Taken Away

This entry features two tracks from one band that convey the same message essentially. Moreso in the first, but it still can apply to the second.

The first track is "Taken Away" from Orange County hardcore band Ignite.

It is about how we complain about our everyday problems like they are the end of the world, or very bad at the very least, when we should be very grateful to have everything we do, shelter, food, love, and so on.

We should be stopped to realise how lucky we are.

I wish someone would stop me
every time that I complain

The track is about a boy Zoli Téglás, the Ignite singer, met who is suffering from multiple sclerosis. He does not want people to feel sorry for him, he just wants to be seen as a human being.

The boy, Janos, has essentially only himself, with very limited mobility, yet manages to remain upbeat, and happy to be alive.

I am guessing this meeting with the boy, whose name is Janos, is what inspired the song to be written.

Budapest Hungary nineteen ninety one
I met a boy named Janos
Confined to a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis
his only mobility
based solely upon the movements of his chin
but he had so much to teach me
When I showed him some friendship
When I stopped to talk
He said it really hurts
when people look past you
like I'm not a human being with feelings
love and compassion sitting here
Don't you dare feel sorry for me
just give me a chance
His reality's cool
his mind stays strong
Hey I'm alive

He would give anything
for a working body

As you can see by the lyrics, it is pretty simple, we should be thankful for the lives we have, fortunate to have working bodies, loving families, a roof over our heads, and so on. This is obviously in stark contrast to someone suffering from multiple sclerosis as the lyrics refer to.

Also thinking of third world countries, people who have nothing, and struggle to stay alive. Even in developed countries, and all over the globe, the sheer number that live below the poverty line.

The next track that has a similar theme is "My Judgement Day".

It starts off:

Success
I'm able to live my life in my way

and continues,

I'm broken, but I'll mend.

Later on the bridge starts with

Success, I'm blessed

.

This song may not be as direct as "Taken Away" in the message I am referring too, but it is a theme I see.

All in all, a very simple message, one that we should never take for granted, to realise how lucky we are.

Furthermore to educate ourselves, and help others in need.

Truly grateful for each and every day
I get on my knees to give thanks and praise

Full lyrics for "Taken Away"

Thousand passerbys walk on
His luxuries of life have been taken away
I wish someone would stop me
every time that I complain
Be grateful in every way (taken away)
Don't you forget
he would give anything (taken away)
A working body

Don't throw your blessings away
I've been given love given family
A warm clean bed for my head to lay
So many people aren't so lucky
Don't forget to give thanks and praise
Be grateful in every way (taken away)
He would give anything
for a working body (taken away)
A split second
Don't throw your blessings away

Truly grateful for each and every day
I get on my knees to give thanks and praise

Budapest Hungary nineteen ninety one
I met a boy named Janos
Confined to a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis
His only mobility
based solely upon the movements of his chin
But he had so much to teach me
When I showed him some friendship
When I stopped to talk
He said it really hurts
when people look past you
like I'm not a human being with feelings
love compassion sitting here
Don't you dare feel sorry for me
just give me a chance
His reality's cool
his mind stays strong
Hey I'm alive

Thousand passer-bys walk on
His luxuries of life have been taken away
I wish someone would stop me
every time that I complain (taken away)
Don't you forget (taken away)
He would give anything (taken away)
A working body (taken away)
Don't throw your blessings away (taken away)

Full lyrics for "My Judgement Day"

Success
I'm able to live my life in my way
Luck never gives, it lends
If you're willing to pay
Cause I'm broken, but I'll mend
All I have is today
Yes, I'm broken, but I'll mend
Scream, God please help save me

Tired of running out
I'm praying so much more
I'm thinking about going down
Down this broken, empty road

Progress
Has taken its toll
But I've changed my ways
I've paid all of my amends
Before it was too late
I'm broken, but I'll mend
All I have is today
Screaming God please this time
Don't forget about me

Tired of running out
I'm praying so much more
I'm thinking about going down
Down this lonely road
I'm living from hand to mouth
Just like the times before
I'm tired of running around
Down this broken, empty road

Success, I'm blessed
For all I have today
Regrets, obsessed
This time I will obtain
What I've been waiting for
This is my judgement day

Tired of running out
I'm praying so much more
I'm thinking about going down
Down this lonely road
I'm living from hand to mouth
Just like the times before
I'm tired of running around
Down this broken, empty road

Raise Your Voice

Ten years to the date, Bad Religion released their tenth LP, No Substance!

