Lyrics: Something's Missing

More John Mayer - sorry!

Another track from Mayer's album Heavier Things. He certianly doesn't pull any punches in trying to work out the world. (I've posted about the 2004 Song of the Year, Daughters, before.)

The story here seems to be his own: as an artist, he has everything he ever wanted, everything the world says he needs, but something is missing. Something is not right within himself, and he can't work out what it is. The lyrics that really got to me form a kind of outro. He's trying to identify what could be wrong. The last two lines are the clincher.

Friends? check!
Money? check!
Well slept? check!
Opposite sex? check!

Guitar? check!
Microphone check!
Messages waiting on me,
when I come home? check!

How come eveything I think I need always comes with batteries?
Oh! What do you think it means?

Click the post title to see all the lyrics..
I'm not alone, I wish I was.
Cause then I'd know, I was down because
I couldn't find, a friend around
To love me like, they do right now.
They do right now.

I'm dizzy from the shopping mall.
I searched for joy, but I bought it all.
It doesn't help the hunger pains
and a thirst I'd have to drown first to ever satiate

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
something's missing
And I don't know what it is
No I don't konw what it is at all

When autumn comes, it doesnt ask.
It just walks in, where it left you last.
You never know, when it starts
Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart.

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
something's missing
And I don't know what it is
No I don't konw what it is at all

I can't be sure that this state of mind, is not of my own design
I wish there was an over the counter test, for loneliness.
For loneliness like this.

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is
Something's different
And i don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is

Friends? check!
Money? check!
Well slept? check!
Opposite sex? check!

Guitar? check!
Microphone check!
Messages waiting on me,
when I come home? check!

How come eveything I think I need always comes with batteries?
Oh! What do you think it means?

On Greatness...

Troy is a dear friend of mine, living and working in Madrid, setting up a church with an arts basis. I've posted about them before. The more I explore writing, and read Troy's and Heather's blogs, the more respect I have for them as a man and woman of God, and how they have been gifted.

On Greatness - a letter to a friend.

No, its not me, but its still applicable. In a corporate environment its something I meet everyday, and get so easily am frustrated with. Learning to live how God has gifted me, without the comparison, the grab for power, or self-derogatory dialogue, is learning humility.

Flash Fiction: OffWorlder Guide

"Flash" fiction (less than 500 words) is something I'm really interested in. How do you create engaging characters and plot, so completely and yet so compactly. This one was inspired by the ideomancer site.

The morning sky was tinged with red. “Is that ‘shepherd’s warning’?” Temaya asked.

“Yes. We’ll have rain today. It’s not looking good. Time to move on.”

We packed the camp into sizable bags, lifting them one by one onto the portagrav. Slowly it raised itself a foot from the ground, and I lightly tapped the end to start it moving towards the sun.

Being an OffWorlder Guide was a curious thing. Now a few years after Contact, they still lived simply, even primitively. Many trekked across the hills and mountain ranges, experiencing our land in an attempt to understand us. In many ways I felt superior. Technology abounded, even permeated, our world, and yet they had contacted us.

Temaya preferred to walk rather than ride the portagrav. Out of courtesy I lumbered alongside him. ‘The OffWorlder is always right. Do not offend.’ was the rule. Besides, the ’grav probably couldn’t support us and the gear. It was a few paces ahead now, cruising towards the peak we were beginning to climb. Suddenly, it disappeared. Moments later a crash disturbed our silence. Temaya looked at me, curious. I ran for the peak, fearing the worst. It began to rain.
Click the post title to continue reading...

Sure enough, the rise gave way to a sheer drop – too steep for the portagrav to recoil from, and the drop too far for it to withstand. Our gear lay scattered like the spitting rain. I looked worriedly at the wreckage. We were miles from anywhere, and without our gear we wouldn’t survive the night, much less the trek to civilization. Temaya clambered up in his slow, dependable manner. He didn’t acknowledge me, but quietly turned and climbed down the cliff face.

There wasn’t much to be salvaged: some food, a bag, but none of the gear. The locator might be repaired. “This is bad”, I said. “We need to find shelter, and work out what to do next.” He smiled at me, and started walking again toward the sunrise. “Hey, come back”, I shouted, but not knowing what else to do, I followed him.

