The big reveal for the week of January 26, 2009

Good morning Music fans, it's so good to back with you all in the cold snowy north. Not really, I miss the sun, sand and the cool waters of the ocean and pool. Oh well reality hits every now and then and it hit hard Thursday morning as I arose at 5:25 a.m. to prepare for my trek into work. Then again it's only 52 weeks or so to my next trip to Cuba, who's counting eh?

No guesses received this week, I hope that the next topic will be more enlightening than peace. With all the hope hype going on, I must have missed the boat on that one.

Here are this weeks answers:

The writer: Steven Stills
The four members of the group: (CSNY) Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
The name of the song: Find the cost of Freedom
The name of the album: 4 Way Street

Enjoy the clip below from some amazing musicians.



Have a lovely weekend. If you are watching "the big game" enjoy the football. This promises to be a great game, and hopefully it will not be a dud. I really like both teams so I plan on enjoying it. Take time to "relax and take it easy".

"Peace hath higher tests of manhood than battles ever knew"

Home from Cuba

With strains of "Back in the USSR" dancing in my head (including the paper bag), I finally returned from the land of Castro and Rum late last night.

We arrived at 1:30 a.m. and got into bed at about 3:45 a.m. Some yahoo dared to call at 8:30 this morning, oh well, I have much to do today.

Cuba was amazing, much more about that in later posts.

The best part was the time to sit and think and write down stuff that needed clarification in my head. I have made some decisions about my future and am looking forward to implementing them soon. To be able to take the time to think and be alone with ones thoughts was a gift, my beloved knew I needed time and we accomplished it.

More about that in a future post.

obscure Musical Lyric for the week of January 26/09

Happy Monday everyone. I like Mondays, as opposed to the song that went  "I don't like Mondays". I enjoy them mostly. I hate wishing my life away. I've come to the point in my life that I realize that I have passed the half way mark in the race and I really don't want the finish line to come any quicker than it is. So, I try to take each moment captive and enjoy something about it.

This is the last song that deals with peace and the loss of peace. Peace means many things to all of us. It means more than "the absence of war" and it means more than just "peace of mind". I trist that each of us will find and retain that peace that we all crave.

Here are the lyrics from a song written by one person and recorded by four brilliant musicians. the song was recorded in 1970 and released as a live double LP recording in 1971. It was shipped as a gold record. The disagreements between the members of this group were referenced by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in their album "Filmore East - June 1971".

Daylight again, following me to bed

I think about a hundred years ago, how my fathers bled

I think I see a valley, covered in bones in blue

all the brave soldiers that cannot get older been askin after you 

I would like to know the following:

The writer:

The four members of the group:

The name of the song:

The name of the album:

Have a great week, I'll see you upon my return. 

Hello from Cuba

Hey there, it's Sunday night in Cuba, probably in Ontario too. duh.

Cuba is beautiful, and there are some very strange people that visit, I'll take the time when I get home to blog about them all, but oh my some crazies.

I am not missing the snow, I am so enjoying the warm weather and the shorts and T-shirts never mind the cold drinks, no umbrellas.

My beloved and I have been blessed with some amazing time together just to talk and rest.

Enjoy next weeks obscure lyric, I had fun planning it. I'll see some of you on Thursday, my baby girl on Wednesday.

The big reveal for the week of Jan.19/09

Hey there music fans, it's Friday already.

I trust you had a good week. It's been warm and sunny here in Cuba and the Cuba Libres, Cohibas and Hemingway have been wonderful.

For your reading pleasure here are the answers to this weeks trivia:

The name of the song: People Got to Be Free.

The 1969 album it was released on: Freedom Suite.

The name of the group: The Rascals (not the young rascals).

Their number 1 hit: 'Groovin.

Check out this video:

Have a great weekend, I'll have a new song for you on Monday at 8:30 a.m. I'll be back Thursday. The new post will follow the theme of Peace or something like that. Just so you know, in February, thanks to the inspiration of Peter McMurray, I will use songs by or about musicians/singers who are no longer with us. In particular I will start with something related to "the day the music died" which was Feb.3, 1959.  

Enjoy your weekend with family and friends may the peace of a quiet moment refresh your tired soul. Take time to get "away" from the things that steal your joy and enjoy the quiet of a candle, a fire and time with someone you love.

"This is the way to inner peace: overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth and hatred with love"

Tuesday musings (#20)

Tuesday is here finally. Yeah I know no wishing time away.

We fly today, aaaawwww I'm going to miss all the hoopla in Washington, Not! 

The word for this year is change. There is much change afoot, particularly in my work world, but I'm thinking of making some changes elsewhere. I am involved in things that have no purpose, no future and from my perspective no impact. The job change has been foisted upon me. I'm not happy with the organizational direction, but after 23 years I really don't want to leave. I believe that I can and will have an impact on the lives of the constituents that I serve in my job. I joke about "golden handcuffs" and there is much to lose if I leave, so that's not likely going to happen. I am 7 th in seniority in my office and 1 st on my team, which means a lot when it comes to vacations etc.

In my personal world, I feel like I have duties (not that there's anything wrong with duty) but I feel like they don't accomplish anything. I am involved in areas of ministry in my church that leave me feeling empty and without use(as opposed to useless). I really need to take some time to think through these things and make some decisions about my future involvement. I want to "work" using my strengths, abilities and even my weaknesses for the betterment of people both in the work world and in my personal world, which are sometimes the same.

One area that I feel like my strengths are being used is in the Memorial Concert for our friend Valerie. Please take a moment to check out the following blog: 

www.onacoldwintersnight.blogspot.com

The mastermind behind this decided that I would be a suitable participant in the memorial concert and I have been asked to sing a number of great songs that deal with loss and restoration. This song, a family favourite for years is also the anthem for my favourite football team (soccer for you NFL/CFL fans) Liverpool. Enjoy.

