Category: art

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

Lyrics Post: “Volcano”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, family, HappyLeave a comment

Way back when, another one turned me upside down with glee, a little ditty by Jimmy Buffett.

And maybe my favorite memory of this song is dancing and singing to it with my mom at cousin’s wedding decades ago, the joy still easily remembered.

So FUN.

Volcano”

Now, I don’t know, I don’t know where I’m a gonna go
when the volcano blow.
Let me say it now,
I don’t know, I don’t know where I’m a gonna go
when the volcano blow.

Ground, she movin’ under me.
Tidal waves out on the sea.
Sulphur smoke up in the sky.
Pretty soon we learn to fly

[Chorus:]
Let me hear you, now
I don’t know, I don’t know where I’m a gonna go
when the volcano blow.
Let me hear you now.
I don’t know, I don’t know where I’m a gonna go
when the volcano blow.

My girl quickly say to me,
“Mon you better watch your feet.”
Lava come down soft and hot.
“You better lava me now or lava me not.

[Chorus]

No time to count what I’m worth,
cause I just left the planet Earth.
Where I go I hope there’s rum.
Not to worry mon soon come.

[Chorus]

But I don’t want to land in New York City,
I don’t want to land in Mexico.
I don’t want to land on no Three Mile Island;
I don’t want to see my skin a-glow.

Don’t want to land in Comanche Sky Park,
or in Nashville, Tennessee.
I don’t want to land in no San Juan airport or
the Yukon Territory.

Don’t want to land no San Diego.
Don’t want to land in no Buzzards Bay.
I don’t want to land on no Ayatolla.
I got nothin’ more to say.

[Chorus]

Writer(s): J. Buffett, K. Sykes, H. Dailey

Lyrics Post: “Beast of Burden”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Happy, lifestyle, marriage, mental healthLeave a comment

“Beast Of Burden”, The Rolling Stones. Not much needs to be said.

Same old magic. The riff, the lyric, the feel…all I want…

“I’ll never be your beast of burden

My back is broad, but it’s a-hurting

All I want, for you to make love to me

I’ll never be your beast of burden

I’ve walked for miles, my feet are hurting

All I want is for you to make love to me

Am I hard enough?

Am I rough enough?

Am I rich enough?

I’m not too blind to see

I’ll never be your beast of burden

So let’s go home and draw the curtains

Music on the radio

Come on, baby, make sweet love to me

Am I hard enough?

Am I rough enough?

Am I rich enough?

I’m not too blind to see

Oh, little sister

Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girls

You’re a pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty girl

Pretty, pretty, such a pretty, pretty, pretty girl

Come on, baby, please, please, please

I’ll tell you, you can put me out on the street

Put me out with no shoes on my feet

But put me out, put me out

Put me out of misery, yeah

All your sickness, I can suck it up

Throw it all at me, I can shrug it off

There’s one thing, baby, I don’t understand

You keep on telling me I ain’t your kind of man

Ain’t I rough enough? Ooh, honey

Ain’t I tough enough?

Ain’t I rich enough? In love enough?

Ooh, please

I’ll never be your beast of burden

I’ll never be your beast of burden

Never, never, never, never, never, never, never be

I’ll never be your beast of burden

I’ve walked for miles, my feet are hurting

All I want is you to make love to me, yeah

I don’t need no beast of burden

I need no fussing, I need no nursing

Never, never, never, never, never, never, never, never”

Writer(s): Mick Jagger, Keith Richards

Lyrics Post: “Moves Like Jagger”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, Happy, mental healthLeave a comment

Didn’t know Maroon 5 wrote this one; knew it was catchy.

Then my eight year old son started shaking it to the beat, and I was all IN.

Moves like Jagger, shake it all night….GOOD.

“Moves Like Jagger”

(feat. Christina Aguilera)

[Adam Levine:]

Oh…

Oh!

Just shoot for the stars

If it feels right

And aim for my heart

If you feel like

And take me away and make it OK

I swear I’ll behave

You wanted control

So we waited

I put on a show

Now I make it

You say I’m a kid

My ego is big

I don’t give a shit

And it goes like this (Uh)

Take me by the tongue

And I’ll know you

Kiss me ’til you’re drunk

And I’ll show you

All the moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

I don’t need to try to control you

Look into my eyes and I’ll own you

With them moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

Maybe it’s hard

When you feel like you’re broken and scarred

Nothing feels right

But when you’re with me

I’ll make you believe

That I’ve got the key

Oh

So get in the car

We can ride it

Wherever you want

Get inside it

And you want to steer

But I’m shifting gears

I’ll take it from here (Oh! Yeah yeah!)