An album I had been meaning to listen to again for a while now, especially knowing it was soon ten years since being released. So I decided to play it now, and I checked, and it was released May 15th 1998!

There are many tracks I could have chosen from, I initially was thinking of "The Biggest Killer in American History", which is about Edward Teller, who is dubbed "the father of the hydrogen bomb", but instead decided to choose "Raise Your Voice"

"Raise Your Voice" in my opinion could be the second "Punk Rock Song", as it states how we should raise our voice, be heard, as opposed to being silent. A pretty huge topic, that applies to the vast majority of humankind.

If the entire population of the United States had raised their voice, and excercised their right to vote, who knows who could have been the forty third president of the United States of America. Maybe it wouldn't have been a two party system.

We can wonder all we want, but the world is the way is.

If everyone was heard, knowing what we know now about global warming, it could bring corporations to their knees, and force them to switch to 100% earth friendly vehicles. Animal cruelty could be a thing of the past, and so on.

The point being government, and corporations hold the power now, and despite being 'democratically' elected (in some places), we feel they could still do a much better job. This is where you and I come in. If we make ourselves heard instead of being "silent in shame", we can change the world. Ben Harper comes to mind: "I can change the world, with my own two hands" (from Diamonds on the Inside, 2003)

So... Raise Your Voice!

All the lyrics:

(Spoken)
I think this is a song we could redo in every language of every country we go to.

Fa fa fafa fa fa fafa raise your voice!
Don't be played like someone else's board game
Don't be classed out like some desolate redoubt
Don't be misled you've got a lot on your head
And nobody's gonna pay attention when you are dead
So, fa fa fafa fa fa fafa raise your voice!
It's the primary rule, you gotta wanna be fooled
It's our daunted restraint that keeps us silent in shame
It's our nature to be adversarial and free
Our evolution didn't hinge on passivity
Fa fa fafa fa fa fafa raise your voice!

Companion blog

I thought I'd make a companion blog to go with this one, I explain it over there better, so I'll spare most deatils, but essentially the companion blog will contain a review of the album the song came from, that gets discussed here. The blog is called Reason For Concern.

Waste of Time

Alas, first post on a blog I have been meaning to start for a long while! On with the show.

The first post of this blog is one I had intended to start this blog with all along...

The album I will refer to is one I believe is easily in the top 10, even top 5 of the best new school punk rock albums of the nineties, heck I think it could even be all time, not counting some of the new not so very great punk of today. So it is Pennywise's About Time.

About Time is an album I gave a lot of rotation in my cassette player. Many songs can be blogged about in here, but I'll start with track two, "Waste of Time".

This track is essentially referring to religion, and how there isn't enough time in our lives to ponder the big questions, that is about whether there is a heaven, and so on. I could end right there, as that just about sums it up. It also states how towering churches and holy temples are telling him how to live his life, as with many of us, but that doesn't quench his mind. With the big question, as stated above, being if there is a heaven, there's many answers from many religions no doubt. So it is best to focus on the present tense, and live our lives. I made up the present tense part, but it does say "get on with your life". I agree, and add that we should live life to the fullest each and every day. This ties in with another Pennywise song, or lyric at the very least, but there's time for that in another post. So, get on with your life!

First two verses, and the chorus:

I got a question, for all you sinners
Have you ever wondered is this all there is to life?
A quick adventure, not much to mention
A slow procession leading us to die!

Is there a heaven, a distant valley,
A golden meadow waiting for us in the sky?
No one right answer, spirit seems broken
Still I just can't help but wonder why?

Seems like a tragic waste of time,
Who cares what happens when you die?
Life's too short to wonder why,
Get on with your life.