We covered twice the usual distance that day, even in the rain. I’d never realized how the ’grav slowed us down. That night Temaya dug a shelter, his huge hands quickly angling a hole for the two of us. Once inside he plunged his arms deep into the soil, time after time looking at the dirt he pulled out, murmuring in dissatisfaction. Eventually he pulled out something approving, smelled it, and, for a brief moment, he smiled. “Here,” he held it out to me, “Drink.” I tried not to laugh. This was dirt! He gently grabbed my hand, and poured some of the cool soil into it. Then he spat on some of his own, made a smooth paste, and licked at it.

We survived like that for the rest of the journey. Eight days in all. I never did get the locator to send a signal. After a while, I even gave up trying.

Lyrics: Have A Good Time, Paul Simon

I've been listening to Negotiations and Love Songs: The Best of Paul Simon 1971 - 1986. Fabulous tracks, wonderfully simple tunes with engaging lyrics. This tune also has a great bass part to it. Another added to the 'to transcribe' list.

But more than that, Simon is commenting on the 1970's hedonistic, laid-back vacuity. Everything is going to be alright as long as I'm having "a good time". There is some recognition that something that might be wrong, but it doesn't matter, as long as all is well with me. How far have we really moved on?

The song closes with an incredibly complex, fast moving, angular sax solo, contrasting with the laid-back, easy groove. Two worlds collide.

Have A Good Time.
Paul Simon, from the album "Still Crazy After All These Years", 1975

Click the post title to see the all lyrics.
Yesterday it was my birthday.
I hung one more year on the line.
I should be depressed, my life's a mess,
But I'm having a good time.

Ooh, I been loving, loving, loving and loving.
I'm exhausted from loving so well.
I should go to bed, but a voice in my head says,
Aah, what the hell.

Chorus
Have a good time (Good time, baby)
Have a good time (Good time, child)
Have a good time (Have a good time, baby)
Have a good time (Have a good time)

Paranoia strikes deep in the heartland,
But I think its all over done.
Exaggerating this, exaggerating that -
They don't have no fun.

I don't believe what I read in the papers;
They're just out to capture my dime.
I ain't worrying and I ain't scurrying.
I'm having a good time.

Chorus
Have a good time.
Have a good time.
Have a good time.
Have a good time.

Maybe I'm laughing my way to disaster.
Maybe my race has been run.
Maybe I'm blind to the fate of mankind,
But what can be done?

So God bless the goods we were given.
And God bless the U. S. Of A.
And God bless our standing of living.
Lets keep it that way.

And we'll all have a good time

Chorus
Have a good time (Good time, baby)
Have a good time (Good time, child)
Have a good time (Have a good time, baby)
Have a good time (Have a good time)
repeat

mad sax solo

Coffee...

Well, no surprises here...

You Are an Espresso

At your best, you are: straight shooting, ambitious, and energetic At your worst, you are: anxious and high strung You drink coffee when: anytime you're not sleeping Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Immutable.

One my hobbies at the moment is experimenting with writing. I've had a few "how to write" books out of the library, and this is an exercise from one of them. Write an eight line stanza inspired by the word "Immutable". I wrote this whilst mowing the lawn. Whilst I'm not really into writing poetry, and this is probably way too "artsy", I like it.

Immutable.
Unchangeable.
Impossible.
Immovable.
A man who is true,
Though his chosen words be few,
In a world that is pushing and demanding him
To change.

Books, books, books

This last six months I've managed to finish a number of books - I just haven't written about them!
Here's a list of the books I've managed to complete this year so far. Click on the post title to for short synopsis and opinion.

1. Wild at Heart, John Eldridge
2. The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren
3. Too Busy Not to Pray, Bill Hybels
4. Einstein's Heros, Robyn Arianrhod
5. A Bridge Across Forever, Richard Bach
6. The High Impact Church, Linus Morris
7. Hamlet, William Shakespeare

Currently Reading: Inside Indonesian Society: Cultural Change in Java, Niels Mulder

Click the post title to continue reading...

1. Wild at Heart, John Eldridge

I've posted on this previously. Whilst at times Eldridge goes a little off track, I still think this is a vital read of Christian men.


2. The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren

At the time, I was preparing to lead a (new) home group in The Purpose Driven Life. I'd previously studied PDL with (old) my home group, and this time felt the need to get some more background on Warren's ideas. As it turns out, PDL is really just the personal application of the PDC. I'm not sure that all of the growth potential of PDL can be realised without the support of a PDC.

This is mostly good stuff. It is fairly American based, drawing on and being most easily applied to American society. However, he does encourage exploring how best to reflect the purposes using your own societal, cultural, and church expressions. Useful stuff.


