dinner with polonius
8.  whale of a song
I'm in the belly of a whale.  It's a whale of a belly in a whale.

"Go ye to Ninevah!"  But I want to go to Tarshish; it's the place I want to be.
Used my frequent rower miles, bought myself a one-way ticket to embark upon the sea.

Chorus

And the Lord God hurled a wind; think we even hit an iceberg.  Wait, that's another story.
Rock, paper, scissors game:  lost that fast and so I offered, "How about the best two out of three?"

Chorus

And they tossed me overboard, didn't have on my life jacket.  Down and down I sanked in.
Whale came and swallowed me up; I sank into his gastro juices with a bunch of plankton.

Chorus

Thou cast me into the deep, when I fled from Thy presence like a comet.
Thou saved my life from the pit and caused the whale to vomit.

I was in the belly of a whale.  It's a whale of a belly in a whale.

Three-day walk to Ninevah.  Told them that they had to repent and all of their sin to recant.
I sulked when God saved them, proved I didn't learn my lesson by caring more for a plant.

I'm in the belly of a whale.  It's a whale of a belly in a whale.

I'm in the belly of a whale.  I was in the belly of a whale.  It's a whale of a tale about a whale, digesting in the belly of a whale.  I prayed I wouldn't exit through the tail.  I'm a snail in the belly of a whale.  I'd rather be a snail than a whale.  I'd rather be Paul Simon than Art Garfunkel (if I could, if I could.)

Jonah 1 - 4

Note 1:  Rock, paper, scissors game is a modern-day version of drawing straws (in a way--OK, so I'm grasping at straws.)
Note 2:  This is song #2 of Trilogae Lastabutnotleasta.
Note 3:  I was singing doxology, just kind of worshipping, when all of a sudden, the words "I'm in the belly of a whale" tumbled out of my mouth.
9.  the prodigal
I wanted to go a-walkin' down the road I'd pave.  "Give me all my money," I ranted and I raved.
"Come out and party with me."  I created quite a din.  But the weight upon my shoulders was a hunchback full of sin.

But when I was a long way off, down the road to me He run.  He kissed, embraced, and clothed me.  Once again now I'm His son.

I liked grazing with the piggies; they smelled just as bad as I.  I got used to eating cornhusks and living in a sty.
I didn't mind so much the mudbath or sleepin' 'neath some logs.  I even started squealing,  We called it "singing", me and the hogs.

Chorus

I sickened of my pigpen, even longed for dear old Pop.  He feeds his slaves good bread, much better than this slop.
Father, I sinned against heaven and lost favor in your sight.  To call myself your son is no longer my right.

Chorus

Luke 15:11 - 24

Note 1
:  I originally wrote this song in June, 1998, but I cut it from the line-up on each of the last two CD's.  I finally found a drumbeat that I liked.
Note 2:  In the studio for mixing, "my producer", Doug, objected to the keyboard track I had laid down.  Now, Doug's a great guy, with great ideas, but he said the keyboard part made me (and the song) sound too "white."  He heard a reggae rhythm in the song, which was, evidently, thwarted by my playing keyboard chords on the downbeat.  So, in his studio, I recorded a guitar track, the one you hear on the upbeats....I have to say this:  it took a few more takes than planned because after I had just laid down a perfect track, Doug realized that had forgotten to hit the record button.  How white is that!  (What, you didn't know that forgetting to press the record button is a stereotypically caucasian racial characteristic?  Now you do.)
Note 3
:  This is song #3 of Trilogae Lastabutnotleasta.
11.  one kiss
One kiss from Jesus salves the sting of a thousand lashes
One kiss from Jesus puts out the fire of a thousand pains
One kiss from Jesus outshines the dark of a thousand nights
One kiss from Jesus gives me hope again and again.

Alleluia, allelu, alleluia, allelu.

One kiss from Jesus salves the sting of a thousand lashes
One kiss from Jesus puts out the fire of all my pains
One kiss from Jesus outshines the dark of a thousand nights
One kiss from Jesus gives me hope again and again.

