Here are the lyrics as I hear them:

I woke up in darkness
surrounded by silence
oh where, where have I gone?
I woke to reality
losing its grip on me
oh where, where have I gone?

Cause I can see the light
before I see the sunrise

You called and you shouted
broke through my deafness
now I’m breathing in
and breathing out
I’m alive again!

You shattered my darkness
washed away my blindness
now I’m breathing in
and breathing out
I’m alive again!

Late have I loved you,
you waited for me,
I searched for you…
what took me so long?

I was looking outside
as if love would ever want to hide
I’m finding I was wrong

Cause I can feel the wind
before it hits my skin

You called and you shouted
broke through my deafness
now I’m breathing in
and breathing out
I’m alive again!

You shattered my darkness
washed away my blindness
now I’m breathing in
and breathing out
I’m alive again!
I’m alive again!

Cause I want you!
Yes, I want you,
I need you
And I’ll do what ever I have to
Just to get through
cause I love you
Yeah, I love you!

You called and you shouted
broke through my deafness
now I’m breathing in
and breathing out
I’m alive again!

You shattered my darkness
washed away my blindness
now I’m breathing in
and breathing out
I’m alive again!

John Popper was on the Adam Carolla show this week. While covering the news, they talked about the chick who killed herself outside of Paula Abdul’s house. This made Popper jam on he harmonica to Abduls “Opposite’s Attract.”

Singing the Our Father is not an easy feat. Sure, many priests do it all over the world brilliantly during mass. It’s different however to actually put music to it and sing. Two of the best versions I believe are by Matt Maher and Michael W. Smith. Listen and tell me what you think.

Matt Maher – As it is in Heaven

Michael W. Smith – As it is in Heaven

Look at this funny video of two little boys rapping.

I’ve got skills
Couting one to ten
And I ain’t slacking
on the alphabet!

Don’t front if you see us coming
We’re just playing
we’re just running

News broke today that Senator Joe Biden has a very pro RIAA voting record. The worshippers of the church of Obama reacted accordingly:

“I told you guys. I told you guys that this thing is bullshit, that Obama wasn’t that great.” – JohnHQ

“I hate Biden, but lets face it, Obama could have picked Charles Manson as Veep and he would still be preferable to McCain.” – reddit_user13

“‘Obama is Pro-Net-Neutrality’ – You mean Obama is pro-government-regulation of the Internet, which is quite consistent with Biden’s position.” – Uriel

“He sponsored a bill in 2002 that would have make it a federal felony to trick certain types of devices into playing unauthorized music or executing unapproved computer programs. Biden’s bill was backed by content companies including News Corp. but eventually died after Verizon, Microsoft, Apple, eBay, and Yahoo lobbied against it.

Read more here at reddit

Last night I was just listening to my Steven Curtis Chapman songs on iTunes. A song I have heard a thousand times really stood out to me. It’s called “What I would say,” I’ve always liked the song, but I never really listened to the words (something we all do too often). I pulled up the lyrics and they were so beautiful I had to share them with you.

She was a lovely girl, a charming brown eyed beauty
You were the bright young man who swept her off her feet
The high school class ring soon became a wedding band
And you went off to sail the seas for Uncle Sam
But they say it was the demon in the bottle
That took you far away never to return
And you never knew your son would be my father
And now sometimes I think about you and I wonder
If I could talk to you what words would I choose

I would say I wish I could have known you
And I would say I wish you would´ve stayed
But most of all I would say I forgive you

I know your love was strong I read it in your letters
I read how hard you tried to break free from the chains
I know we all could say how you should have done better
And wear our anger and resentment like a fetter
But that´s why I would say this to you if I could.

I would say I wish I could have known you
And I would say I wish you would´ve stayed
But most of all I would say I forgive you

I´d love to tell you how the lovely girl you married
She´s been my hero and a treasure to us all
I know you´d be proud of the way your name´s been carried
These are things I would love to tell you if I could
I wish you were here to hear what I would say

I”ve been a fan of Michael W. Smith for a long time. I discovered his music one night at a lock-in at our church. Laying down in a pew very early in the morning, I pulled out my walkman. My cousin gave me a couple tapes she thought I would enjoy. The first one was Smith’s “The First Decade.” From the first song I was hooked. Since then I have acquired every Michael W. Smith CD and have been one of his biggest fans. 

I have reviewed all of his songs, (250+) and have compiled his ten best. How did I do? Did I miss your favorite MWS song? If so, please let me know why you believe your favorite should make the top ten!
 

1. I’ll Lead You Home

• Year and CD: 1995 & I’ll Lead You Home
• Review: Picking the number one song was hard. When I had all of his top songs in front of me, this one just stands out. Its simple and powerful message of God’s love is lasting. The slow build up musically is something I really like as well.
  
