We had a wonderful service this weekend at Grace and I’m so glad that I didn’t miss it (I had overslept, showed up late).
We talked a great deal about what’s going on in Haiti. My mind is still processing through everything that’s going on over there, while wondering how the church and the rest of the world will respond.
Anyway, at the end of the service, we showed a music video by the musical group, The Elms. The song is called "This Is How The World Will End" and I had originally heard it months ago when Starbucks was handing out cards with a free download of the song (to promote building water wells in Africa). It wasn’t until I saw the music video today with the lyrics on the screen, that I truly got the point of the song. I think you know what I mean, when you spent months upon months singing a song because it sounds good, yet you never take time to really listen to the lyrics.
The footage in the music video below was taken by Luke Renner, who is an Indiana-native and was in Haiti when the earthquake hit. Since then, he’s been taking footage almost non-stop and updating his Twitter account with updates (the footage in the video is before the earthquake hit). I’d challenge you to watch the video twice. First, just listen to the song and take in the pictures. The second time, read the lyrics. It’s amazing.
This Is How the World Will End
The Elms
When the dollar made with blood is spent,
When an enemy can’t become a friend.
When the better man won’t lend a hand,
Baby, this is how the world will end.
When a day of hope is a rarity,
Or a diplomat hasn’t time to see
That a child lost is a true offense,
Baby, this is how the world will end.
Bring a chair up to the table.
Bring a message to the crowd.
Where’s a common trust to deliver us from the wretched and the proud?
Sing a tune about the promise.
Speak on that which we depend.
And if a certain light don’t shine again,
Baby, this is how the world will end.
When the poorest kid is fending for himself,
Or the widow cries, but she gets no help.
When we know what’s true, but we still pretend,
Baby, this is how the world will end.
Bring a chair up to the table.
Bring a message to the crowd.
Where’s a common trust to deliver us from the wretched and the proud?
Sing a tune about the promise.
Speak on that which we depend.
Now let that certain light come shinin’ then,
Baby, we could change the world again.
I got to know Jon’s music a few years back, if not longer (time seems to go by quick). I like Jon for two reasons: one, he’s from Indiana and two, he is heavy on the piano. While other artists in his genre rely on guitar, there’s just so much more you can do with a piano. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the guitar. But the piano can really dominate a piece of music with such range, depth, and power… perhaps musicians are the only ones that can truly appreciate that.
One of my goals for the next year is to get back into playing piano. While I’m not the best pianist, there is something greatly therapeutic about practicing a song so many times that it becomes a part of you. In a way, the notes just go straight from the brain right to the fingers and onto the keys. I’ve decided to make my comeback to piano by learning how to play Jon’s song, "Indiana." I chose it for two reasons (I seem to have a lot of reasons): one, it’s not too difficult to play and that’s the beauty of it. Second, the song kind of mirrors my feelings about my hometown.
I love Indiana. And while I’ve contemplated moving somewhere else (and probably will at some point in my life), Indiana will always be a deep part of who I am. While this song has the theme of a guy whose heart has been broken and uses his home in Indiana as a distraction, I still love it. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, life is going to take you many different places and when it’s all said and done, there will always be home. Okay, enough rambling on about what I think about the song.
Indiana
Jon McLaughlin
I’m glad I never lived next to the water
So I could never get used to the beach
And I’m glad I never grew up on a mountain
To figure out how high the world could reach
I love the miles between me and the city
Where I quietly imagine every street
And I’m glad I’m only picturing the moment
I’m glad she never fell in love with me
For some the world’s a treasure to discover
And your scenery should never stay the same
And they’re trading in their dreams for explanations
All in an attempt to entertain
But I love the miles between me and the city
Where I quietly imagine every street
And I’m glad I’m only picturing the moment
I’m glad she never fell in love with me
The trick of love is to never let it find you
It’s easy to get over missing out
I know the how’s and when’s, but now and then,
She’s all I think about
I wonder how it feels to be famous
But wonder is as far as I will go
Because I’d probably lose myself in all the pictures
And end up being someone I don’t know.
So it’s probably best I stay in Indiana
Just dreaming of the world as it should be
Where every day is a battle to convince myself
I’m glad she never fell in love with me
I love this song. I have loved it since the day Hannah introduced it to me years ago. It has this chilling, yet beautiful piano that plays throughout, along with Amy Lee’s beautiful vocals. It’s too bad that Evanescence hasn’t had better success after their Fallen album, but if you like this song, check out the album, I think you’ll like it.
