Thursday, June 14, 2012
The Tree Is Free
A piece of a tree falls to the ground. It is no longer a tree. The "no perfect lines in nature" is a branch. The rugged edges where it once connected to the tree. The fallen hero of the tree is free. Yet the survivor of the fall, knows it will have to care for itself. The crooked branch has scares, like the brown leaves, that were once green. After all, the branch knows that being free is not easy. Perhaps he will be dragged far away by a man, far from the shade, and safety of the tree. He will be left alone but he will light his own candle, and set out into the unknown. He knowns the other pieces of the tree, will celebrate his boldness, and the day he fell from the lush green paradise.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Eagle's View
I was born in the Silver State
In the city of sin
My Mom's from California
And my Dad's from Tenneessee
Theres the deserts of this land
And the green green grass
I wanna see this land
I wanna go to Reno
And across the plains
I wanna go to the east coast
To Philadelphia
I wanna go down south
To Atlanta
I wanna see this land
It has long been argued for a long time that America The Beautiful be our national anthem. The song itself was written as a Poem by Katherine Lee Bates while taking a train to Colorado for a teaching position. Needless to say she was impressed with what she saw and wrote the lyrics to what would became America The Beautiful. Needless to say I have not been across these same plains but it inspired me to write my the lyrics above. I tried to use my minds eye to write something along those lines.
However, the second thing I thought about is how lucky we are to live in America and have been blessed with such a great land. is something to be thankful for. Even if its as simple as not having to worry about being free. Free to go about whereever you live without be perscuted. For there is a divided island of Cyprus divided between ethnic Turks and Greek. In Kashmir the armies of India and pakistan still divide the land. The tiny nation of Taiwan must worry in fear if China will invade its nation.
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!
In the city of sin
My Mom's from California
And my Dad's from Tenneessee
Theres the deserts of this land
And the green green grass
I wanna see this land
I wanna go to Reno
And across the plains
I wanna go to the east coast
To Philadelphia
I wanna go down south
To Atlanta
I wanna see this land
It has long been argued for a long time that America The Beautiful be our national anthem. The song itself was written as a Poem by Katherine Lee Bates while taking a train to Colorado for a teaching position. Needless to say she was impressed with what she saw and wrote the lyrics to what would became America The Beautiful. Needless to say I have not been across these same plains but it inspired me to write my the lyrics above. I tried to use my minds eye to write something along those lines.
However, the second thing I thought about is how lucky we are to live in America and have been blessed with such a great land. is something to be thankful for. Even if its as simple as not having to worry about being free. Free to go about whereever you live without be perscuted. For there is a divided island of Cyprus divided between ethnic Turks and Greek. In Kashmir the armies of India and pakistan still divide the land. The tiny nation of Taiwan must worry in fear if China will invade its nation.
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!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Our legacy
So I was thinking what would be my legacy and I think to myself who cares. I am 22 years old and soon to graduate college and not really sure what awaits me but gotta let the big man upstairs worry about that. Recently since I am not working at this time but thats ok because I start Jurry Duty on Wednesday and thats 33 dollars a day. It kinda hurts your pride being unemployed but hey life isn't a bunch of roses is it. I was thinking its not like I'm in a hurry anyways as i have enough to pay for school next semester and plenty of money(thanks Sam's Club).
Anyways I didn't plan on staying there much longer anyways aka college degree but it was a great time working there. So back to the legacy part I think no one really expects to be in a history book for what they did. I mean look at William Wallace or the Founding Fathers they were willing to die for their beliefs yet non really expected to be glorified.
I think music is very important to me and I hope one day to be recognized as a great songwriter like George Harrison, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, and Jackson C. Frank just to name a few. However, I recognize this is a very slim chance so I'm ok with where I'm at, playing music at small shows. That doesn't mean that I won't always love music as it makes me world go round. Like I wanna Know what Love Is for example. Look at that song when your not feeling good and that song comes on you could have your whole day made better. Oh and don't pretend you don't like it, this song demands you feel it "I wanna know what love is I want you to show me" that in itself is poweful. Music takes that you to a different place it says its time to get away in a healthy way of course. One such song that is also very powerful is Danny Boy this traditional Irish song conveys suffering and the Love of a Father and a Boy. The songs enters with a line about the pipes are calling. More likely a reference to sense of duty or something like that. The song continues with the Father realising the son must go and how he will wait for the son to return even when he is dead. The song is a lost art not many songs today talk about such a love yet we all feel that about our family.
In this next section I will address just how lucky I was to find something in school that interested me. I will begin back in the high school days. My senior year of High School was a much disapointing year as far as academics go. I was lost in general I had bombed the SATS and with it any chance of going to college as I saw it. I had been accepted to the University Of Nevada, Reno but it wasn't really attainable to go because i lacked the finiancial planning or laziness. So thinking quickly I enrolled in Leeward Community College to get my general Education rquirements and enter the University system through transfer.
