Just One Use

I was looking through old files and happened upon this bit.  I hope you like it.

Just One Use
©2008 Stephen G Brown

Angry Birds

Seems to me it was Noveber 2010.  My wife was playing Angry Birds for the very first time.  I was playing guitar on the couch.  That's when this happened.

Oh, why didn't I publish it before now?  Because I had a dream of making a video for it.  Eh.  Maybe someday.

Angry Birds
©2010 Stephen G Brown



Played Angry Birds all night long and despite that
I haven't stopped thinking of you
Sleep deprivation and visions of mayhem
They can't keep my mind off of you

I want you, I need you I don't want you going away
I want to be with you When I play Angry Birds won't you stay?

The pigs build their fortress while I load the slingshot
and send angry birds through the air
I dream you're a princess, the pigs took you captive
And I've come to rescue you there

I look out the window, you back out the driveway
And I didn't notice you leave
The couch feels so empty, the birds say they miss you
The pigs just hope for a reprieve

Played Angry Birds all night long and despite that
I haven't stopped thinking of you

Raise Your Hands - Colin Gordon-Farleigh

Raise Your Hands



So this is a long one, with more characters than most of my stories.  Here's how it happened.  I started writing a hymn on the piano perhaps back in 2010 or so.  Although I liked the music, I just couldn't come up with any lyrics.  "As we humbly bow before you" was all I could do.  So I wrote to my friend Greg Scheer, asking for advice.  Greg is a fantastic composer and an even better person.  You should visit his sight and at least get to know him through his music and musings.

Well Greg said "Why don't you ask my friend Colin if he would write something".  I was familiar with Colin Gordon-Farleigh through the songs he and Greg have written together and Greg posts on his music blog.  I wrote off to Colin asking if he would be interested, and to my immense pleasure, he agreed.  Shortly thereafter I had lyrics to my hymn, so I put the whole thing together, and before you know it, Colin had it published on his site.

Here is where Raise Your Hands beings: Colin wrote back with lyrics, and asked me to put music to it.  Being the putz that I am, I started, but never got it finished.  I think part of the reason is that I had written a song called Raise Your Hands just a few days earlier, and it just kind of freeked me out.  But I also had a bit of time away from writing due to other pressing matters in my life.  I've had this nagging guilt for the past year.  Then last week Colin wrote to me and asked if I'd ever gotten it done.  "No, but I'll do it by next weekend".  Earlier this week I started over entirely with a more folky-tune on the guitar.  But being unsure how Colin felt about that sort of music, I dug back in and finished up the original.  And so, without further ado:

Raise Your Hands
Lyric ©2011 Colin Gordon-Farleigh
Music ©2012 Stephen G Brown

Roshni

I got a new guitar.  It's small.  Doesn't sound great, but it's fun because it is small.  So I bought it in to the office to show some folks.  At one point during the day, I went for coffee with my "friend" Roshni.  We parted ways before making it back to the office, but when I made it back, I saw her darting away from my computer.
Sure enough, she'd sent email from my computer as a prank.  I grabbed the guitar, and started working on this song.

Roshni
© 2012 Stephen Brown



Roshni, Roshni
You are not my friend
I'm taking my computer
When I leave here again

I've made too many offers
To buy lunch for the team
It happens every time that I forget to lock my screen

Oh, Roshni, how can you act so bad
You've taken away what little pride I had
Oh Roshni, your heart is black as night
I don't think you even know what's wrong and what is right

Roshni, Roshni
You never show a trace
Of all your malice
Upon your pretty face

I'm not the first
And I know there will be more
To fall down under the fury when you roar

Oh, Roshni, how can you act so bad
You've taken away what little pride I had
Oh Roshni, your heart is black as night
I don't think you even know what's wrong and what is right

Oh, Roshni, how can you act so bad
You've taken away what little pride I had
Oh Roshni, your heart is black as night
I don't think you even know what's wrong and what is right



Oh, Roshni, how can you act so bad
You've taken away what little pride I had
Oh Roshni, your heart is black as night
I don't think you even know what's wrong and what is right

Forest for the Trees

I stumbled across this recording.  Thought I'd share.

Forest for the Trees
© 2011 Stephen Brown



Like the forest for the trees
Can't distinguish which of these
My soul for the sin, but He's
Washing me within
Can't stay up on my knees
So I fall down on my face
Before him

Glory Hallelujah
Glory Hallelujah
Glory Hallelujah
Glory Hallelujah

David is chosen to be king
Giving his heart to the Lord, never ashamed to sing
The praises to our God he brings
Like incense on an altar
But David is known to falter
This king is not the one we need, we need a savior

Glory Hallelujah
Glory Hallelujah
Glory Hallelujah
Glory Hallelujah

Only man can atone for man's great sin
Jesus is God and man within
A body broken, on a tree He's pinned
Blood poured on the ground
Therein salvation's found
Salvation.  Hallellujah.

Glory Hallelujah
Glory Hallelujah
Glory Hallelujah
Glory Hallelujah

Psalm 23

Psalm 23
© 2012 Stephen Brown



My shepherd is the Lord my God
I shall not be in need
He makes me lie down and take my rest
In fields that are so green

He leads me by the quiet streams
And He restores my soul
He guides my path to righteousness
For His name’s sake, oh oh.

You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing

Even though I walk through the valley
of death, I have no fear
Lord you're with me, and my comfort
Is Your staff and Your shield

You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing

INSTRUMENTAL

You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing
And my cup is overflowing

Lord I know Your goodness, Your lovingkindness
Will follow me for all of my days,
I know Your goodness, Your lovingkindness
Will follow me for all of my days,

And I will dwell in Your house
And I will dwell in Your house
And I will dwell in Your house
And I will dwell in Your house forever