And it goes like this (Uh)

Take me by the tongue

And I’ll know you (Uh)

Kiss me ’til you’re drunk

And I’ll show you

All the moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

I don’t need to try to control you (Oh, yeah)

Look into my eyes and I’ll own you

With them moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger (Yeah yeah)

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

[Christina Aguilera:]

You wanna know how to make me smile

Take control, own me just for the night

And if I share my secret

You’re gonna have to keep it

Nobody else can see this

So watch and learn

I won’t show you twice

Head to toe, oooh baby rub me right

But if I share my secret

You’re gonna have to keep it

Nobody else can see this (Ay! Ay! Ay! Aaay!)

[Adam Levine:]

And it goes like this (Uh)

Take me by the tongue

And I’ll know you (Take me by the tongue)

Kiss me ’til you’re drunk

And I’ll show you (Yeah yeah yeah!)

All the moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

(Oh, yeah)

I don’t need to try to control you

Look into my eyes and I’ll own you

With them moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

I’ve got the moves like Jagger

Writer(s): Levine Adam Noah, Levin Benjamin Joseph

Lyrics Post: “Where The Streets Have No Name”

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, culture, HappyLeave a comment

This tune came to mind recently, and I was pretty well immediately taken back to when I first heard it three decades ago.

The riff, the lyric, the vibe of the late 80’s…U2 cut through all the layers and delivered essential, guitar-laden soul music, words that went to the deep places; especially with Joshua Tree (the album); and this song that took us down the streets have no names.

“I want to run
I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I want to reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name

I want to feel sunlight on my face
I see the dust cloud disappear 
Without a trace
I want to take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We’re still building 
Then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there
I go there with you
It’s all I can do

The city’s aflood
And our love turns to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled in dust
I’ll show you a place
High on a desert plain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We’re still building
Then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there
I go there with you
It’s all I can do
Our love turns to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, and I see love
See our love turn to rust
We’re beaten and blown by the wind
Blown by the wind
Oh, when I go there
I go there with you
It’s all I can do”

By: Adam, David, Paul, Larry.

These Songs, These Words, Closer to God

On By jeff ludlumIn art, Attitude, faith, Happy, mental healthLeave a comment

Talking to a good friend recently, talking about my struggles of late, my thoughts and feelings therein, and how my writing relates…

For better or worse, I lay a lot of it out here, you see…

It’s a blend of diary and journal and blog, giving me both the personal and creative outlet, together,

I prefer together, living and figuring it out, together,

Spinning the words oft indirect, sparse, wandering.

I’m often inspired, often relate to lyrics, that’s been true since I can first remember,

And so has God, been near, somehow coming close to me through those words, storied, and in song,

Closer to God, somehow even before words, the music a bridge,

And so this, so it is, these two from Dave bare it out, good examples laid out,

“Eh Hee”

Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh 

Praise God, who has many names but the devil has many more and with the love that my mother gave me I’m gonna drop the devil to the floor 

I’m gonna drop the devil to his knees I’m gonna drop the devil to his knees 

there’s always someone who’ll try to convince you that they know the answer no matter the question be wary of those who believe in a neat little world because it’s just fucking crazy, you know that it is 

Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh 

Walking along in this haze of confusion sometimes I can laugh but at times it takes all of my strength just to find enough reason to take the next step step, but I will, but I will, ’til I do 

Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh 

Brother, sister, brothers, sisters brother, sister, brothers, sisters 

Praise God who has many names but the devil has many more and with the love that my mother gave me I’m gonna drop the devil to the floor 

I’m gonna drop the devil to his knees I’m gonna drop the devil to his knees 

Strange evolution, that people have come to believe that we are its greatest achievement when really we’re just a collection of cells overrating themselves hello God, I’m avoiding the truth 

Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh 

I’m gonna drop the devil to his knees I’m gonna drop the devil to his knees 

Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh eh amana
Eh hee yeah amanaya yeaha yeah eh he…”

And…

“I can’t believe, can‘t believe we would lie in our graves, wondering if we lived our living days well…”,

And this sort of lyric, these words,

They lift me, inspire me, bring God near, to share, however sparse, however wandering, and,

To try again,

And be better,

For me,

For them,

For you.