This week I am sharing some lyrics from one of my favorite CD's. The songs are from Extreme's epic album, III Sides to Every Story. I hope you find the lyrics as meaningful and profound as I have. The music is amazing as well, but that I cannot share here. Thanks to my friend Doug P. for turning me onto this beautiful work. Not all the songs from the CD are included and they are not necessarily in the order of the playlist.
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III Sides to Every Story
Songs written by Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone
Rest in Peace
Let's talk of peace sounds so cliché; A novelty; Catch phrase of the day
Middle, index, sign of the time Just as complex, As water to ...
Someone said give peace a chance. And, that's all that we're saying.
While we're sitting on the fence pretending our hearts are in the right place.
But, your face shows a trace of hypocrisy; Don't tread on me, Now you can see,
Make love not war sounds so absurd to me
We can't afford to say these words lightly; Or else our world will truly, rest in peace!
Let's not pretend to justify; Rather amend, where treasures lie.
Straight through the heart; Peace can be found.
That's where you start, not all around.
Someone said give peace a chance. And, that's all that we're saying.
While we're sitting on the fence pretending our hearts are in the right place.
But, your face shows a trace of hypocrisy; Don't tread on me, boy
Now you can see.
Make love not war sounds so absurd to me.
We can't afford to say these words lightly; Or else our world will truly, rest in peace!
Peacemaker Die
Peacemaker die, Mr. righteous one. You say you have this plan? If we care to understand.
Peacemaker die, Mr. nice guy. You dare to speak the truth? I'll twist and turn it into lies.
Blessed are the warmongers; Blessed are the warmongers.
For they shall be called Man-made gods.
Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die, I don't know why?
Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die,Peacemaker die, I don't know why?
Peacemaker die, Mr. goody two shoes. Do you really thing the world can be black, white, and jew?
Peacemaker die, Mr. music man. Don't turn your back on me? Cause I'm the one with the gun.
Blessed are the warmongers; Blessed are the warmongers;
For they shall be called Sons of god.
Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die, I don't know why? Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die, Peacemaker die,Peacemaker die, I don't know why?
(live excerpts from MLK)
I have a dream this afternoon that the brotherhood of man will become a reality in this day.
With this faith, I will go out and carve the tunnel of hope through the mountain of despair.
With this faith, I will go out with you and transform dark yesterdays into bright tomorrows.
With this faith, we will be able to achieve this new day when all of god's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics will be able to join hands;
And sing with the negroes, in the spiritual of old
Free at last, free at last, Thank God almighty, we're free at last.
Color Me Blind
I had a dream last night. I was blind. And I couldn't see color of any kind.
Picture the world minus a rainbow. When day becomes night then where will the sun go.
Dancing alone just me and my shadow. Color me blind. So I can see no evil.
Why do we dream in black and white? Color me blind.
Why do we dream in black and white? Color me blind.
I had a dream. I was looking over the mountain. But I've yet to see the so-called promised land.
Picture the world without any color. You couldn't tell one face from the other.
I don't understand why we fight with our brother.
Color me blind. Just to love one another. Color me, color you, color me blind.
Am I Ever Gonna Change
I'm tired of being me. And I don't like what I see. I'm not who I appear to be.
So I start off every day down on my knees. I will pray for a change in any way.
But as the day goes by I live through another lie. If it's any wonder why.
Am I ever gonna change? Will I always stay the same?
If I say one thing, then I do the other.
It's the same old song that goes on forever.
Am I ever gonna change? I'm the only one to blame?
When I think I'm right I wind up wrong.
It's a futile fight gone on too long.
Please tell me if it's true. Am I too old to start anew?
Cause that's what I want to do.
But time and time again when I think I can;
I fall short in the end. So why do I even try?
Will it matter when I die? Can anyone hear my cry?
Am I ever gonna change? Take it day by day.
My will is weak and my flesh too strong.
This peace I seek till thy kingdom comes.
Seven Sundays
One day we'll find the time to spend, together. Until then, my love.
