More Power To Ya

A lot of times when I'm listening to my iPod, when an old song comes on, I might skip it and move on to the next song. Today, More Power To Ya by Petra came on and the first 2 lines of the song pretty much hit me where I've been for a long time. So I listened to it. A few times.

The next couple verses give me some hope. I'm hoping that I can do better at the verse further down, "Put on all His armour and fight the good fight". I'm really looking for that joy again!


More Power To Ya - Petra
You say you've been feeling weaker, weaker by the day
You say you can't make the joy of your salvation stay
But good things come to them that wait
Not to those who hesitate
So hurry up and wait upon the Lord

More power to ya
When you're standing on His word
When you're trusting with your whole heart in the message you have heard
More power to ya
When we're all in one accord
They that wait upon the Lord they shall renew
They shall renew their strength

Jesus promised His disciples He'd give strength to them
Jesus told them all to tarry in Jerusalem
When they were all in one accord
The power of His Spirit poured
And they began to turn the world around

More power to ya
When you're standing on His word
When you're trusting with your whole heart in the message you have heard
More power to ya
When we're all in one accord
They that wait upon the Lord they shall renew
They shall renew their strength

So Be strong in the Lord
And in the power of His might
Put on all His armour and fight the good fight,
In all of our weaknes He becomes so strong
And He gives us the power and the strength to carry on

More power to ya
When you're standing on His word
When you're trusting with your whole heart in the message you have heard
More power to ya
When we're all in one accord
They that wait upon the Lord they shall renew
They shall renew their strength

Blinded By The Light, Wrapped up like a....wait...no.....thats not it...

Ok you've all heard this song. It's immediately recognizable and is definitely a classic. But do you know anything about it? Heck, do you even know the RIGHT words? This is one of those songs where you think you know the words, but then you find out you don't. Most people think that the phrase that is repeated in the chorus is "Wrapped up like a ..." female cleansing product. Which doesn't make sense, but then does any of the lyrics of this song make any sense??

Made popular by Manfred Mann's Earth Band (Who?  OH yeah, they also sang Do Wah Diddy Diddy...) but written by none other than The Boss - Bruce Springsteen, this song is adored by any classic rock fan.Quite frankly, MMEB's version of this song blows Springsteen's away (sorry, Boss).

Who hasn't played air guitar to this song? How many rock songs do you hear that have Chopsticks in the middle of it? Oh, and for the record, it's "revved up like a deuce." And what's up with that freaky album cover? The album was called The Roaring Silence and featured a weird ear that has a screaming mouth in the canal.

Some interesting information about the lyrics are listed here: Songfacts.

MMEB changed some of the lyrics. Those are listed here. Bruce's original lyrics can be found on his website.

By the way, this song hit #1 on Billboard in February, 1977.


Blinded By The Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Madman drummers bummers,
Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older,
I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin,
the calliope crashed to the ground

The calliope crashed to the ground

But she was...
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Some silicone sister with a manager mister told me I got what it takes
She said "I'll turn you on sonny to somethin' strong,
play the song with the funky break"

And go-cart Mozart was checkin' out the weather chart to see if it was safe outside
And little Early-Pearly came by in his curly-wurly and asked me if I needed a ride

Asked me if I needed a ride

But she was...
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light
She got down but she never got tight
She's gonna make it to the night
She's gonna make it through the night

But mama, that's where the fun is
But mama, that's where the fun is

Mama always told me not to look into the eye's of the sun
But mama, that's where the fun is

(Celebrated Chop Waltz interlude - Chopsticks.)
Some brimstone baritone anticyclone rolling stone preacher from the east
Says, "Dethrone the dictaphone, hit it in his funny bone,
that's where they expect it least"

And some new-mown chaperone was standin' in the corner,
watching the young girls dance
And some fresh-sewn moonstone was messin' with his frozen zone, reminding him of romance

The calliope crashed to the ground

But she was...
Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
(Madman drummers bummers, Indians in the summer with a teenage diplomat)
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night
Blinded by the light,
(In the dumps with the mumps as the adolescent pumps his way into his hat)
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
(With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older, I tripped the merry-go-round)
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
(With this very unpleasin', sneezin' and wheezin, the calliope crashed to the ground)
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
(Now Scott with a slingshot finally found a tender spot and throws his lover in the sand)
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
(And some bloodshot forget-me-not said daddy's within earshot save the buckshot, turn up the band)
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light,
(Some silicone sister with a manager mister told me I got what it takes)
revved up like a deuce,
another runner in the night

Blinded by the light
(She said "I'll turn you on sonny to something strong")

She got down but she never got tight
She's gonna make it through the night

---

Here's a video of The Boss singing his song. I personally like MMEB's version better.

Toby Mac, and the Mac is back no slack

TobyMac's new CD dropped yesterday. I haven't had a chance to get it yet, but I previewed all the songs on iTunes, and they all sounded great. I'm hoping to get the CD this weekend, so we'll see what pops. In the meantime....

Check out the trippy new video from Tobymac:
(Sorry for the ad at the beginning. They gotta make some dough, ya know.)