• Lyrics: “Vultures of darkness ate the crumbs you left; You got no way to retrace your steps; Just leave it to me; I’ll lead you home.”
• Music Video: Youtube

2. Kentucky Rose

1. Year and CD:  1993 & The First Decade
   
2. Review: When I said it was hard to pick a number one song, Kentucky Rose was the reason. And as I sit and listen to the song I realize I may have made a mistake. The song tells the story of a southern preacher who sacrifices his life to save a little boy. Besides telling an amazing story in the five minute song, it tells of a man who loves God and would do anything to save His children. This may not be as good as I’ll Lead You home, but it’s my personal favorite song.
3. Lyrics: “Evenings stroll crossed shadows bridge; Cause when he saw the boy tramping on that rocky ridge; He knew the danger that he would face; It’s as if he saved the child only to take his place”
4. Music Video: No video, listen to song on IMEEM

3. I’ll be around

• Year and CD: 1995 & I’ll Lead You Home
• Review: Also from the I’ll Lead You Home CD, this song let’s you know God is always there. Don’t give up on him, because he’ll be around.
• Lyrics: “But everybody needs someone; Who loves ‘em through the toughest times – while they’re growing.”
• Music Video: No video, listen to the song on IMEEM

4. How to say Goodbye

• Year and CD: 2006 & Stand
• Review: A simple, yet powerful song. The utter helplessness of your daughter getting married and moving out I’m sure is overwhelming. The song just pleads and begs for understanding. How do we say goodbye? How does a daddy look at his grown daughter and say goodbye to her? The song makes me tear up almost every time I listen to it. The video is very good too!
• Lyrics: “Tell me when the time we had slipped away; Tomorrow turned to yesterday; And I don’t know how”
• Music Video: Youtube

5. There she stands

• Year and CD: 2002 & There She Stands
• Review: Written after September 11th attacks. The song was inspired by President George W. Bush asking MWS to write a song about the tragedy. The song is about the American flag and one of the most patriotic songs ever written.
  
• Lyrics: “When evil calls itself a martyr: When all your hopes come crashing down; Someone will pull her from the rubble; There she stands ”
• Music Video: Live at the Republican National Convention

6. Trilogy: Angels Unaware; Breathe in Me; Other Side of Me

• Year and CD:  1995 & I’ll Lead You home
• Review: The Other Side of  Me was my song I dedicated to my wife at our wedding. While technically these are three songs, but really they are just party 1, 2 & 3 of one big song.
  
• Lyrics: “If love was mathematical; You’d understand the sum; To the heart’s equation; Where one and one makes one.”
  
• Music Video: Listen to the song at youtube

7.  Grace

• Year and CD: 2006 & Stand
• Review: With Gods grace, we can do all things. 
• Lyrics: “It’s grace, grace; I’m nothing without you; Grace, your grace; Shines on me”
• Music Video: Youtube

8.  This is Your Time

• Year and CD: 1999 & “This is your time”
• Review: The song tells the story of Cassie Bernell. She was killed in 1999 school shootings at Columbine High School. Reports say, one of the gun men asked Cassie if she believed in God. When she said yes, she was shot and killed. Would you have the power, the strength to say “yes?”
• Lyrics: “This was her time; This was her dance; She lived every moment; Left nothing to chance; She swam in the sea; Drank of the deep; Embraced the mystery.”
• Music Video: Youtube

9.  Above All

• Year and CD: 2001 & Worship
• Review: Probably my favorite praise and worship song. Look at the chorus and MWS shows that while Christ was on the cross, we were on his mind.  
• Lyrics:Crucified
  Laid behind a stone
  You lived to die
  Rejected and alone
  Like a rose 
  Trampled on the ground
  You took the fall 
  And thought of me
  Above all
• Music Video: YouTube

10. Agnus Dei 

• Year and CD: 1990 & Go West Young Man
• Review: Perhaps it the Catholic in me, but I love this song.  Angus Dei is Latin for “Worthy is the Lamb.” This was one of the first songs I learned in sign language. The song seems a perfect fit for Mass, I wonder if any perish has ever used it? It sounds very liturgical when you listen to it.
• Lyrics: “Worth is the Lamb; Worthy is the Lamb; You are Holy”
• Music Video:  youtube

Paul and Mark Putman’s version of my favorite DC Talk song, “My Will.” It’s not perfect, but pretty good!

Here is some music from Adam Carolla’s movie “The Hammer.” I don’t believe there is any official soundtrack, so here are just six songs from the film. Download and enjoy. If it asks you for a password, it’s: hammer.

• Blue
• Alive and Amplified 
• Gotta Get Away
• Infected
• Rascal King
• Story of my Life

She claims she is the niece of Barack Obama. She has a very pretty voice.