If I had one wish it wouldn't be hard to choose.
Seven sundays in a row. Cause that's the day that I spend with you.
Someday soon, you and I will hold each other. Once again, my love.
If I had one wish it wouldn't be hard to choose.
Seven sundays in a row. Seven sundays in a row. Seven sundays in a row.
Cause that's the day that I spend with you.
If I had one wish it wouldn't be hard to choose.
Who Cares?
Tell me, Jesus are you angry? One more sheep has just gone astray.
A hardening of hearts turning to stone. Wandering off so far from home.
So many children losing time. Walk in darkness looking for a sign.
Chasing their rainbows the future looks so bright. Slowly we're losing sight of the light.
Who cares? Who cares? Who cares? Tell me who cares? Who cares?
All alone out in the cold. Can't look back. Am I growing old? I chose a path.
Is this my fate? Am I finding out the truth too late?
Here I am. A naked man. Nothing to hide. With empty hands.
Remember me, I am the one who lost his way. Your prodigal son.
Who cares? Who cares? Who cares? Tell me who cares? Who cares?
Am I ever gonna change? Will I always stay the same?
Say one thing then I do the other. Same old song goes on forever.
Rise, rise 'n shine. A new day is coming.
Yes it is!
Politicalamity
Wars 'n rumors. Of wars, no one knows what for.
Toys and soldiers. Deployed on some foreign shore.
Lords and rulers. Destroy, diplomatic rapport.
Communists, dictatorships, democracies, hypocrisies.
Ask not what your country can do? To a one world governmental zoo.
Political, political, politicalamity. It's an-ar-chy.
Political, political, politicalamity. Rich 'n poor.
Salute your country's colors. Less is more when one oppresses the other.
Pride 'n power. Decorated upon collars.
Donkeys, bears 'n elephants. All paper-trained on parliament.
Ask not what your country can do? To a one world governmental zoo.
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Now that you have had a chance to read through the lyrics, you will find it interesting that the album was released in 1992.
Are we ever gonna change? Will it always be the same?
Make love (mercy), not war.
We can't afford to say these words lightly; Or else our world will truly, rest in peace!
I really love the double entendre in that last line.
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Gethsemani Homilies by Matthew Kelty, O.C.S.O.
7 comments:
"Am I Ever Gonna Change" reminds me of Paul's talk about struggling with sin in Romans 7.
Interesting lyrics.
JMG, did you like Peacemaker Die?
Yes. It reminds me of the "us vs. them" mentality that is so pervasive and is continually perpetuated. It's no good to make peace with our enemies because then we no longer have a reason to feel important or superior.
"Cause I'm the one with the gun." I see the gun as not necessarily a literal gun but whatever weapon one chooses to weild against a perceived enemy. That weapon could be a religious belief, cultural/ethnic identity, etc. Of course, literal guns eventually are wielded in these types of wars.
I've never seen or heard these lyrics before. They're good.
wield
I before e.
To author of this blog
For years I have been searching for more Extreme or just Nuno fans and success was next to nil. Now I finally found one! Wooohoo. Extreme, one of the most amazing bands, yet not recognised with the likes of Guns N Roses etc. Yh, I like “3 sides to every story” (lyrics to politicalamity is one of the best, think the songs were telling me something) more than "Pornograffitti", but not sure if better than "waiting for the punchline". All great none the less. Waiting for DramaGods (Nuno new band since population1) new album to come out next week. Later.
E.E.C.
Thanks for the Nuno update. I will have to check the new CD out.
And thanks for visiting my blog.
Tony
Hey there! This is the biggest Nunofan in the small country called Finland. I'm waiting for my new DramaGods CD too, and for what I've heard a few songs already, this is the best Nuno album to date.Even beats the before unvincible Schizophonic. If you have something you'd like to talk about with Nuno, you can find me in myspace www.myspace.com/antti82. Megaton and Fearless leader, great fucking tunes from DramaGods.The best songs I've heard in years!
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