What Matters Most is How Well We Walk Through the Fire - Thom Stockton

My son Jordan (aka Elevated Thoughts) wrote this melody and produced this song for Thom Stockton. "Thom Stockton is a multi-faceted musician born and bred in the heart of Northern California. Specializing in lyricism and charm, Thom is sure to win you over with something from his eclectic repertoire. Whether accompanied by an acoustic guitar, or a slappin' beat, if you get into the message, you're sure to get something out of it."

6:16 p.m. PDT, April 10, 2012

STOCKTON—
Demonstrators protesting the death of Luther Brown, a Stockton man who was killed in an officer-involved shooting Friday afternoon, were joined by Occupy Oakland and the Oscar Grant Committee Tuesday afternoon.

Between 150 and 200 people packed Martin Luther King Park, across the street from Stockton City Hall. Around 50 Stockton Police officers donned riot gear.


“They say use your head
Instead I always use my heart
That’s probably why I’m losing my mind
I was falling apart at the seams
Of my heart on my sleeve
Of my hardened heart
Please pardon me…

Let’s face the facts
I know you’re fightin’
But I wouldn’t let you go through hell alone
I’m right here.

…What matters most is how well we walk through the fire”

Walk off the Earth - Somebody That I Used to Know (Gotye - Cover)

Thanks Rabbit, for bringing this one to my attention! From their Facebook page: "Walk Off The Earth is an unconventional, multi-talented five-piece musical phenomena that is currently taking the world by storm. Based in Burlington, Ontario (just outside of Toronto), their brilliant 5-people-playing-one-guitar interpretation of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" recently exploded on Youtube garnering well over 35 million views in under 2 weeks. The massive fan response quickly drew attention to their collection of innovative songs and videos spanning their last 5 years and generated an unprecedented flood of media interest. New fans from around the world immediately fell in love with the band's organic, independent, sincere and honest original songwriting, cover interpretations and beautifully filmed videos. For the past 5 years, the band has built a massive following of dedicated fans from around the world through their unique and heartwarming approach to songwriting, filming and constant, open interaction with everyone their music touches.

The chemistry between the members of Walk Off The Earth is undeniable. Marshall, Sarah and Gianni's individual vocal stylings mesh seamlessly with Taylor's haunting harmonies and keys all the while soaring over epic melodic arrangements held together by Joel Cassady's driving and prolific percussion work. Their independent spirit, unstoppable work ethic and awe-inspiring creativity has catapulted Walk Off The Earth into new and uncharted waters with only bigger and better things on the horizon."

ThePianoGuys - Michael Meets Mozart

This video excites me. I've watched it several times and have to thank this blog. I am mesmerized by the way they use their entire instruments.




This version of Paradise is gorgeous!



From their YouTube channel...."Our vision is to create music and videos that inspire & uplift. We want to take that music to the world and make a difference. We like to put a new spin on classic stuff and a classic spin on new stuff. Whatever we do, we put our heart and souls into every note and frame." I believe it.

Amazing together and individually

Trey Lockerbie with Josh Hoge, and Ernie Halter.

(Trey Lockerbie was born in the indie-rock hotbed of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but grew up in Bloomington, Indiana. However, the Carolina connection came in handy when he met the man who was to become a major influence, Joe Firstman, the former Music Director of “Last Call with Carson Daly” and an acclaimed musician from the Tar Heel State in his own right. The duo met when Trey was playing with Josh Hoge, who was on a co-headlining tour with Firstman. The latter heard some of Trey’s original songs and started inviting him up on stage to perform a song during his own sets. The pair quickly hit it off and established a relationship that endures to this day.)

