoying their beautiful music! I like this song because it is different, and I can identify with both Love and Hate. Unfortunately I have played both parts. I think most of us have, at one point or another. Anyways, I hope if you haven't heard this song before that you enjoyed it. If you have heard it and already love it, then you are welcome for hearing it again!

Tomorrow is the ballad of a logger!

Peace!

They seem to all work out

Happy Friday!!!

I clearly did not attain my writing goal for this this week. I would like to announce now that next week is Ballad Week! A song a day for you wonderful readers; I know you are excited.

The song today comes from an album that came out when I was in High School. This song never made it to the radio (that I am aware of) but is my favorite song on the album!




Unfortunately the past week or so since my last post has not been as happy and care-free as I would prefer life to be. Some dear friends are going through some tough times, and my heart goes out to them. Of course this is in addition to my own struggles with some changes I am trying to make.

I was so happy to have found this song again, because I believe it almost word for word. I almost feel as if it is autobiographical for me. I have always had a naturally (sometimes unrealistic) positive outlook, belief in the goodness of life and people in it. It may be a strange cup of tea (outlook) to others, but that's OK. I am getting more and more comfortable and confident every day in the gifts that bring to my world.

We all struggle. We can all relate to the lyrics in this song. Some days we wake with weary heads, some days we just want to turn around and walk away. But we are not quitters!

"Good things for good people you see. Good things they seem to all work out."

Whenever you are feeling down my friends, please remember. "Count your blessings. Count them 1, 2, 3. Don't give up because it will all work out!"

I hope this helps someone today, writing this post has put me in a better mental place already. I love you all! Keep reading, and please comment, message me, whatever! I would thoroughly enjoy hearing from you either here or on Facebook!

TGIF! Enjoy the weekend!😎

It's Monday....S.O.B!

Monday workday is over!! (for most of us at least)

I was introduced to this song again via Pandora. I am so glad I was! Musically it is fantastic for a myriad of reasons. I enjoy the dynamic differences between the chorus and the verses. Plus, who hasn't yelled "sonofabitch!" at something in their lives? In between the verses reminds me of an old gospel tune. Everyone can clap and "WHOOOOOooooa OOOOOooooh OOOOOooooh" along with it.




In my humble opinion I think the lyrics speak directly to the story of someone with an addiction issue, regardless of what the particular "drug" of choice may be. I can relate to this all too well unfortunately.

Even with the beginning "mmmhhmmm mmmhmmmm mmmmhmmmm" could even be construed as the satisfactory sound after taking a sip of a good beer, a hit of a good bong, etc.

The opening stanza is one of someone who knows they need help, and is asking for it. They know what it will take to quit. But in the last line they decide they aren't ready to quit and start lashing out. This is all too common a practice. Addicts have to hit their own low, whatever it may be, before they will truly change.

The chorus (SOOOO GOOD!) I always envision as more of an internal dialogue. I need a drink, one more night is ok, ugh i can't believe I am doing this again, you know what, screw it. If I can't quit I'll just over-do it and end it all that way.

I feel the next stanza has the vibe of someone who knows what the bottom looks like, knows they should change, yet has resigned themselves to whatever God/fate/karma etc has in store for them. The lyrics don't paint a picture of resolve to change.

"My heart was breaking, hands were shaking, bugs are crawling all over me." Can we all agree that this is a lyrical version of withdrawal?

Now there are two ways to look at the end to the song. Since the lyrics don't change, it would be easy to believe that the addict loses, doesn't change, continues down the wrong path.

I am a positive person by nature, so you know I believe there is a happier ending. I feel there is a different emphasis and sound to the last chorus. It has a more triumphant feeling and sound to my ears and my soul. Like they are remembering when they were an addict, and celebrating being clean. Almost laughing at their previous poor choices. "oooooh" remember when...

I hope you enjoyed the song. I haven't had anyone tell me my song choices are awful so I am gonna keep doing this. If you have a song you are addicted to and want me to listen, send it my way!!! Don't forget to follow this blog, like the post on fbook, etc!

This ends this post. SONOFABITCH!

Any morning people out there?

This song apparently isn't for me, since I am a morning person. I have never been one to sleep late... if the sun's up I am up. However, if you sleep in our guest room you will apparently sleep WAY later than usual. Perhaps we sleep in the wrong room of our house? Nonetheless I have played it over and over because it is so darn catchy!





This is Parker Millsap, whose Pandora Station has led me to many of the songs to follow on this blog. He is from Oklahoma I believe, and his entire Album "The Very Last Day" is great. His other Albums are good as well, but I was first introduced to him on this album.

My dad called me out early in life as someone who "likes song(s) that have a little bit of twang to them." This song certainly meets that criteria. The guitar rift alone had me hooked.

The lyrics are great too (as in most of his songs.) Even morning people like myself have thought "the sun comes up way too early" from time to time. Unfortunately as adults not in the music/entertainment industry we do not have the luxury of "...close the curtains, wait until the afternoon."

As humans it is one of our basic needs to feel like we belong. That we are included. So he speaks the truth for most all of us when he says "I'm not afraid of empty I'm afraid of all alone."

Anyways, I hope y'all enjoy this song. Let me know if you like it, let me know if you don't!

PS) Don't forget to follow me (top right corner of the page) it will make me feel like more than 3 people read this!

And try to avoid the Morning Blues unless it's listening to this song!

Guilty Pleasure Song

I'm BAAAAAAACK!

I think I have finally settled on a topic that I can continuously write on! Guilty Pleasure Songs.

Now what I mean by that is these are songs that I have been addicted to lately; whether they are just old songs I hadn't heard in a while or they could be completely new songs to my ears. Regardless I have listened to them non-stop and wish to share them with you!

I already have a back-log of songs so I can roll out at least one of these each week and still have fresh content waiting in the wings. I will start out with a song I have shared already with a few family and friends, but I heard it again this week and it still gets me hyped up!

"Glitter & Gold" by Barns Courtney





I was first introduced to this song via the Parker Millsap station on Pandora (more from him later.)

The short background story for this artist:
He was part of a band, they produced an album and right when they finished the record company cancelled everything. Later, he was working in a music store and decided that he wasn't finished as an artist. He still wanted to achieve musical success, so he has gone about doing just that!

There is a lot that I like about this song. The "ting-ting like glitter and gold" makes me smile for some reason. I like his voice. The continual driving drum beat is awesome. It gives me the feeling of digging deep within myself and pushing through any trials in my way. It makes me want to accomplish everything on my to-do list for the day, and to accomplish my dreams in general. No fear, just buckle down and work hard, I can win!

Needless to say, listening to this song allows me to "have fire in my soul" as well!

I hope you enjoyed this song, even if it isn't as much as I enjoy it! Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I have many more songs that I will be doing posts on. If this wasn't your cup of tea, maybe some other song will strike you.

Thanks for reading. Please subscribe so you can get these sent straight to your inbox!

BLKoolK