3. Too Busy Not to Pray, Bill Hybels

This was our home group study before the 40 Days of Purpose began, and I continued reading it alongside the PDC. I think its what they call a "modern classic".

Hybels writes in a very easy style. At times he is instructive, at times he reflects on personal experience, whilst acknowledging that what works from him, may not work for me or you. This is sensible as much as it is useful, and make the book far more worthwhile as both a discovery in the need for paryer, as much as of prayer itself.

Hybels presents many different methods of prayer, including life, journaling, and ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (or Stuff, as I like to call it!) I have found this most useful, especially as Hybels goes on to the very important next stage: Listen. Once you have poured your heart to God, listen and look for His response. Prayer can be, but is often not, a two way communictation.

Very worthwhile. You may be put off by the lack of instruction, and emphasis on discovery.


4. Einstein's Heros, Robyn Arianrhod

My sister-in-law gives me the most interesting books. I hope she appreciates how important she is to me, and how well I regard her. We haven't had much of a chance to do so, but I'd love to sit down over a good beer (or something stronger!) and solve the world's problems. It would be a fun conversation.

Apparently Einstein had on his study wall pictures of the great and influential physcists that preceeded him. They were his heros. This book is not about Einstein himself, but about these men and their discoveries.

Popular science books have to tread a fine line of scientific accuracy and general appeal. Too technical a book, whilst accurate and encompassing, will not be embraced by the public. Yet if the science is presented too simply the meaningful impact and ramifications will certainly be lost. Arianrhod treads this line very carefully, having at least as much historical context and anecdontes as scientic content. At times she goes far into details, but only long enough to give an awe-inspiring appreciation for the work these men have done, and how they have shaped our modern world.

A good read. Don't be concerned about the physics; it is well explained.


5. A Bridge Across Forever, Richard Bach

Years and years ago I read Bach's breakththough title, Jonathon Livingston Seagull. This book is a few down the track, and chronicles the search for this soul mate and eventual marriage. Although autobiographical it is mostly written as story rather than fact, making it an easily approchable light read.

That is, until the last part of the book. Bach starts off self absorbed, self centered and he knows it. He openly warns his lovers that he will only look after himself, and not to be too concerned should they never see him again. It's his way. For the 1970's west coast Amercian setting this makes perfect sense. How he eventually comes to commit to a (standard) exclusive marriage is the bulk of the story. The last part describes his and his wife's exploration into alternative lives, spiritual oneness and other New Age fantasies (although not acknowledged as such). At this point, I just wanted him to stop. The tone moved from story telling to preaching, and I found his lack of credit and explanation both frustrating and annoying.

A nice read, ruined by the last 50 pages. Richard Bach is a fruit cake.


6. The High Impact Church, Linus Morris

When we lived in Amsterdam we were members of Crossroads International Church. Being part of that body of believers was one of the most enriching and growing experiences I've ever had. At one time we even looked into joining their parent missions organisation, Christian Associaties, the president of which is the author of The High Impact Church.

This book is similiar in intent to The Purpose Driven Church. Both attempt to answer the question, how do we present Christ to people today, in a way that they will understand? HIC answers this by looking at church structures and programmes, as well as the underlying philosophies of reaching people, and the way to "do" church. I felt that this book, whilst useful, was sometimes too ingrained in a particular mould or set of expectations. At times Morris seemed to allow for local interpretation but more as a variation of the standard theme, than a different expression of the same theme. He seemed to often get bogged down in details of structure.

I'm sure that in many churches this will be a useful tool. It does give a lot of good "kick off" points for transforming a church into a more modern, approchable, relevant community. Worth taking a look at it.


7. Hamlet, William Shakespeare

I posted on this one a few days ago. A wonderful read. Shakespeare is so enriching. If you've studied Shakespeare in high school, I'd really encourage you to pick it up again. I think as you learn more about life, your appreciation the characters situations and how they chose to resolve them changes and deepens.

Well, that's about it. I may at some point expand on each of these - particularly The Purpose Drive Life and The High Impact Church. A comparison of thier approaches to modern church life and structure would, perhaps, be quite interesting.

Blessings,
pk

Playing with templates

Not really a very interesting post. More of a time marker for myself. What the "cool" kids call a meme, I think..

I've been playing with my blog template today, trying to incorporate an easy way to get the post summaries to work, and not having to edit too much HTML.
Click the post title to continue reading...
It looks like I might have actually succeeded. From now on, I'll try and keep the post summaries at useful level. Those interested enough can always click on through for the Big Picture.

pk