The definition of the noun, refrain, is: “a repeated line or number of lines in a poem or song, typically at the end of each verse.” So, that’s what the phrase, give to gain, is in the chorus of one of my songs. Not so coincidentally the song’s title is “Give To Gain.” And I’ll say, right up front, it’s … The rest of the story…
Category Archives: Words and Music
You’ve heard this before. Never bring a knife to a gun fight. And, even if you’re a recovering public school graduate, that should make sense to you right away. But here’s something that might not make so much sense, at first glance. Never bring a gun to a sword fight. Or, I should say, don’t bring a gun and fight … The rest of the story…
What does it mean for something to be pure as gold? Well, gold is considered “the standard” for so many things. So, it must be something pretty special. But I don’t think gold is all that pure. It was, when the Earth was created. But it got messed up a long time ago in a cataclysmic flood. Skip that rabbit … The rest of the story…
Here’s a definition of it I found online: “To put on airs; to behave arrogantly. As long ago as the fourteenth century, persons of high rank rode very tall horses, a custom that came to symbolize superiority and arrogance. By 1800 or so, to be or to get on one’s high horse meant to act superior, with or without justification.” … The rest of the story…
There’s a metal barn, easily visible from I-70 in Eastern Kansas, with a message in very large letters on the side. It reads, “No Jesus, No Peace…Know Jesus, Know Peace.” I’ve read that message, many times, as I’ve driven past that barn over the years. And it’s been there a long time. Have you noticed there’s no peace on Earth? … The rest of the story…
Years before Mel Gibson made a movie about it (Braveheart) I wrote a song about my freedom quest. To be clear, there were no swords, cannons, or lives lost in my quest. But it was just as important to me as it was to William Wallace. Sadly, America’s freedom quest is fading away. In fact, I don’t think it would … The rest of the story…
What do the head of a cow and the Body of Christ have in common? And it’s not one of my trick questions. Except for the tricky part. And the tricky part is that the answer makes sense when you don’t translate the words. But before I answer any trick questions, a little road story. It was 1989. And my … The rest of the story…
OK, get ready. ‘Cause some superstitious words and references are gonna be comin’ at you (gesundheit). Oops, one slipped in there already. Yep. Gesundheit and “bless you” can be superstitious words. Did you know that people, down through the centuries, have believed (and possibly still believe) that a sneeze can cause your soul to escape your body through your nose. … The rest of the story…
I just need some time. Who hasn’t said that at least a time or two? And it becomes an even scarcer commodity the older you get. Plus, it starts to zoom past at practically the speed of light. Of course, a little six-year-old who’s waiting for an ice cream cone might beg to differ. But what does an impatient six-year-old … The rest of the story…
It’s probably just me. But certain old songs can take me right back to almost a particular moment in time. And I don’t mean a phase of my life. I mean an actual mental snapshot of a particular moment of my life. A great example of what I mean is the song, “Ramblin’ Rose.” And that moment in time was … The rest of the story…
A friend of mine died two years ago, today, September 12, 2021. But he wasn’t just a friend. He was the pastor of the church I attended (and led praise and worship) for a long time. And he was blessed with the ability to dive deep into the information in the Bible. And rightly divide the word of Truth. It’s … The rest of the story…
You humans are certainly creatures of curiosity. Especially those of you who’ve been fortunate to have been born in a “free” society. Yeah, I’ve said this before. Americans tend to be very image-bound and sound-byte-gagged. First, there’s what seems to be the picture of success, on TV and in the movies. And that’s almost completely fake. And that’s bad enough. … The rest of the story…
I’ve got a bad attitude when it comes to bad attitude. And, yes, I know how that sentence looks and sounds. But the first bad is more along the lines of Michael Jackson’s song, “Bad.” and the second is more along the lines of Huey Lewis and the News’ song, “Sometimes Bad is Bad.” How’s that for using songs to … The rest of the story…
I stumbled on this little blurb, this morning, as I did some research. It was about a fairly well-known book. And it said: “Might Is Right or The Survival of the Fittest” is a book by pseudonymous author Ragnar Redbeard, generally believed to be a pen name of Arthur Desmond. First published in 1896, it advocates amorality, consequentialism and psychological … The rest of the story…
Ritchie Grasso. Now, there’s a name you don’t hear every day. Well, unless you’re related to Ritchie or you went to school with him. Or you wrote songs with him. I didn’t. And my guess is, you didn’t either. But one guy co-wrote a hit song with him called “Sweet Cherry Wine.” And now you’re wondering when Sweet Cherry Wine … The rest of the story…
“of salty water or the sea; salty” That’s a dictionary definition of the word briny. If you’ve ever lived close to or by the ocean you’ve probably heard that word. This world is about 70% covered in seawater. So, I’m sure a lot of coastal people are familiar with the term. But, even with that much ocean, this world is … The rest of the story…
Here’s some encouragement for the day. But it’s only for people who aren’t fools. People who understand the difference between delusion and reality. And if that direct and simple statement triggers a negative reaction in your head, you might be in the fools camp. But even people with wisdom can use some encouragement for the day. Because this planet is … The rest of the story…
Do you have siblings? If so, did you ever get into arguments with them when you were kids? No, who does that, right? Seriously, if you have a brother or sister (or a bunch of them like Elgielene does), you most likely had at least a disagreement or three. And you might remember answering the “why” question with the most … The rest of the story…
Your safe place isn’t. Because there’s no safe place on Earth. Sure, there ARE places that, on a certain level, are safer than others. That’s just when it comes to the most violent and in-your-face crimes. But there’s nowhere on this planet that isn’t wicked. You can’t get away from it even in the small towns. And that’s where you … The rest of the story…
I certainly appreciate the most important things in life. I’m sure you can relate. Great computer, phone, and tablet. Several devices to watch videos and stream content. Internet access to a world so vast I’ll never see or hear it all. As a pre-teen and teenager, my family called me “technical Tony.” They didn’t always mean it as a term … The rest of the story…