Comments on: Wordless Wednesday: Mexico City

By: jonny

jonny — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 06:27:45 +0000

Thanks, Barb ! And no worries, it’s all good. I also appreciate being challenged with what I’ve written. And as a result, there is now the ‘Then’ word added to the Stepped On The Grass line = )

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 05:24:38 +0000

Jonny, I understand completely now. I am afraid my living in the southern part of the united states misled me there and after you explained how it is in Finland at times, I could see and feel quite clearly where you were. Forgive me, because I certainly did not mean to pick at what you wrote in any way. I suppose I wanted most of all for you to know that I was, indeed, reading what you have so nicely written….because I believe you were expressing something within that is very important to you. I appreciated so much reading your explanations, too. It is very deep and moving. I would so love to hear it put to music.

By: jonny

jonny — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 04:30:36 +0000

Sorry, “But I lift up my face, embrace gentle rain” should have been in there !

By: jonny

jonny — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 04:27:11 +0000

OK, Barbara, I woke up at 05:00 with this in mind:

I plunged in the water
An’ felt like new
Then stepped on the grass
The frosted dew
All my problems
Just might be the same
Emrace gentle rain

The word ‘stepped’ is emphased, highlighted best in the melodey line where it is now, in my opinion. If I put the word ‘out’ back in, or added the words ‘back up’ you suggested, they would be in the emphasis point and it just doesn’t work, or communicate the same to me as having the word ‘stepped’ there. Also, even if he got there, with shoes on or off, on the frosted ground to ‘plunge in the eater,’ he now has to do it again in a colder, more pained state. So even if he is technically doing it again, it’s actually being done the first time in this state, or under these conditions.

Also, it may be a little easier for people to grasp that the problams he’s dealing with are his alone, ‘nobody’s fault but mine,’ if I go back to ‘All my problems just might be the same’ the first time, then ‘All these problems they might be the same’ the second. There was also a typo of sorts. In the B part, chorus, or refrain, it should be ‘Cuz I’ve seen things of another world, Yes, I’ve seen things in another life’ both time.

Something else I’ve thought of. Even though the first half of the opening verse with the cold Spring water, frost and gentle rain at night all deal with one spot in Northern California; every Finnish person who’s read this has got it. Some other Americans have not at first. I realised late last night is that in Finaland people do that A LOT ! Starting when the lakes and seas have frozen over, some cut an opening in them. Some large enough to swim in !! At night they go to sauna with friends, then run out in the snow and frozen ground and go jump, and/or SWIM in the frozen lake or sea ! Then back to running across the frozen ground and snow to get back to where it’s warm. It’s a big part of their culture. Also the longer, darker nights when it’s cold when there’s no snow on the ground yet, or after it’s left sometimes. There’s no snow on the ground in the song, but it is cold out. I believe this may be an element they naturally get when read or hearing the lyrics others may not.

And I hope the term ‘spoon-feed’ was not insulting in any way. I was quite tired when writing that and couldn’t think of any other way to express it at the time !

Thanks so much for pubically referring to me as ‘friend,’ and for your wonderful, much appreciated encouraging support !! = )

Peace !

jonny

By: jonny

jonny — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:20:29 +0000

Well, Barbara, I did ask. The opening has been for maaany years ‘I plunged in the water, An’ felt like new. Stepped out on the grass, the frosted dew.’ These things did happen one night when I was a teen, it was cold; and in that order. There was also a cool/cold mist/fog-ish type gentle rain. Part of how it’s now used is that the person feels again and it is liberating, at the same time very painful, even hard to breath when hitting the cold water. Then to tie in with what Aron, 127 Hours, Ralston experienced; the next step is painful, but still has to be done and freeing. And a contining experience in feeling things again in a new way, and not quite sure what the experience will be like, how it will feel next, and what’s really coming next. But, he’s gotta make that next step towards the warmth to hopefully live, or stay alive. I believe removing the ‘out’ word now brings a more ‘not truly’ knowing what’s going to happen as he plants that first foot on the frosted dew after the first painful; but liberating plunge; and working toward facing a new future, a new dawn that hasn’t been experienced in a long time; if ever, truly, before. With a new vision as well that he must be alive if that vision is to become a reality. He’s gotta make that next move, take that next step come what may.

