Jul. 5, 2016

A Lyrical Tale

This is a project I’ve been kicking around for a while, a blog created entirely from song lyrics.  (They move me, always have.)  One line at a time, the artists tell the story.  Have taken liberty with punctuation and context, but the lyrics are exact.  The artists and the song the lines are taken from are listed at the bottom, in the order they appear.  Spaces denote new paragraphs, (makes it easy to reference the artists if you are so moved.) 

Taking into account the current state of our world, this is what came out.

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Here I am, in a river of questions, can I pour my heart out to a listening ear?  I don’t exactly know what’s going on in the world today, don’t know what there is to say about the way people are treating each other.  Souls are feeling heavy and faith is growing thin, fears are getting stronger…hopelessness got some by the throat, you can see it in their eyes.  Hearts are worn in these dark ages, you’re not alone in these stories pages…the world is on fire. 

If you've come looking for hard times, hard times ain't hard to find.  Things look so bad everywhere in this whole world; what is fair?  The people on the street have all seen better times.  Lord knows that this world is cruel.  I’m so tired of these overcast skies, I’m so tired of the looks in people’s eyes.  In the paper today tales of war and of waste.  War, I despise, cause it means destruction of innocent lives.  Desperate, meaningless, all filled up with emptiness.  Seems to me you don’t want to talk about it.  The news slows, people forget, the shares crash, hopes are dashed, people forget; forget they're hiding behind an eminence front…it's a put on.  Power seems to be so far up, the man on the street ain't got a clue.  So you turn to any phony mouth with a tale to tell, but he's just a hoaxer.   I'm surrounded by liars everywhere I turn, I'm surrounded by imposters everywhere I turn.  I don't know who to trust anymore.  Lies are lies in everybody's eyes; and lies are lies.  Everybody’s talking and no one says a word. 

You know, you live by the words you choose.  Listen to the propaganda, listen to the latest slander.  In this self-absorbed complex conundrum.  What I want from us is empty our minds; but we fake, we fuss and fracture the times.  There’s no profit in deceit, honest men know revenge does not taste sweet.  No good ever comes from it, honest.  Think of what you’re saying, you can get it wrong and still you think it’s all right.  Everyone’s right and no one is sorry, that’s the start and the end of the story.  …I told you to be patient, and I told you to be fine, and I told you to be balanced, and I told you to be kind.  You don't listen, you don't hear, you're blinded by the fear that surrounds you.  But keep thinking that way and you won’t get nowhere.  …it's just a waste of time, yeah it's such a waste of time.  Someday, someway, maybe I’ll understand you.

Everybody wants to rule the world.  We take from each other and give nothing at all; well, it's a dog-gone shame but never too late for change.  I am no better and neither are you, we are the same whatever we do.  If you disrespect anybody that you run in to, how in the world do you think anybody's s'posed to respect you?   Wake up everybody take a good look around, there's far too many reasons for all the troubles goin' down.   I put my faith in the people but the people let me down.  Peel the scars from off my back, I don't need them anymore.  I want to eradicate my negative views and get rid of those people who are always on a down.  

How I wish you could see the potential, the potential of you and me; it's like a book elegantly bound but in a language that you can't read just yet.  House on a quiet street, a home for the brave, a glorious kingdom with the sun on your face, rising from a long night as dark as the grave.  Is there a line that I could write, sad enough to make you cry?  Feels like there’s something just missing inside.  So many changes have all just begun to reap; I know you're asleep, wake up.  We need all the hope we can get.  Take this sinking boat and point it home, we've still got time; raise your hopeful voice you have a choice, you'll make it now.  I hope you understand.

Consider this the hint of the century.  You will find peace of mind if you look way down in your heart and soul, don't hesitate 'cause the world seems cold.  It’s our time to make a move, it’s our time to make amends, it’s our time to break the rules, let’s begin.  It's too much fun being alive.  Peace, remember peace is how we make it, here within your reach if you're big enough to take it.  But we'll never see eye to eye as long as our tongues are tied, and we'll never be seen as one until we find Love.  You must rely on Love once in a while
 to give you reason
. 

All you need is Love.  Take this message to my brother, you will find him everywhere.  Always Love, hate will get you every time.  Release yourself from misery, there’s only one thing gonna set you free.  I am Love; all I really need is to know that you believe.  The church of man, Love, is such a holy place to be.  You got to do what you should, one life, with each other; sisters, brothers.  Love belongs to those who speak it.  …Love is love sufficient unto Love and you can figure out the rest.  I would never lie, this is not the end, there is still a hope.

Carry on, Love is coming, Love is coming to us all.  

While you live it up I'm off to sleep, waging wars to shape the poet and the beat; I hope it's gonna make you notice.  You know it's a mad mission, under difficult conditions, not everybody makes it to the Loving cup; it's a mad mission but I got the ambition, mad, mad mission, sign me up.  But when I look in your eyes and see the harmonies and the heartaches soften, I'm getting in tune, right in tune; I'm in tune, and I'm gonna tune right in on you.  This is the song of Love, let everyone sing along.

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Paul Coleman - The One Thing

Leon Russell - Stranger in a Strange Land

Ray Lamontagne - How Come

Sarah McLachlan - World on Fire

Citizen Cope - Lifeline

Steve Winwood - Higher Love

Steely Dan - Any Major Dude Will Tell You

Jack Johnson - Sitting, Waiting, Watching

Lucinda Williams - It’s Gonna Rain

Crowded House - Don’t Dream It’s Over

Edwin Starr - War

Foo Fighters - Come Alive

James Gang - Walk Away

The Who - Eminence Front

J.J. Cale -The Problem

Cat Stevens - The Hurt

Gavin Degraw - I Don’t Want to Be

Neil Young - A Man Needs a Maid

The Academy Is - The Fever

John Lennon - Nobody Told Me

Collective Soul - Him

Elvis Costello - Pump It Up

Young Astronomy - Faithless

Damien Rice - Rootless Tree

Robert Palmer - Every Kind of People

Ryan Adams - Two

The Beatles - We Can Work It Out

Nada Surf - See These Bones

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Sam Phillips - Baby I Can’t Please You

Joe Jackson - Wild West

Avett Brothers - I And Love And You

Marshalll Crenshaw - Someday

Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

James Ingram & Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There

Sly & The Family Stone - Everyday People

The Staples Singers - Respect Yourself

The Doobie Brothers - People Gotta Love

Rare Earth - I Just Want to Celebrate

Radical Face - Welcome Home

Lou Reed - New Sensations

Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart

Bruce Springsteen - Devil’s Arcade

Gin Blossoms - Found Out About You

Brandi Carlile  - What Can I Say

Spirit - Prelude: Nothing to Hide

The Call - I Still Believe

Glen Hansard - Falling Slowly

The Verve - Lucky Man

REM - Losing My Religion

Earth, Wind & Fire - That’s the Way of the World

X Ambassadors - Renegades

Sex Pistols - Problems

Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy

Collective Soul - In a Moment

Teagan & Sara - Shock to Your System

The Beatles - All You Need is Love

The Doobie Brothers - Talkin It to the Streets

Nada Surf - Always Love

Pete Townshend - Let My Love Open the Door

Prince - I Would Die 4U 

David Bowie - Moonage Daydream

U2 - One

Stevie Wonder - Give Your Heart a Chance

Jason Mraz - God Moves Through You

Kendall Payne - I Will Show You Love

Crosby, Stills & Nash - Carry On

Kings of Leon - Use Somebody

Patty Griffin - Mad Mission

The Who - Getting in Tune

Earth, Wind & Fire - Love is Life

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