My Immortal
Evanscence
I’m so tired of being here
suppressed by all my childish fears
but if you have to leave
i wish that you would just leave
’cause your presence still lingers here
and it won’t leave me alone
These wounds won’t seem to heal
this pain is just too real
there’s just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I’d wipe away all of your tears
when you’d scream I’d fight away all of your fears
I held your hand through all of these years
but you still have…all of me
You used to captivate me
by your resonating light
now I’m bound by the life you left behind
your face, it haunts
my once pleasant dreams
your voice, it’s chased away
all the sanity in me
These wounds won’t seem to heal
this pain is just too real
there’s just too much that time cannot erase
When you cried I’d wipe away all of your tears
when you’d scream I’d fight away all of your fears
i held your hand through all of these years
but you still have all of me
I’ve tried so hard to tell myself that you’re gone
but though you’re still with me
I’ve been alone all along
When you cried I’d wipe away all of your tears
when you’d scream I’d fight away all of your fears
i held your hand through all of these years
but you still have…all of me
all of me
all of me
all… Send "My Immortal" Ringtone to your Cell
I don’t know what it is about Leeland, but when I first heard them, I wasn’t too sure what to think. At the time I first listened to them, I wasn’t too interested in listening to Christian music. But as I’ve listened to them, I’ve come to enjoy their music greatly. I started off with “Carried to the Table,” “Tears of the Saints,” and “Brighter Days.” And normally when I get tired of songs, I’ll rotate them out of my playlist and look for new music.
So needless to say, I looked up Leeland in the Amazon MP3 music store and gave some of their other music a try. I really like the melody of this song and the lyrics, so here it is… “Opposite Way” by Leeland. Enjoy!
Opposite Way
Leeland
Living in the same town
For all these years
Doing the same old things
Hanging with the same crowd
And it’s starting to get crippling
You’ve never felt in place
And you tell yourself it’s all okay
But something’s different today
You want to run the opposite way
And it seems like you’re locked in a cage
And you need to find a way of escape
When everyone is setting the pace
It’s okay to run the opposite way
The Father sent His Son down
The light of men
The cross He bore was crippling
Rejected in His own town
They couldn’t see the sun shining
He knelt in the garden and prayed
Father, let this cup pass from me
It’s not Your will for me to stay
Your will for me is the opposite way
And it seemed like He was locked in a cage
And He couldn’t find away of escape
But through the cross He conquered the grave
My Jesus ran the opposite way
Oh, and through the cross He conquered the grave
Oh, He ran the opposite way
Yeah, through the cross He conquered the grave
So you could run the opposite way
I haven’t listened to very much of Kate Voegele, but as I was looking for new music tonight, I came across this wonderful song. For me, this song shows that life is difficult, but that those difficulties result in something much greater. I love the song’s simple message, the piano as the main instrument, and Kate’s awesome voice. I don’t know if this song will win any awards and it’s certainly not my favorite song of all time, but still worth a listen. Enjoy!
Lift Me Up
Kate Voegele
This road is anything but simple
Twisted like a riddle I’ve seen high and I’ve seen low
So loud, the voices of all my doubts
Telling me to give up, to pack up and leave town
Even so, I had to believe
Impossible means nothing to me, yeah
So can you lift me up,
Turn the ashes into flames
‘Cause I have overcome
More than words will ever say
And I’ve been given hope
That there’s a light on up the hall
And that a day will come
When the fight is won
And I think that day has just begun
Somewhere, every body starts there
I’m counting on a small prayer,
Lost in a nightmare
But I’m here, and suddenly it’s so clear
The struggle through the long years
It taught me to outrun my fears
Everything worth having, oh
Comes with trials worth withstanding
So can you lift me up,
Turn the ashes into flames
‘Cause I have overcome
More than words will ever say
And I’ve been given hope
That there’s a light on up the hall
And that a day will come
When the fight is won
And I think that day has just begun
Oh, lift me up
Oh, lift me up
Oh, lift me up
Lift me up
Lift me up
Oh, Lift me up
Down and out is overrated
And I need to be elevated
Looking up is not enough
No, I would rather rise above
So can you lift me up,
Turn the ashes into flames
‘Cause I have overcome
More than words will ever say
And I’ve been given hope
That there’s a light on up the hall
And that a day will come
When the fight is won
And I think that day has just begun
Oh, oh, oh, just begun
Lift me up, yeah, oh, oh, oh, yeah, now
Oh, oh, lift me up
Lift me up
Lift me up
