Category: art

Lyrics Post: “Me In Honey”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, AttitudeLeave a comment

Another one that spoke truth to me somehow; not sure why; but from the first time until right this moment, this song, speaks.

REM.

THANK YOU.

“Me In Honey”

I sat there looking ugly, looking ugly and mean
I knew what you were saying, you were saying to me


Baby’s got some new rules
Baby said she’s had it with me

It seems a shame to waste your time on me
It seems a lot to waste your time for me
Left me to love
What it’s doing to me

There’s a lot of honey in this world
Baby this honey’s from me
You’ve got to do what you do
Do it with me

It seems a shame to waste your time for me
Left me to love
What it’s doing to me

Knocked silly, knocked flat, sideways down
These things they pick you up and they turn you around
Say your piece
Say you’re sweet for me

It’s all the same to share the pain with me
It’s all the same, save the shame for me
Left me to love
What it’s doing to me

Baby’s got some new rules
Baby says she’s had it with me
There’s a fly in the honey
And baby’s got a baby with me
That’s a part, that’s a part of me

Left me to love
What it’s doing to me
Left me to love
What it’s doing to me

What about me?
What about me?

Writer(s): Berry, Mills, Buck, Stipe

Lyrics Post: “Back to the Bay” by Daveed Diggs

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, music, sportsLeave a comment

Pretty well can’t say enough good things about this dude, Daveed Diggs. Beyond his beats, his words, his Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson…I just pretty well love everything I’ve learned about him.

He inspires, plain and simple.

And he’s a WARRIORS fan from Oakland, California. All the better, dig it, dig Diggs, Back to the Bay…

[Intro]
Nestled in an enclave in Cali
Where demonstrations and rallies
Have a long history of making waves and tastes
Shaping language and style substantially
Standing for the best in the wake of the worst tides
We’ve seen in a long time

From a long line of lyricists, linguists, and yes, panthers
Not to mention regular people so inundated with game
That the slang rivaling Shakespeare seems common
As it should
Here where Gertrude Stein claimed there was no there
Has grown a scene which has newcomers clamoring to understand
And get a piece

And they holler at fever pitch
And confidently riding the crest of this epic sound wave is a team that in true Bay fashion redefined the rules of the game
And then made the new ruler undeniable
And as a new season begins we prepare to bring it back
Bring it back, back, back, back

[Chorus]
Back to the Bay
Finna bring another one back to the Bay
Show the whole game how to act in the Bay
Squad stacked in the Bay
You can hate but you can’t ignore the facts in the Bay

[Verse]
Look the earth we stand on is Klay
And the turf we claim is carefully placed
On a strong foundation, a nation
And watch us paving away in amazement
And the sweat breaks out with a smile and a head shake

You can taste the spice
Chef Curry, cooking up look at em shook as they know their ankles may break
And they could rant all day
Got Durant comin’ over to play
But real talk? Who wouldn’t want to live in the Bay

Best place in the Golden State
Face the music, hyphie
But never lost the blues and the polka
The gospel of Matt Barnes
Yeah, we still believin’
Stand tall, stay centered
That JaVale McGee

But they key thing, no matter what their eyes seen
They can’t see us, we dream in Draymond Green
Cooler than Pachulia’s stare, we gets busy
But stay calm and drop bombs like Iggy
We way too Jiggy, we way too focused

You know this, from the O to the So’ to the Valley Jo’ to San Jo’, this
Isn’t metaphorical around here the town and the crowd gets
Call it Roaracle how loud is the town business
Loud enough to shut ’em down
Loud enough you feel it every time we come around
Loud enough to shake the ground and still keep ’em flocking to Oakland
Keep talkin’ while we win another trophy

[Chorus]
Back to the Bay
Finna bring another one back to the Bay
Show the whole game how to act in the Bay
Squad stacked in the Bay
You can hate but you can’t ignore the facts in the Bay

—

And if you want to hear it? HERE.

Lyrics Post: “Guns and Ships“

On By jeff ludlumIn art, culture, examples, leadership, music, voicesLeave a comment

“Guns And Ships”, another from the musical, Hamilton. Reading the words, I can hear the song in my head, some of the lyric so swiftly delivered, even with the words in front of me I can’t keep up the pace. So GOOD.

