Several people have asked me, “Why Stick Out Your Tongue? What does it mean?” Even my wife has asked me where it came from. I think the assumption is that it has naughty implications. I’m sure you can make anything suggestive, but it was never intended that way. The origins of using this phrase in… Continue reading Writing Stick Out Your Tongue
Category: Song Writing
Writing Seven Times Seven Times Seventy-Seven
The song Seven Times Seven Times Seventy-seven is based on The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant in Matthew 18. The title of the song comes from Jesus response to a question from Peter. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven… Continue reading Writing Seven Times Seven Times Seventy-Seven
Writing A Cave in Bethlehem
For many of my songs, I try and go against the grain of normal thinking about familiar Bible Stories. The idea for A Cave in Bethlehem came from the fact that many of the stables in the region where Jesus was born were caves instead of the wooden structures we see in modern nativity scenes. I also… Continue reading Writing A Cave in Bethlehem
Writing Speaking In Tongues
My pastor was preaching a sermon about Pentecost. He was discussing speaking in tongues. My mind tends to drift during some sermons and this was one of those times. I began thinking of how the concept of speaking in tongues is different in the story from Acts than it is in later parts of scripture… Continue reading Writing Speaking In Tongues
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
Writing Neighbor
My song Neighbor is based on the parable of the Good Samaritan. The song has 5 verses and each verse has its own melody. It works like a round. Each verse gives voice to a different person related to the parable.
Writing Mariam’s Song
Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.” -Exodus 15:21 This verse of scripture is identified at Mariam’s Song in most of my Bibles. The verses prior to it in Exodus 15 are identified as Moses Song. Moses Song is an account of crossing… Continue reading Writing Mariam’s Song
Writing Isaiah 11 – The Lion and the Lamb
I decided that I wanted to write a song about the Bible verse, “the lion will lie down with the lamb.” It turns out that this is one of those things everyone thinks is in the Bible but its not. The closest thing to this is in the eleventh chapter of the book of Isaiah. … Continue reading Writing Isaiah 11 – The Lion and the Lamb
Writing Every Other Day
When I wrote Every Other Day, I started with the idea of doing a blues tune that would be similar to B. B. King’s “Every Day I Have the Blues”. I was playing around with the idea that white people can’t have the blues. Or at least that white people can’t play or sing the blues.… Continue reading Writing Every Other Day
Writing Cosmetic School Graduation
While many of my songs are based directly on specific incidents, Cosmetic School Graduation is an exception. I have never fallen in love with anyone that cut my hair and I’ve never gone to a cosmetic school for a cheap haircut. I’ve had several real life experiences that were inspiration for this song. This is the story… Continue reading Writing Cosmetic School Graduation