These "fans" put North American "fans" to shame. Notwithstanding the few crazies that get into fights. 

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Obscure Musical Lyric for the week of January 19/09

Good Monday morning music fans. For our American friends today is the day that the life of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK Jr.) is celebrated with a holiday. With that in mind, I have chosen a song that was released the year that MLK Jr was assassinated. For those of you who don't know when that occurred it was April 4, 1968. Yes I know that it was a long time ago, however to honour such a great man who "had a dream" I had no choice but to do it.

I was living in Ireland in 1968, we arrived the next year. I don't recall much about the things that are now so famous, however, I do remember the death of MLK Jr. and the subsequent death of Bobby Kennedy. MLK Jr. in his now famous "I have a dream" speech said the following:

"This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood."

Here are some lyrics from this weeks song:

See that train over there

Now that's the train of freedom

It's about to arrive any minute now

you know, its been long, long overdue

The song was released as a a single in 1968. It was thought to have been written in response to the deaths of King and Kennedy, however the song was written before Kennedy's death. It was written as a plea for tolerance and freedom.  Apparently the song was written after an encounter between the band and some "rednecks" in Florida. The group was referred to as "the blackest white group of all" by John Lombardi in "Rolling Stone", in 1970. The song was the second best release by this group. reaching #14 on the billboard charts. The fifth dimension "covered" the song in 1970 as part of a compilation.

I would like to know:

The name of the song:

The name of the album it was released on in 1969:

The name of the group:

The name of the # 1 song by the group:

Have a great week, look for the "big reveal" to be released on Jan.23, at 8:30 a.m. here on the blog. It looks like it's going to warm up, that will be nice for all of us. 

The big reveal for the week of January 12, 2009

Well Friday is here and the cold is still with us. Brr it's really cold, yesterday was a dry cold, today, it's just cold. Oh well thankfully we live in a region where the seasons change and spring will come, right?

I had two responses to the questions this week. Both of them were correct. Dan G-G. replied first will all the correct answers followed by Brad F. who also had the correct information. Here are your answers:

The writer and singer: Van Morrison.
The 1980 album: Haunts of Ancient Peace
Song co-written with Robbie Robertson: 4%Pantomime
Name coined by Richard Manuel (at The Last Waltz): Van the Man and Belfast Cowboy
Monty Python film: The Holy Grail

There are no videos of this song, that's how obscure it really is. This was a difficult one, except for you George Ivan Morrison fans (that's his real name). Next week will be a bit more of a challenge as I am planning on celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. as Jan.19th is a day set apart to honour him, at least in the U.S. Speaking of the U.S. I'm off to Cuba next week, but check the blog as I am already writing the posts for the lyrics and reveals for when I am gone. Have an awesome weekend and enjoy the week. Hopefully it will warm up soon. As we travel this journey of peace through music, enjoy the quote below that is attributed to both Golda Meir and Indira Gandhi:

"You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist"

6 sleeps to Cuba

In this mind numbing cold, I can only think of one thing, Cuba Libre.

I am so ready for this trip. Well, I'm not really ready, my beloved is ready and I have some things to get ready. I am emotionally ready to go. A really cool thing happened, one of my colleagues, who shall remain nameless (Peter, one of the three), has offered to send several (up to ten, I think) soccer balls with me to distribute to kids in Cuba. Since we will be visiting in the home of one of the musicians, I think I may have the opportunity to give away some of the balls.

Soon enough, I will be there, away from here reading Hemingway, enjoying the breeze, the warm water and time alone with my beloved. Now that's a holiday.

Cuba Libre Indeed!

Tuesday Musings (#19)

Good Tuesday morning to you. What a snowy drive in this morning. It seems that winter has already been here for some time and will probably be with us for some time. That's it about the weather, a week from today and I'll be in Cuba.

April 3, 2008 was a day of great sorrow for my family and for many friends. One of our friends passed away that day and three days later her husband was charged with 1st degree murder.

One of my friends has decided that a great way to celebrate her life would be to hold a concert in her memory on her birthday. I have been given the privilege to sing at the concert. If you are interested, please check out:

http://www.onacoldwintersnight.blogspot.com/

It will be a fundraiser for Woolwich Community Services and Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. Out of a terrible tragedy, much good has come. Through this tragedy a family lost their only child and was "given" a new extended family that when we sat down for dinner on Dec.26 there were 19 of us present. For some who had no extended family close by, a new family was created to provide brothers and sisters.

In the Bible, the story is told of Joseph (yes, the guy with the multicoloured coat) who was sold into slavery by his brothers who then lied to his father by saying he (Joseph) was dead. Things really worked out well for Joseph in the end and a quote is attributed to him as follows: "man meant it for evil, God meant it for good". What good can come from this tragedy? If you only knew how much good has already come you would be amazed. The concert in memory of Valerie will be just one of those things that are good and came about because of this tragedy. Others will benefit from the concert and your attendance. There continues to be much pain and there is a difficult road ahead. We know that by standing together as a "family" with the help of many and with Emmanuel (God with us) walking beside or sometimes carrying us, we will honour the memory of Valerie.

I can't tell you about the set list, but I can tell you this, there will be some great songs and some amazing music. It will not be just "sacred" music, but will cover multiple genres as developed by the brains behind the event. Oh by the way, since the event is being held on her birthday, it will be a celebration.

Feel free to talk to me about the event, where else would you like to be "on a cold winters night", but with great friends and listening to great music.

Happy Tuesday everyone