I don’t put the word ‘cold’ in there because the name of the song is Cold Night, and it is already suggested through-out that it’s at night, and it is cold; about to hit the blackest, coldest part of the night, which is the hours before dawn. Maybe a little confussing at first, but I don’t want to ‘spoon feed’, so to speak, the coloring of the tempurature. It’s OK if it’s a little confussing = )

Again, this is not about me personally. It’s a concept I started playing around with approx. 20 years ago. Probably why it’s taken so long to get where it is is because I had little personally that was truly where I seemed to be taking this. Aron Ralston sharing so much about his story was what really helped bring it home. Some of it may be confusing to some, as mentioned, but it’s all true to what he, and others, have experienced. Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction, so to speak = )

By: rachelbaker

rachelbaker — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:39:55 +0000

Hope it goes/went really well jonny. I really hope we get to hear it sometime – I want to know what the tune is like!

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:20:04 +0000

Okay Jonny, as the saying goes, I can feel your pain and I like the way you have expressed yourself. Since you asked, I am going to mention a couple of things for you to consider….or explain to me because I may not be reading it correctly.

plunged in the water
An’ felt like new
Stepped on the grass
The frosted dew
All these problems they might be the same
But I lift up my face
Embrace gentle rain

You go from plunging into the water right to walking on the frosted grass…Could it not better say:

plunged in the water
An’ felt like new
SteppedBACK UP on the grass
The frosted dew

And then:

The frosted dew
All these problems they might be the same
But I lift up my face
Embrace COLD, gentle rain

The changes I am suspecting you need to consider are the words I typed in caps. I am a bit conflicted as to whether the weather is warm or cold with these different words: frosted, gentle rain. And in the beginning you plunged into the water and immediatly you were back on land without a word to get you there.

But, sweetheart, I am not a song writer by any stretch of the imagination and so I may be looking at it with an eye foreign to an artist. If so, please accept my apology. As I said in the beginning, I can feel your pain….and your resolve. You go, my friend.

By: jonny

jonny — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:34:33 +0000

Thanks, Betty ! I was quite nervous, but the songs themselves seemed to cover a multitude of sins.

Cold Night:

I plunged in the water
An’ felt like new
Stepped on the grass
The frosted dew
All these problems they might be the same
But I lift up my face
Embrace gentle rain

Well, in the chill before the dawn
thought “how could it last ?”
No matter what’s been tried
Never changed the past
But somethin’s given way
No, it’s not the same
I sever this weight
Withstood some pain again

Cuz I’ve seen things of another world
Yes, I’ve seen things in a different life
Oh, there’ve been things taken from me
But I’m gonna make it through the night
Yes, I’m gonna make it through the night

I’ve plunged in the water
And I felt like new
Yeah, I’ve breathed in tomorrow
And felt like new
All my problems just might be the same
But I leave what’s been left
Embrace warmth again

Cuz I’ve seen things of another world
Yes, I’ve seen things of another life
Oh, there’ve been things taken from me
But, I’m gonna make it through the night
I’m gonna make it through the night
I’m gonna make it through the night

By: bettyrwoodward

bettyrwoodward — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:53:15 +0000

Hope it goes well jonny.

By: jonny

jonny — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:50:56 +0000

Both are still there ! I’m actually debuting the song in a few hours. I seriously doubt the words will change much from where I have them now. I’ll post later after the evening is over.