Showstopper - TobyMac
Yeah, this is the day we came to get down,
We came to play the game in your town
You came to ride the highs of this junk
Baby, we came to guarantee the big crunk
So if you or your people ever wanna doubt
This showstoppin' party rockin'
Tell 'em all about this
Truth from the village of the diverse citizens
One stop one shot
Livin like a kid again
So turn off the lights
They've been waitin' all night
For the,

The showstopper
The jaw dropper
The big papa

We gonna get it, get it right
We gonna get it done

The showstopper
The jaw dropper
The big papa
We gonna get it right
We gonna get it done

Hope just broke right through the door
So why you gotta ask what I came here for
Man we 'bout to light the night with that flare
Job from the gun in the hand of the spare
With the kick so hard that you gotta be strong
It's so hottah
You can barely hold on
So rock me drop me
But you will never stop me
From takin' this show to a full room of monopoly

So turn off the lights
Pass me the mic
Bring on the lights,
You been waitin all night

For the
The show stopper
The jaw dropper
The big papa

We gonna get it, get it right
We gonna get it done

The showstopper
The jaw dropper
The big papa

We gonna get it right
We gonna get it we gonna get it done

It's automatic
Don't mind the static
(Hey)
We all fanatic (hey)
Jesus fanatic

It's automatic
Don't mind the static (hey)
Jesus fanatic (hey)
Jesus fanatic

Don't mind the static
It's automatic

The showstopper (stopper stopper...)
We gonna get it right (right)
We gonna get it good
The showstopper
The big papa

We gonna get it right
We gonna get it good

The show stopper
The big papa

We gonna get right
We gonna get it good

Showstopper
Jaw dropper
Big papa

We gonna get it right, we gonna get it get it good

Mark Labriola II

I am truly disappointed that Mark did not move on to the next round. Again, they only showed him briefly during the group competition. From what I heard, the song just didn't fit and the group dynamics just weren't there, not to mention the one girl that screwed up completely. I really think Mark should have moved on.

American Idol Part II

Well, they didn't show much of Mark last night. The 2 VERY BRIEF clips they showed of him were conflicting. One looked like he ran out and gave Ryan Seacrest  a big hug, celebrating. But, the other clip they showed, he looked and sounded upset.

Both clips were about 2 seconds long, so it was really difficult to tell what happened. I guess we'll have to wait till tonight to find out.

Either way, it's great to see Mark getting a chance to do what he loves on a national stage. Good luck Mark, and know that we are proud of you no matter what happens!

Mark Labriola II - American Idol!

It would be remiss of me to not post about Mark's audition on American Idol, which aired last night. Here's the YouTube video:

Coincidence that I was listening to Foolish Things yesterday at work? I think not! Then I get a call last night from a friend telling me to check out American Idol. "HEY! That's Mark!"

I met Mark years ago at Denver First Church of the Nazarene when he was in a band called Foolish Things. I LOVED Foolish Things and was very disappointed when they broke up. The cool thing about their break up, though, is that each of them are now involved in other ministries and so they are spreading the gospel in many ways rather than just one. Now Mark may have a national platform from which to spread the gospel. Foolish Things had put out 2 full length CDs and several EP's. I think they are still available. Check out their old MySpace page for information: http://www.myspace.com/foolishthings. Also check out Mark's page at http://www.myspace.com/marklabriolaii. On both pages you can hear his music.

Foolish Things had a lot of really great songs and there are several that nearly bring me to tears (Find Your Way Back, which you can hear on their myspace). They were not only great musicians and vocalists, but their lyrics are moving and thought provoking as well.

I hope and pray that the Lord uses Mark on American Idol to further the gospel. Please support Mark as he begins this crazy journey to Hollywood! You can follow his twitter feed by following @Marklab2

Here's a song from Foolish Things that really hits me every time I hear it:

Walking Blind - Foolish Things

Somewhere in between You and me

Stands the man I'm supposed to be

But I can't hear him and I can't see him

He's swallowed in a cloud of pain

Where is the joy I long to feel?

Where is the child who's faith stands real?

Cause I can't feel him

But I used to be him

He's crying from my prideful chains

My heart needs some healing

My soul needs some feeding

Cause I forgot needing

Was a part of me that I have to find

And soaking to my core

Is a peace I can't ignore

To throw away my scars and shame

And just walk blind

Somewhere further down inside of me

Craves a love that's supposed to be

But I can see it and I can feel it

But my life's too loud to hear

And what is this heart inside this shell

I conquered life, an empty well

Cause I'm not in it

Or even near it

Unless you make it clear

Your love,

Your love would mean nothing

If I could stand complete

Yeah, but I can't stand complete

So you broke yourself

And you broke my will

And you knelt to wash my feet

Yeah you knelt to wash my feet

My heart needs some healing

My soul needs some feeding
Cause I forgot needing
Was a part of me that I have to find

And soaking to my core
Is a peace I can't ignore
To throw away my scars and shame
And just walk blind

Lets Go Retro!

Ok, this old Imperials song just came on my iPod, and put me in a nostalgic mood. I think I'll be listening to a bunch of golden oldies today.

Isn't it interesting how styles change over the years, yet what was popular 30 years ago (or more) is still great to listen to? In fact, I like a lot of older music better than I do modern music. So much of today's music sounds the same, like everyone is trying to copy the success of everyone else.

There are a few exceptions to this, of course. For example, bands like U2 and Coldplay certainly don't need to copy other band's sounds. They are so uniquely creative and successful, other bands copy them.

It kind of makes me wonder how music transitions from one style to the next. From the Beach Boys to The Bee Gees to Nirvana to whatever today's hot band is, popular music has really changed drastically. I guess some of it could be due to advances in technology making new instruments and new ways to create music.

Isn't it amazing the creativity that God has given us? So many songs have been written, but there's always something new and different coming out.