[Burr:]
How does a ragtag volunteer army in need of a shower
Somehow defeat a global superpower?
How do we emerge victorious from the quagmire?
Leave the battlefield waving Betsy Ross’ flag higher?

Yo. Turns out we have a secret weapon!
An immigrant you know and love who’s unafraid to step in!
He’s constantly confusin’, confoundin’ the British henchmen
Everyone give it up for America’s favourite fighting Frenchman!

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
I’m taking this horse by the reins makin’ redcoats redder with bloodstains

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
And I’m never gonna stop
Until I make ’em drop
And burn ’em up and scatter their remains,
I’m

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
Watch me engagin’ ’em,
Escapin’ ’em!
Enragin’ ’em.
I’m

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
I go to France for more funds

[Company:]
Lafayette!

[Lafayette:]
I come back with more

[Lafayette and Ensemble:]
Guns
And ships
And so the balance shifts

[Washington:]
We rendezvous
With Rochambeau,
Consolidate their gifts

[Lafayette:]
We can end this war in Yorktown, cut them off at sea,
But for this to succeed,
There is someone else we need:

[Washington:]
I know

[Washington and Company:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette:]
Sir, he knows what to do in a trench
Ingenuitive and fluent in French, I mean

[Washington and Company:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette:]
Sir, you’re gonna have to use him eventually
What’s he gonna do on the bench? I mean

[Washington and Company:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette:]
No one has more resilience
Or matches my practical tactical brilliance

[Washington and Company:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette:]
You wanna fight for your land back?

[Company:]
Hamilton!

[Washington:]
I need my right-hand man back!

[Women:]
Hamilton!

[Lafayette (men):]
Ah! Uh, get ya right-hand man back (Get your right-hand man back!)
You know you gotta get ya right hand man back (Your right-hand man back!)

[Lafayette (women/men):]
I mean you gotta put some thought into the letter (Hamilton!)
But the sooner the better (Hamilton! Hamilton!)
To get your right hand man back! (Ha ha)

[Washington:]
Alexander Hamilton
Troops are waiting in the field for you
If you join us right now, together we can turn the tide

Oh, Alexander Hamilton
I have soldiers that will yield for you
If we manage to get this right
They’ll surrender by early light
The world will never be the same, Alexander….”

By Lin-Manuel Miranda

Laughter, The Best Medicine

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, Happy, Insight, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

A little more on my old man, Howie Lud. He loved a lot of things: his family, his friends, teaching kids, tennis, golf, fishing, being outside, music, and humor. My dad loved to laugh.

Here were three of this favorite comedians. I cried listening to these guys, I was laughing so hard. Laughter is good. Humor is good.

Thanks, Dad, for that reminder.

George Carlin
Robin Williams
Jonathan Winters

Lyrics Post: “Anthill” By KINO (Victor Tsoi)

On By jeff ludlumIn art, culture, lifestyle, mental health, music, politics, social justiceLeave a comment

This one from almost thirty years ago, living in the then Soviet Union…this band, they became part of the soundtrack of that year for me…so GOOD.

“A new day is starting

And cars pass there and forth

If the sun isn’t too lazy to rise,

It’s okay for us too then.

The anthill lives on,

Some ant broke a limb – it’s alright,

It will heal soon,

And if it’ll die – it’ll die…

I don’t like it when I’m lied to,

But I’m tired of the truth as well,

I tried to find a haven,

They say that I wasn’t searching too well.

And I don’t know what’s the percentage

Of insane people nowadays,

But If I were to believe my eyes and ears –

It’ll be three times bigger…

And we could’ve lead a war

Against those who are against us,

Because those who are against those who are against us,

Can’t manage without us

Our future is vague,

In our past it’s either heaven or hell,

Our money doesn’t find its way to our pockets,

But it’s morning already – get up!

I don’t like it when I’m lied to,

But I’m tired of the truth as well,

I tried to find a haven,

They say that I wasn’t searching too well.

And I don’t know what’s the percentage

Of insane people nowadays,

But If I were to believe my eyes and ears –

It’ll be three times bigger…”

Courtesy of

https://lyricstranslate.com

And the original –

Муравейник

Начинается новый день

И машины туда-сюда…

Раз уж солнцу вставать не лень,

И для нас, значит, ерунда.