Well mostly not knowing what I wanted to do I really just got average grades that first semester. Average meaning lots of Cs. I thought I wanted to be a Communications Major but that in itself is pretty vague overall wasn't really a major. well to make a long story short I found English, Math, and Science to be my worst subjects. However, I found my stride in History Classes with professor Boyrk and Professor Fujita. This is where I didn't mind the work and actually enjoyed going to class. So after completing my two years at Leeward Community College I was pretty sure things would be difficult.
The hardest part being that Transfering to the University Of Hawaii would cost a lot of money. I had thought about the University Of Hawaii West Oahu but I remembered my friend telling me they didn't offer many classes. On a whim I thought well maybe its worth a try to go ask if they offer a History program. Well it turns out they did have one and the tutition was actually a little more affordable than UH. Three semesters later its been a long journey but I have come a long way.
Lastly i was thinking about some of the things people tell you about Americans and our own legacy. People will tell you America ain't what it used to be and that its every man for himself and that Americans are greedy. Well these people haven't been around America if they can't see a great legacy. Political Science Professors will tell you America doesn't give as much as other nations per capita and then people like Bono get on T.V. and tell us were greedy but I disagree sir. Has abyone carred to challenge these people or do we just sit and believe them because we feel like their right. Well here is where this logic goes wrong. Lets look at one simple fact are money is worth more than your money(World). Our money goes further towards building schools and feeding th poor people of the world. So this arguement of we give a greater percentage is invalid money is about worth and not percentages. Yes I was one of those people that let the Professor get away with bended statistics because I was being guilted into being ashamed.
I see a different side of America everyday. When my car broke down on a hill recently I was unable to move the car off the road. A Nissan Xterra is a very heavy car indeed. Well needless to say another motorist lined his bumber up with mine and helped push me to the side. I shook his hand and thanked him. Or how about that motorcyclist pinned under the car of driver. These people dropped what they were doing rushed over and lifted the car to move the man from underneath the car. His motorcycle also pinned under the car caught fire during the incident yet these people moved to save the man's life. These are things that remind me America is still a great country and not the evil empire certain people would have you believe.
As Adam Carolla said in a interview while discussing the Hollywood Left "These people don't love Communism they just hate this country" I think this says a lot about these people's state of mind.
Anyways I didn't plan on staying there much longer anyways aka college degree but it was a great time working there. So back to the legacy part I think no one really expects to be in a history book for what they did. I mean look at William Wallace or the Founding Fathers they were willing to die for their beliefs yet non really expected to be glorified.
I think music is very important to me and I hope one day to be recognized as a great songwriter like George Harrison, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, and Jackson C. Frank just to name a few. However, I recognize this is a very slim chance so I'm ok with where I'm at, playing music at small shows. That doesn't mean that I won't always love music as it makes me world go round. Like I wanna Know what Love Is for example. Look at that song when your not feeling good and that song comes on you could have your whole day made better. Oh and don't pretend you don't like it, this song demands you feel it "I wanna know what love is I want you to show me" that in itself is poweful. Music takes that you to a different place it says its time to get away in a healthy way of course. One such song that is also very powerful is Danny Boy this traditional Irish song conveys suffering and the Love of a Father and a Boy. The songs enters with a line about the pipes are calling. More likely a reference to sense of duty or something like that. The song continues with the Father realising the son must go and how he will wait for the son to return even when he is dead. The song is a lost art not many songs today talk about such a love yet we all feel that about our family.
In this next section I will address just how lucky I was to find something in school that interested me. I will begin back in the high school days. My senior year of High School was a much disapointing year as far as academics go. I was lost in general I had bombed the SATS and with it any chance of going to college as I saw it. I had been accepted to the University Of Nevada, Reno but it wasn't really attainable to go because i lacked the finiancial planning or laziness. So thinking quickly I enrolled in Leeward Community College to get my general Education rquirements and enter the University system through transfer.
Well mostly not knowing what I wanted to do I really just got average grades that first semester. Average meaning lots of Cs. I thought I wanted to be a Communications Major but that in itself is pretty vague overall wasn't really a major. well to make a long story short I found English, Math, and Science to be my worst subjects. However, I found my stride in History Classes with professor Boyrk and Professor Fujita. This is where I didn't mind the work and actually enjoyed going to class. So after completing my two years at Leeward Community College I was pretty sure things would be difficult.
The hardest part being that Transfering to the University Of Hawaii would cost a lot of money. I had thought about the University Of Hawaii West Oahu but I remembered my friend telling me they didn't offer many classes. On a whim I thought well maybe its worth a try to go ask if they offer a History program. Well it turns out they did have one and the tutition was actually a little more affordable than UH. Three semesters later its been a long journey but I have come a long way.