By: rachelbaker

rachelbaker — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 10:34:27 +0000

jonny, I’m getting quite attached to your song (and now I want to go and see the film – gorey scenes and all). I think I prefer ‘never changed the past’ but the other either/or options seem equally good to me. The only line that I would personally adapt is ‘Withstood some pain again’ – I maybe would be a bit more confrontational with it. I would want to fight, face or confront that pain as I accepted its inevitability – but that could just be me. I still love the grim reality combined with the great hope in these words.

By: jonny

jonny — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 09:07:49 +0000

@heather e: Agreed !

By: heather e

heather e — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 06:06:00 +0000

i LOVE the wall of skulls! what an awesome shot!

By: jonny

jonny — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 08:28:53 +0000

Well, one of my infamous off topic moments is about to occur; again. For my birthday a friend took me to see a film Tuesday evening. I’d just read a two thumbs up for 127 Hours from one sister wonderfully in the faith on facebook. I knew nothing about it though other than it was based on a true story. I ended up leaving the final decision to my friend since he was paying for it. He wanted to see 127 Hours also because he knew nothing about it as well. I think he regretted the decision, though. He closed his eyes a lot at some of the more graphic parts, and let me know he had a hard time not walking out. I, on the other hand, have not been able to stop thinking about it.

A couple hours ago I watched a Dateline episode with the real guy on YouTube. I was blown away with how some of what he shared fit in with the lyrics I started re-working here some time ago. Amazingly so with certain lines and concepts I’ve been working with. So, I played around with them to try and better fit in, honor, respect what Aron experienced a bit more. I’m still not sure about whether to keep some of these changes that work more with what I got from the film and this Dateline episode, or keep some things as they were. Well, I thought I through it out here again and see what those interetsed like better, or best. or to see if they have any new ideas themselves. Anyways, here goes…

New:

I plunged in the water
An’ felt like new
Stepped out on the grass
The frosted dew
All these problems they might be the same
But I lift up my face
Embrace gentle rain

Well in the chill before the dawn
thought “how could it last ?”
No matter what’s tried
Still stuck with the past
(or) Never changed the past
But somethin’s goin’ on
And it’s not the same
(or) No, it’s not the same
I severed this weight
(or) Stripped off this weight
Withstood some pain again

Cuz I’ve seen things of another world
And I’ve heard things through a different light
Oh, there’ve been things taken from me
But I’m gonna make it through the night
Yes, I’m gonna make it through the night

I plunged in the water
And I felt like new
Yes, I breathed in tomorrow
And felt like new
Yeah, my problems just might be the same
But I lean back my arms
Embrace warmth again

Cuz I’ve seen things of another world
And I’ve heard things through a different light
Oh, there’ve been things taken from me
But, I’m gonna make it through the night
I’m gonna make it through the night
I’m gonna make it through the night

By: rachelbaker

rachelbaker — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:00:42 +0000

Wow, it looks like they had an amazing time. Great photos, some beautiful, some disturbing, some both.

By: delightedabroad

delightedabroad — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:32:13 +0000

LindaB, you’re right with this one sign. Relying on my English and French knowledge and what is left over from my Latin courses I would say the other sign means “why not resolving the incarceration of immigrants?” But perhaps there’s someone around who knows Spanish … :-/

By: LindaB

LindaB — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:54:02 +0000

Love the colors of Mexico!!! And who is tht exotic beauty standing in front of that church? So lovely!

I don’t know Spanish, but from the signs the people are carrying, I picked out something like “stop the persecution of Christians in Mexico”??? Is that what it says? Does Madi know Spanish?? I’d like to know exactly what the signs say. Anyone???

By: Barbara M. Lloyd

Barbara M. Lloyd — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:14:52 +0000

Oh my goodness, I was so hoping you would put some Mexico City photos on here…..and maybe even let Madi tell us a little about her trip. Gracious, I am so glad Russ and Madi are home….Mexico is such a dangerous place these days. Even though there have been many prayers being said for them, I’m relieved they are back home safe and sound. Madi’s pictures are great! She has that ability for telling a story with her photos. No doubt about it, Madi is Tori, Jr., in many ways.