Муравейник живет,

Кто-то лапку сломал – не в счет,

А до свадьбы заживет,

А помрет – так помрет…

Я не люблю, когда мне врут,

Но от правды я тоже устал,

Я пытался найти приют,

Говорят, что плохо искал.

И я не знаю, каков процент

Сумасшедших на данный час,

Но, если верить глазам и ушам –

Больше в несколько раз…

И мы могли бы вести войну

Против тех, кто против нас,

Так как те, кто против тех, кто против нас,

Не справляются с ними без нас.

Наше будущее – туман,

В нашем прошлом – то ад, то рай,

Наши деньги не лезут в карман,

Вот и утро – вставай!

Я не люблю, когда мне врут,

Но от правды я тоже устал,

Я пытался найти приют,

Говорят, что плохо искал.

И я не знаю, каков процент

Сумасшедших на данный час,

Но, если верить глазам и ушам –

Больше в несколько раз…

https://lyricstranslate.com

Struggling and Searching? Russians, Tolstoy, and Faith

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, faith, Happy, Insight, mental health, politicsLeave a comment

Personal Preface, then “Lessons from Leo Tolstoy” – An Article via BioLogos

I was raised in the Christian faith; it stayed with me as an adult, and has seen me through five decades so far.

For pretty well the whole of my adult life, I’ve also been a Rusophile.   There is a special place in my heart, in my soul, for the Russians.   Ukrainians too, for that matter.   My friends, you know who you are.

Since learning as a young adult about the Cold War that America had with Russia, my desire to understand the Russian people and help find common ground between our peoples became a life-long commitment.

Reading Tolstoy was one of the activities that solidified my connection somehow between my faith an my cultural/political interest in the Russians.  Anyone who’s even remotely aware of Russian literature is aware of Tolstoy.  Though he wrote epic verse, one passage in particular attributed to him stands out for me and has guided much of my most difficult moments in life.  It goes something like this…

“…you struggle in life because you strive to fulfill your own will, rather than God’s Will.   You will find happiness and contentment to the degree that you pursue God’s Will in your life; you will then be in touch with who you are truly meant to be.”

Something like that.

You can read more about Tolstoy and his faith via the following link, with the brief intro from the site, as such:

Famed author Leo Tolstoy went through a faith journey that ultimately led him back to Christ. His reflections can reassure those of us who have lingering questions and give us hope.
— Read on biologos.org/articles/struggling-and-searching-lessons-from-leo-tolstoy

Lyrics Post: “Human Touch”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, faith, Happy, Insight, marriage, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

I’m only a so-so Bruce fan. But this song…it feels full of truth and vulnerability…it feels…GOOD.

“Human Touch”

You and me we were the pretenders
We let it all slip away
In the end what you don’t surrender
Well the world just strips away

Girl ain’t no kindness in the face of strangers
Ain’t gonna find no miracles here
Well you can wait on your blessings but darlin’
I got a deal for you right here

I ain’t lookin’ for prayers or pity
I ain’t comin’ ’round searchin’ for a crutch
I just want someone to talk to
And a little of that human touch
Just a little of that human touch

Ain’t no mercy on the streets of this town
Ain’t no bread from heavenly skies
Ain’t nobody drawin’ wine from this blood
It’s just you and me tonight

Tell me in a world without pity
Do you think what I’m askin’s too much?
I just want something to hold on to
And a little of that human touch
Just a little of that human touch

Oh girl that feeling of safety you prize
Well it comes with a hard hard price
You can’t shut off the risk and pain
Without losin’ the love that remains
We’re all riders on this train

So you been broken and you been hurt
Show me somebody who ain’t
Yeah I know I ain’t nobody’s bargain
But hell a little touch up
And a little paint…

You might need somethin’ to hold on to
When all the answers they don’t amount to much
Somebody that you can just talk to
And a little of that human touch

Baby in a world without pity
Do you think what I’m askin’s too much?
I just want to feel you in my arms
And share a little of that human touch…

Sing Along

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, Happy, mental health, parenting, scienceLeave a comment

Enjoy the music? Sing along, the best way to feel it.

I was in the kitchen with my younger daughter the other day, and she was quietly singing a song from the movie, Trolls.

Can you guess which one?

Yep, the same one I posted the lyrics for this week…”Get Back Up Again”…

Such a good song, such simple, powerful, uplifting words…no lie.