Lastly i was thinking about some of the things people tell you about Americans and our own legacy. People will tell you America ain't what it used to be and that its every man for himself and that Americans are greedy. Well these people haven't been around America if they can't see a great legacy. Political Science Professors will tell you America doesn't give as much as other nations per capita and then people like Bono get on T.V. and tell us were greedy but I disagree sir. Has abyone carred to challenge these people or do we just sit and believe them because we feel like their right. Well here is where this logic goes wrong. Lets look at one simple fact are money is worth more than your money(World). Our money goes further towards building schools and feeding th poor people of the world. So this arguement of we give a greater percentage is invalid money is about worth and not percentages. Yes I was one of those people that let the Professor get away with bended statistics because I was being guilted into being ashamed.
I see a different side of America everyday. When my car broke down on a hill recently I was unable to move the car off the road. A Nissan Xterra is a very heavy car indeed. Well needless to say another motorist lined his bumber up with mine and helped push me to the side. I shook his hand and thanked him. Or how about that motorcyclist pinned under the car of driver. These people dropped what they were doing rushed over and lifted the car to move the man from underneath the car. His motorcycle also pinned under the car caught fire during the incident yet these people moved to save the man's life. These are things that remind me America is still a great country and not the evil empire certain people would have you believe.
As Adam Carolla said in a interview while discussing the Hollywood Left "These people don't love Communism they just hate this country" I think this says a lot about these people's state of mind.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
No money
Boo I have no money because of a string of unexpected things I had to pay for and not to mention gas is the highest in the nation here. P.S. thank you State Government for again raising taxes on gas when we already have the highest gas taxes in the nation. Ya this doesn't mean I'm entirely broke just what I call my spending money aka my checking. My savings i do not touch. Anyways almost there sucks when your broke! I get paid Thursday then I can stop thinking how i'm not gonna spend money. Oh and also I'm sure my family reads this yes the new job is fine hard work but much better working environment. I don't mind working super hard but i would like some respect as is the case at my new job lots of respect. By the way they are closing the Waikele Borders hope everyone there finds a job. Also the semester is almost done but i have so much to do like my 9 paper for my writing intensive class. HIST 443 Nazi Germany, I have watched more Nazi propaganda than a Nazi Party member lol. My paper topic is Joseph Goebbels and I have to read his diaries which are really long.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Bitterness http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcFDkvtHVFI This is the jammed out version
This is a song I wrote its about loss and dealing with lossing someone whatever the context
Now your here now your gone
Don't feel like sticken around
can't understand why your gone
don't wanna talk leave it all on the floor
theres been times when I've been down
never thought it end that way
Chrous
and now try to think about better days
but it ain't the same it ain't the same
miss your face and the ghost still there
never gonna change never gonnna change
Its time we get around the pain let it all out
Verse 2
your the one that said
many cats are the death of a mouse
wake up still in pain
let it out let it out
Chrous
Now your here now your gone
Don't feel like sticken around
can't understand why your gone
don't wanna talk leave it all on the floor
theres been times when I've been down
never thought it end that way
Chrous
and now try to think about better days
but it ain't the same it ain't the same
miss your face and the ghost still there
never gonna change never gonnna change
Its time we get around the pain let it all out
Verse 2
your the one that said
many cats are the death of a mouse
wake up still in pain
let it out let it out
Chrous
Thursday, September 9, 2010
School is wow
So I'm back in school and you know what the last couple of weeks have been pretty crazy. Lots and lots of reading like I'm about to explode so I came up with a great ideal hey if the reading doesn't have an assignment attached to it there is no reason to stress if I don't get all of it done. I'm about to finish the Nun for Modern European History so that has an assignment attached therefor is more important. For instance in my Western Traditions class I have all this reading which by the way is immpossible to do but you know what this lady is a blow hard so even if I don't finish all the reading I can do the writting assignments because they are open ended basically write something and get a good grade. I was just thinking don't these professors know you have a life like sorry I'm not committed to education 24 hours. This is my schedule monday class 3:30pm-6:15pm, Tuesday 5:00pm-7:45pm, and Wednesday 3:30-9:15 pm or as I call it crazy day. Luckly work isn't that bad Thursday 1-10pm, Friday 1-10pm, Satuday 3-10pm. So here is the key to success people this coming from a veteran college student read but only if assignments or grades depend on it. This will cut down on wasted reading. Anyways now things are much easier or at least managable. P.s. I might be working Monday 9:00 am-2:00pm not sure though if Vickie just scheduled me just this week because it was labor day or this is a regular thing.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Been listening to Pond again
There is something about this song called Tree which by the way i learned by ear. Also if your looking for tabs there are no tabs.
