I grew up listening to comedy albums. I listened to them enough to have some comedian’s routines memorized. It would be hard to not be influenced by some of these routines even when they weren’t the most spiritual stories. Here are three songs that I can site direct influences from comedy routines.
Category: Six Minutes After Seven Album
Writing Crusin’ for a Brusin’ – The Jonah Songs
Several years ago, I wrote a song called The Belly of the Whale. It was based on the familiar story from the first three chapters of the book of Jonah. In the story, Jonah is called to preach to the people of Nineveh, he runs away from God, is swallow by a whale, is spit up… Continue reading Writing Crusin’ for a Brusin’ – The Jonah Songs
Songwriting and Technology
Several years ago, I had an opportunity to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. One of the things that I enjoyed seeing is the notebooks that the songwriters used when they were working on their songs. It made me think about the different methods that I use when I’m writing songs. I wish… Continue reading Songwriting and Technology
Fish Songs
This past weekend, I did special music during the worship service at the church I attend. Most of the time I do special music, I just sing one of my songs. I try to select a song that relates to the scripture lesson for the service or at least the theme for the service. This… Continue reading Fish Songs
Breathecast Review of Six Minutes After Seven
Many societies have survived without gas, electricity, literacy and modern technology, but no society has ever existed without stories. Integral to our human ontology is the need for stories. It is often a challenge for us to learn from the abstract but truth comes alive when it is donned in narratives. Stories have a way… Continue reading Breathecast Review of Six Minutes After Seven
Notes on The Belly of the Whale
I have written music off and on throughout my life. Most of the things I did early in my life weren’t work keeping around. There are bits and pieces of this music stored away in drawers at my father’s house but it’s really not worth digging up. Sometime around 1998 or 1999, I started work… Continue reading Notes on The Belly of the Whale
It’s Gonna Rain Video Notes
I have talked about writing It’s Gonna Rain in a previous blog post. When I decided to do a video for this song, I turned to my son for help. He was in charge of filming and editing all of my live action videos including the ones for Arkansas and Electric Jesus. I decided to replicate the construction on a very… Continue reading It’s Gonna Rain Video Notes
Six Minutes After Seven – The Video
In the liner notes for my new CD, I make the following statement about the title track: “Six Minutes After Seven draws from the apocalyptic images in the Book of Revelation.” I think the idea for the song is best illustrated in the lyrics of the fourth verse: “The scroll will lose the seventh seal The… Continue reading Six Minutes After Seven – The Video
Arranging The Promised Land
In an earlier post, I talked about writing and recording both versions of The Promised Land. I wanted to do a black gospel choir arrangement for the background vocals. Most people who know me know that I play music primarily by ear. I can read music, but I’m not very good at it. Practically all of the… Continue reading Arranging The Promised Land
Writing and Recording “The Promised Land”
I wrote the song The Promised Land to sing during the memorial service at a church homecoming. The church I grew up in has a homecoming celebration every year on the second Sunday in June. Most of the people that go to this church are related to my mother. The same goes for the people that come… Continue reading Writing and Recording “The Promised Land”