Come To Jesus - Mindy Smith

"Oh, my baby, when you're older
Maybe then you'll understand
You have angels to dance around your shoulders
'Cause at times in life you need a helping hand


Oh, my baby, when you're prayin'
Leave your burden by my door
You have Jesus standing at your bedside
To keep you calm, keep you safe,
Away from harm


Worry not my daughters,
Worry not my sons
Child, when life don't seem worth livin'
Come to Jesus and let Him hold you in His arms


Oh, my baby, when you're cryin'
Never hide your face from me
'cause I have conquered hell and driven out the demons
I have come with a light to set you free


Worry not my daughters,
Worry not my sons
Child, when life don't seem worth livin'
Come to Jesus and let Him hold you in His arms


Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Yeah, yeah, yeah


Oh, my baby, when you're dying
Believe the healing of His hand
Here in Heaven we will wait for your arrival
Here in Heaven you will finally understand
Here in Heaven we will wait for your arrival
Here in Heaven you will finally understand


Worry not my daughters,
Worry not my sons
Child, when life don't seem worth livin'
Come to Jesus and let Him hold you in His arms"

(Smith gained popularity in 2003 when she was asked to contribute to the Dolly Parton tribute album Just Because I'm a Woman by her label, Vanguard Records. Her contribution to the project was a cover of Parton's classic "Jolene". Dolly Parton followed by adding backing vocals to a new mix of the song, which was then featured on Smith's debut album that was released in January 2004, One Moment More. The pair also performed the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.


"Come to Jesus" was Smith's second single and biggest hit, receiving airplay on country music, Christian, AAA and adult contemporary radio. The song charted at #32 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart. "One Moment More" was the album's final single.)

Lonely Tonight - Matt Wertz

"6th and green is a warm place in November
When the air is cold and the leaves blow on the ground
And I don't think that I can even remember
Why it was that i came to this town

Because I just want to be lonely tonight
Just me and my maker in this cold moonlight

This is me on the eve of an ending
To what I've known's been constant for a year
And I'm so scared of this pain that I'll be sending
Sometimes I just want to run away in fear

Because I just want to be lonely tonight
Just me and my maker in this cold moonlight

No, I haven't heard your voice in two weeks now
And anticipation's been wearing me thin
And I just can't help but wonderin' baby if somehow
We could tear these pages out and begin again

Because I just want to be lonely tonight
Just me and my maker in this cold moonlight
I just want to be lonely tonight
With no one around to see the sight
Of me lying here

'Cause this is the hardest thing I've ever done before
I said this is the hardest thing I've ever done before
And I don't want to be lonely
But I won't be lonely tonight
Because my maker's holding me"

In The Shape of A Heart - Jackson Browne [LIVE] Solo Acoustic Spain

"It was a ruby that she wore
On a chain around her neck
In the shape of a heart
In the shape of a heart
It was a time I won't forget
For the sorrow and regret
And the shape of a heart
And the shape of a heart
I guess I never knew
What she was talking about
I guess I never knew
What she was living without

People speak of love don't know what they're thinking of
Wait around for the one who fits just like a glove
Speak in terms of belief and belonging
Try to fit some name to their longing

There was a hole left in the wall
From some ancient fight
About the size of a fist
Or something thrown that had missed
And there were other holes as well
In the house where our nights fell
Far too many to repair
In the time that we were there

People speak of love don't know what they're thinking of
Reach out to each other though the push and shove
Speak in terms of a life and the learning
Try to think of a word for the burning

You keep it up
You try so hard
To keep a life from coming apart
And never know
What breaches and faults are concealed
In the shape of a heart

It was the ruby that she wore
On a stand beside the bed
In the hour before dawn
When I knew she was gone
And I held it in my hand
For a little while
And dropped it into the wall
Let it go, heard it fall

I... I guess I never knew
What she was talking about
I guess I never knew
What she was living without
People speak of love don't know what they're thinking of
Wait around for the one who fits just like a glove
Speak in terms of a life and the living
Try to find the word for forgiving

You keep it up
You try so hard
To keep a life from coming apart
And never know
The shallows and the unseen reefs
That are there from the start
In the shape of a heart."

-----------------------

Browne's first songs, such as "Shadow Dream Song" and "These Days", were recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tom Rush, Nico, Steve Noonan, Gregg Allman, Joan Baez, the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, the Byrds, and others. Browne did not release his own version of many of these early songs himself until years later. I highly recommend Solo Acoustic Vol.1, and Solo Acoustic Vol. 21