A Song for Us

"Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)"

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

Out in the yard with your wife and children

Working on some stage in LA

Did you stand there in shock at the site of

That black smoke rising against that blue sky

Did you shout out in anger

In fear for your neighbor

Or did you just sit down and cry

Did you weep for the children

Who lost their dear loved ones

And pray for the ones who don't know

Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble

And sob for the ones left below

Did you burst out in pride

For the red white and blue

The heroes who died just doing what they do

Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer

And look at yourself to what really matters

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real political man

I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you

The difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young

Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us

And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day
Teaching a class full of innocent children
Driving down some cold interstate
Did you feel guilty cause you're a survivor

In a crowded room did you feel alone

Did you call up your mother and tell her you love her

Did you dust off that bible at home

 

Did you open your eyes and hope it never happened

Close your eyes and not go to sleep

Did you notice the sunset the first time in ages

Speak with some stranger on the street

Did you lay down at night and think of tomorrow

Go out and buy you a gun

Did you turn off that violent old movie you're watching

And turn on "I Love Lucy" reruns

 

Did you go to a church and hold hands with some stranger

Stand in line and give your own blood

Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family

Thank God you had somebody to love

I'm just a singer of simple songs

I'm not a real political man

I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you

The difference in Iraq and Iran

But I know Jesus and I talk to God

And I remember this from when I was young

Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us

And the greatest is love

I'm just a singer of simple songs
I'm not a real political man
I watch CNN but I'm not sure I can tell you
The difference in Iraq and Iran
But I know Jesus and I talk to God
And I remember this from when I was young
Faith hope and love are some good things he gave us
And the greatest is love

Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day

The greatest is love
The greatest is love

A Dedicated Song Sunday

Yesterday I had the honor of being asked to sing this song at a funeral. I never actual met the man who passed away, but his step-daughter and her husband are very close friends of my dad. In fact, her husband officiated my wedding. Their family means a lot to me, and I was happy to sing a song that inspires emotion whenever it is heard. A month ago we sang it for my little sister after she was baptized. I didn't think I would get caught up in the moment yesterday. I thought for sure I could get through it without getting choked up. I'd never met this man, and from what it sounds like he might not have been the nicest man ever, but as I stood in front of the congregation ready to begin, I had to pause. It is impossible to sing this song and not remember the people I have lost. It's impossible to not grieve for the family sitting in front of me. I closed my eyes, and started to sing. My voice has never quivered so much, I've never had to close my eyes to keep from seeing the tears streaming down the faces of the loved ones left behind. I knew there were people I couldn't look at, most of all my dad. I knew if I made eye contact he'd tear up, and then I would lose it. If there is one person in the world I simply cannot handle seeing cry it is my dad. There was one person I knew I count on not crying; Charming Husband. He isn't a cryer, he's not emotional, and he is even less of these things at a funeral for someone he doesn't know. So I opened my eyes and looked toward his chair. It was empty. Seriously? I'm singing at a funeral and you're MIA? I closed my eyes again, and kept them that way until I was done. I'm glad I made it through, I'm glad his widow was moved. I nearly lost it when his daughter mustered up a "thank you", eyes full of sorrow. I want to dedicate today's Song Sunday to the Gast family, and to every family who has had to hear this song at the funeral of a loved one.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

A Very Special Song Sunday

In honor of my little guy's 1st Birthday, here is the song I sing to him every night. I've never like the 2nd verse to this song, so I changed the words when I started singing it to Bug when he was brand new. It's just sweet song, and I'm willing to bet most moms have sung this to their child at some point.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy, when skies are grey

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping

I dreamt I held you in my arms

When I awoke dear, I wasn't mistaken

and I held you safe from harm

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy, when skies are grey

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away

Song Sunday With Rodney Atkins

I love this one, the 1st verse must have been written for Bug and Charming Husband. I've only posted the part that pertains to them. The rest is awesome too, but just doesn't fit my boys. And if Bugs 1st 4-letter word would've started with "S" I think we would've preferred it to the one he ACTUALLY said. I'll let you use your imagination on that one.

Drivin' through town just my boy and me
With a 'Happy Meal' in his booster seat
Knowin' that he couldn't have the toy til his nuggets were gone

A green traffic light turned straight to red
I hit in my brakes and mumbled under my breath
His fries went a flyin? and his orange drink covered his lap

Well, then my 4 year old said a 4 letter word
It started with "S' and I was concerned
So I said, Son, now where'd you learn to talk like that??

He said, I've been watching you, dad ain't that cool?
I?m your buckaroo, I want to be like you
And eat all my food, and grow as tall as you are?

"We got cowboy boots and camo pants
Yeah, we're just alike, hey, ain't we dad
I want to do everything you do
So I've been watching you"

Song Sunday With Sarah McLachlan

Sarah McLachlan is hands down my favorite artist. Her lyrics and voice are amazing and cause my emotions to do somersaults. This is "Push". Incredible.

Every time I look at you the world just melts away
All my troubles all my fears dissolve in your affections
You've seen me at my weakest but you take me as I am
And when I fall you offer me a softer place to land

[CHORUS:]
You stay the course you hold the line you keep it all together
You're the one true thing I know I can believe in
You're all the things that I desire, you save me, you complete me
You're the one true thing I know I can believe

I get mad so easy but you give me room to breathe
No matter what I say or do 'cause you're too good to fight about it
Even when I have to push just to see how far you'll go
You won't stoop down to battle but you never turn to go

[CHORUS]

Your love is just the antidote when nothing else will cure me
There are times I cant decide when I cant tell up from down
You make me feel less crazy when otherwise I'd drown
But you pick me up and brush me off and tell me I'm OK
Sometimes thats just what we need to get us through the day

Song Sunday Week 3!

I love this song, and I get all teary and ridiculous when I hear it :) I think every woman I know can relate to this song at some point in their life.

This is for all you girls about 13
High school can be so rough, can be so mean
Hold on to, on to your innocence
Stand your ground when everybody's givin' in
This one's for the girls

This is for all you girls about 25
In little apartments, just tryin' to get by
Livin' on, on dreams and spaghettios
Wonderin' where your life is gonna go

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holdin' back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world, this one's for the girls
(This one's for all the girls)

This is for all you girls about 42
Tossin' pennies into the fountain of youth
Every laugh, laugh line on your face
Made you who you are today

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holdin' back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world, this one's for the girls

Yeah, we're all the same inside
(Same inside)
From 1 to 99

This one's for the girls
Who've ever had a broken heart
Who've wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holdin' back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world, yeah, this one's for the girls

(This one's for all the girls)
Yeah, this one's for the girls
(This one's for all the girls)

Song Sunday Week 2

I'm starting a new thing, I know my post is a little tonight, I was busy being hungover today. Here is last week's post. Here are today's lyrics:

God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy.

Song Sunday

Music is a huge part of my life. I love to sing. Every day I hear a song that touches me in some way.  I sang my first solo in front of a large audience when I was 3. When I was 15 I made all-county choir. I used to sing the National Anthem for high school basketball games, and when I was 17 I sang it at the circus. When I sing I feel alive. Music has taken the backseat in my life now. Between work and school and raising a family I just don't have time to join a choir or take lessons to keep my voice trained, but I don't love music any less. In an effort to get back to my musical roots, and to blog more regularly, every Sunday I am going to try (really hard I promise) to post lyrics to a song that has touched me. Since today is Independence Day, it only seems fit to pull my favorite lyrics from one of our most patriotic songs. When I was a kid, we would sing the 1st verse of this song when we crossed into a new state on road trips, and I get all teary when they sing it at baseball games :)

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!  

God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!