And then a day later?

My son sang along, too.

I love listening to them sing along, an honest connection with and simple expression of what they hear.

The muse, the lyric, the magic of music, the song, let it sing from your mind to your voice to your soul, and out to the world.

It’s maybe the most human of actions, words to music and the joy and feeling and expression that comes forth.

Let it be, let it be me, let’s sing along…!

Lyrics Post: “Get Back Up Again”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, Insight, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

So good, this message. Sung to millions of millions upon millions more children. Through a fun, full-length feature film called “Trolls.”

Oh so SO GOOD. Simple message. Face the music. Do your best. Keep going. Fall down? Get back up again.

“Get Back Up Again”
(from “Trolls” soundtrack)

I really hope I can do it
‘Cause they’re all depending on me
I know that I must leave the only home I’ve ever known
And brave the dangers of the forest
Saving them before they’re eaten
I mean, how hard can that be?

Looking up at a sunny sky,
So shiny and blue and there’s a butterfly
Well, isn’t that a super fantastic sign?

It’s gonna be a fantastic day

Such marvelousness it’s gonna bring
Got a pocket full of songs that I’m gonna sing
And I’m ready to take on anything
Hooray!

Some super fun surprise around each corner
Just riding on a rainbow, I’m gonna be okay

Hey!
I’m not giving up today
There’s nothing getting in my way
And if you knock-knock me over
I will get back up again
Oh
If something goes a little wrong
Well, you can go ahead and bring it on
‘Cause if you knock-knock me over,
I will get back up again

Oh, oh, oh, get back up again

I’m marching along, I got confidence
I’m cooler than a pack of peppermints
And I haven’t been this excited since
I can’t remember when!

I’m off on this remarkable adventure
Just riding on a rainbow

What if it’s all a big mistake?
What if it’s more than I can take?
No, I can’t think that way
‘Cause I know that I’m really-really-really gonna be okay

Hey!
I’m not giving up today
There’s nothing getting in my way
And if you knock-knock me over
I will get back up again
Oh
If something goes a little wrong
Well, you can go ahead and bring it on
‘Cause if you knock-knock me over,
I will get back up again

Get up, get up, get up
Get back up again
Get up, get up, get up

I’m okay!

Get up, get up, get up
If you knock-knock me over, knock-knock me over
I will get back up again”

GOODGOODGOOD

Writer(s): Pasek Benj, Paul Justin Noble

Lyrics Post: “Free Your Mind”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, Happy, Insight, leadership, lifestyle, mental health, parenting, social change, social justice, voicesLeave a comment

Quite unexpected, not really a genre I partake from too often; too often that’s where the gems lie.

Lots of folks know these ladies rock it, knowing the beats, words good too, message good too. Whether you’re en vogue or not, free your mind all the same. Maybe now more than ever.

“Prejudice, wrote a song about it.
Like to hear it? Here it go.

I wear tight clothing, high heeled shoes
It doesn’t mean that I’m a prostitute, no no
I like rap music, wear hip hop clothes
That doesn’t mean that I’m out sellin’ dope no no
Oh my forgive me for having straight hair, no
It doesn’t mean there’s another blood in my heir yeah yeah
I might date another race or color
It doesn’t mean I don’t like my strong black brothers.

Why oh why must it be this way
Before you can read me you gotta learn how to see me, I said
Free your mind and the rest will follow
Be color blind, don’t be so shallow.
Free your mind and the rest will follow
Be color blind, don’t be so shallow

So I’m a sistah
Buy things with cash
That really doesn’t mean that all my credit’s bad, oooh
So why dispute me and waste my time
Because you really think the price is high for me
I can’t look without being watched, and oh
You rang my buy before I made up my mind, OW!
Oh now attitude, why even bother
I can’t change your mind, you can’t change my color

Why oh why must it be this way?
Before you can read me you gotta learn how to see me, I said
Free your mind and the rest will follow
Be color blind, don’t be so shallow…

Why oh why must it be this way?
Before you can read me you gotta learn how to see me, I said
Free your mind and the rest will follow
Be color blind, don’t be so shallow… FREE YOUR MIND!”

Writer(s): Denzil Delano Foster, Gerald Edward Levert, Thomas Craig Mc Elroy