www.chrisnj.com/archive/pond/lyrics/tree.html
Anyway I put the link if you want to read the lyrics or if you are like me ponder them. Its kinda like Blink 182's Adam song in that there is both a legend there and actual meaning. Anyway back to Pond the music is very somber slow and driving and moving at a marching pace as to say slow down and just think the lyrics start with a cast of depression over them and possibly a thought. The opening lyrics "Mama Mama I have fell! Slipped into the wishing well paid my price I'm now in hell." As the reader or listening some people consider themselves more focused on music or lyrics. Myself I like the music more. To prove this I started listening to this particular album at least a year ago by the way Pond's self titled album is a great album filled with experimental music that sets them apart from music of the time so i highly recommend it. Anyway back to my point I didn't notice the depth of the lyrics until listening to this album at least a couple of times but eventually the lyrics started to weigh on me. The opening lyrics say it all remember a time when you came running to your parents when you had a problem well this opening line. Further on the lyrics read "Tuck me in read a story." These lyrics again forum a security net of childhood or a time of no worries. Than the song continues " It's a life of daily grind forget what all our hopes and dreams are." These lyrics suggest a struggle of dealing with the real world and not having a safety net as an adult. The lyrics continue going back to the thought of drowning because you can't swim but once again the safety net is there hints the " Papa, Papa!" stated by the writer again brings up the fact of the safety net. Another noticeable dynamic in the song is the difference in singers Charlie Campbell and Chris Brady take turns on vocals. The song starts in a lower register and starts with the parts about the safety net than the more angsty voice takes over when confronted with the adult life transition this shows the depression of thinking back at easier times and the anger and frustration occurring at the current time in life. The singing concludes with the singer asking " Am I last tree standing" this is not found in the lyrics but is in the song. This is a metaphor oh and how I love metaphors about feeling alone almost as a question am I really alone. People may ask how do you get this from a song that is layered in Eastern sounding guitar and slightly out of place lead guitar parts coupled with a primal beat and pulsing bass. The answer is the band is doing something to disguise the lyrics. I mean would you really want to put up with a song that is so depressing the answer is surely no. Exactly why the band made the song catchy to soften the blow of the lyrics. So this is my best attempt at understanding the song hey let me know what you think after all I like discussions on dumb songs lol. I spend way to much time thinking about the meanings of songs.
www.chrisnj.com/archive/pond/lyrics/tree.html
Anyway I put the link if you want to read the lyrics or if you are like me ponder them. Its kinda like Blink 182's Adam song in that there is both a legend there and actual meaning. Anyway back to Pond the music is very somber slow and driving and moving at a marching pace as to say slow down and just think the lyrics start with a cast of depression over them and possibly a thought. The opening lyrics "Mama Mama I have fell! Slipped into the wishing well paid my price I'm now in hell." As the reader or listening some people consider themselves more focused on music or lyrics. Myself I like the music more. To prove this I started listening to this particular album at least a year ago by the way Pond's self titled album is a great album filled with experimental music that sets them apart from music of the time so i highly recommend it. Anyway back to my point I didn't notice the depth of the lyrics until listening to this album at least a couple of times but eventually the lyrics started to weigh on me. The opening lyrics say it all remember a time when you came running to your parents when you had a problem well this opening line. Further on the lyrics read "Tuck me in read a story." These lyrics again forum a security net of childhood or a time of no worries. Than the song continues " It's a life of daily grind forget what all our hopes and dreams are." These lyrics suggest a struggle of dealing with the real world and not having a safety net as an adult. The lyrics continue going back to the thought of drowning because you can't swim but once again the safety net is there hints the " Papa, Papa!" stated by the writer again brings up the fact of the safety net. Another noticeable dynamic in the song is the difference in singers Charlie Campbell and Chris Brady take turns on vocals. The song starts in a lower register and starts with the parts about the safety net than the more angsty voice takes over when confronted with the adult life transition this shows the depression of thinking back at easier times and the anger and frustration occurring at the current time in life. The singing concludes with the singer asking " Am I last tree standing" this is not found in the lyrics but is in the song. This is a metaphor oh and how I love metaphors about feeling alone almost as a question am I really alone. People may ask how do you get this from a song that is layered in Eastern sounding guitar and slightly out of place lead guitar parts coupled with a primal beat and pulsing bass. The answer is the band is doing something to disguise the lyrics. I mean would you really want to put up with a song that is so depressing the answer is surely no. Exactly why the band made the song catchy to soften the blow of the lyrics. So this is my best attempt at understanding the song hey let me know what you think after all I like discussions on dumb songs lol. I spend way to much time thinking about the meanings of songs.
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