Alleluia, allelu, alleluia, allelu.

Note 1:  This is probably the first song I recorded after purchasing the Korg.
Note 2:  I had to practice saying "puts out", because for the first several time I sang the song, even during recording, I would say "put outs."
Note 3:  Many thanks to Bono for singing the alleluias.
lyrics page 2
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All songs on this page copyright 2001 by Bob Brown.
10.  bottom of the mustard bottle
I'm the bottom of the mustard bottle
When all that's left is sneeze
A carton of two-month old milk
When it's turned into cheese.

You might think that I'm a flower
Believe I've got it made
But the season's approaching fast
When I'll start to fade.

My songs--they have that chalkboard sound
When you scrape it with nails
The screeching of two tortured cats
When you pull their tails.

You may be a fan of mine
Believe that I am clever
My flesh is like the fading grass
Yet God's Word stands forever.

Isaiah 40:6 - 8

Note 1:  Yes, this song came to me as I was fixing myself a sandwich, a sandwich which, by law, required mustard.  The bottle was nearly empty (producing only sneeze when squeezed), and the Isaiah passage followed naturally.
Note 2:  To me, a pirate is singing the first and third verses, and Carol Channing is singing the other two.
Note 3:  After listening to this CD a few times, it appeared to me that this song was the end of "Side A", the first half of the album.  I've cracked wise, been sarcastic, tried to be clever, yet here I am affirming what so many people know already: I'm nothing special.  I'm fading grass.  Song #11 commences "Side B": the old moron spirit with a few new sounds.
12.  how i love You
Jesus, how I love You.

Jesus, how I need You.

Jesus, how I want You.
Jesus, how I need You.
Jesus, how I wait for You.
Jesus, how I love You.
13.  all that is within me
Come on lungs, begin exhaling; we'll sing a song with your availing.
Hello medulla oblongotter, your thoughts be shaped by the Potter.
You too (two) guts and belly fat, do the twist, growl in B flat
Hair, best add your voice in song, before it's too late and you're all gone.

All that is within me bless His Name.

Come on knees, so old and weak, let's get some rhythm in that creak.
Put down that food, esophagus, and lend your voice to the chorus.
You too, glut, get off your duff.  We can never worship enough.
Yo!, hair, pipe up! with some brio even though you all barely make a trio.

Chorus

Shake a leg, get with it, femur.  Hurry now, praise the Redeemer.
It's your turn, Achilles tendon; jump and shout, your praises sendin'.
Feel a tingle, spinal chord, get excited, praise the Lord.
Receding hair, sing with affection:  your only hope's the resurrection.

Chorus

Psalm 103:1

Note
:  "Glut" = gluteous maximus = derriere = your built-in seat cushions
14.  prayer for pardon
Lord, open my lips so that my mouth might declare Thy praise.

Deliver me from my blood guiltiness, God of my salvation.
Restore to me joy, renew my spirit, God of my salvation.

Chorus

Against Thee I've sinned, against Thee only, God of my salvation.
Be gracious to me and blot out my sins, God of my salvation.

Chorus

Psalm 51

Note:  I wrote this song in August, 1998, and it too, like "the prodigal", had been cut.  Actually, I don't know if I had recorded it before.  Well, I re-recorded it and began to really like it.  Oh, and it was going to be the first song on a previous album, because of the "open my lips" phrase.
15. wash me
Wash me, Jesus, wash me, and make me clean. (2x)
Remove the evil of my deeds from Your sight. (2x)

My sins are as scarlet.  Jesus, make them as snow. (2x)
My sins:  red as crimson.  Jesus, make them like wool. (2x)

Isaiah 1:16, 18

Note:  This (or "repeated consonants") is my favorite song on this CD.  There is more passion in this song than in others, and the Lord blessed me with keyboard runs and echoes that are very pleasing to my ear (and to His, too, I hope.)
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