This is my friend George. He makes all my songs sound better.
Paint It Blue
10
Category Archives: songwriting
The Killing Ground (new song) (been too long) (hey that rhymes)
I’m noticing a pattern. These faith songs usually end up a bit dark and lamenting. This one, though dark, pulls up.
In listening to this demo (of my own voice, which is always an odd experience), I’ve gathered a few notes of things I wanna change. But what I really wanna know is what you think:
1) what does this song say?
2) what lines/concepts could be more clear?
So, if you have a second, listen to the demo–and/or read through the lyrics. And please look past the lack of punctuation, because I don’t use it because I don’t sing commas and periods and that colon that should probably follow the third line.
life leaves no survivors
hiding every eye to
the more beyond unopened doors
no suffocating sadness
no graying day of cynics
and they will see if we will fight
bring the bread and bring the wine
bring the sword and bring the sign
for the lost that will be found
we’ll march on the killing ground
we’ll march on the killing ground
for every hallelujah
waiting to be whispered
for every soul escaping more
we will fight until forgiven
with songs of our redemption
with shouts of light into the night
raise your eyes to paradise
there’s no time to compromise
when redemption bells resound
we will take the killing ground
we will take the killing ground
and all we know is all we’ve lived
and this is all we have to give
bring it there to bring them home
this life through death is all we know
breathe new life in every soul
turn the broken into whole
tear it up and tear it down
wiping clean the killing ground
wiping clean the killing ground
wiping clean the killing ground
The day is off to a really fun start!
How to do what you don’t want to do.
Raise your hand if you have no troubles at all motivating yourself to do something you really DO want to do.
Like, let’s say: watch TV.
Aaaaand all hands are up!
Ok. Raise your hand if you don’t want to be bothered with That Thing That Is Good For You But You Don’t Want To Do.
Like, oh, say: exercise.
Look at that! All hands are up again!
ah huh… I get you.
I even hear that little click in your brain that sounds a lot like: “Sooo… What are we going to do about it?”
Well. Here it is: Pair something you LOVE with something you don’t really want to do but still need to do.
Like, for instance: watch TV while exercising.
It works for me–keeps me from being absolutely miserable over what I’m trying to do. And it’ll probably work for you, too.
We are fast-foodies. We are inspiration junkies. We are artists. We are creative. We are creatures of comfort–motivated by desire, not discipline. It’s true. And if we don’t want to do something, then we won’t. Our “want” has to overpower our “won’t.”
I mentioned before that I’ve watched Alias while on the elliptical, and friends, it’s a magical combo! …until I got a bit tired of Alias (Sydney: if you’re reading, I’m so sorry. I still want to be able to do side kicks like you do.) Solution? I moved on to another magical show.
What’s next for me? Get up early, like the grown-up that I am, and do my morning writings, like the artist I want to be. How? My best shot is Ice Cream for breakfast. This will probably also “tip the scales” in an unfavorable direction… Problematic, yes.
What about you? What would you say is your “That Thing That Is Good For You But You Don’t Want To Do?” Seeing any possible magical pairings?
I can’t live without ____________.
- Friendships. Real ones. That have faces and conversations and know when I’m lying. Those ones.
- Love. (See above, but add family and my favorite man in the whole world.) (That would be Drew.)
- Sandra Bullock. (Ok. That might be an exaggeration. But when there’s no news of an upcoming film starring hers-truly, I start to miss her.)
- Water. And sleep. Oh and food. Yes. The essentials. I briefly considering adding showering to the list, but realized I’d happily live without that. And, more accurately, should’ve placed it on the “I could live without…” list instead. Oops.
- Opportunities to be creative. And, potentially, songwriting in general.
Go ahead and judge me for things that *should* be on that list that aren’t. I’m ok with it. I’m just being honest here.
Your turn to be honest. Share your list as well…
