Deathbed... a song to die for

Relient K is a great group that, in my opinion, is very unappreciated and quite under-rated.

Led by singer Matt Thiessen, the band has alot of spunk and humor in their music. If you want to laugh along with some great songs, listen to Thunder Cats and May the Horse Be With You.

However, the group took a turn for the serious with their song Deathbed.

The song is very long, and outlines a life filled with honest problems and critical mistakes, but it's wrapped up in a less-than-pretty, albeit realistic, bow towards the end when Jon Foreman, the lead singer of the band Switchfoot, comes in like a heralding angel.

The last 6 stanzas of this song bring me to tears every time I hear/sing it. I don't know that I can pick a favorite of those stanzas, but I'll say my favorite line is this:
"For I am love... I am love... I, I am love."

I really think that this song is one of the most well-written, well-produced, well-sung songs of our decade.

Yes, if you haven't caught on by now, Relient K is a christian-affiliated group and though some of their songs have no really obvious ties to religion, that is all this song Deathbed is about.

Having said that, if you are not a religious person, don't let it dissuade you and if you are religious, then I know that you'll appreciate the song, maybe as much as I do.

Listen to it and read the lyrics and I think you'll agree that this song is to die for:

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me
I can't believe this is the end

But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone
If I close my eyes tonight, I know I'll be home

The year is 1941
I was 8 years old and far, far too young
To know that the stories of battles and glory
Was a tale, a kind mother made up for a son

You see, dad was a traveling preacher
Teaching the words of the teacher
Mother had sworn he went off to the war
And died there with honor, somewhere on a beach there

But he left once, to never return
Which taught me that I should unlearn
Whatever I thought a father should be
I abandoned that thought like he abandoned me

By '47, I was fourteen
I'd acquired a taste for liquor and nicotine
I smoked until I threw up, yet I still lit 'em up
For thirty more years, like a machine

So right there you have it, that one filthy habit
Is what got me where I am today

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me
I can't believe this is the end
I can hear the sad memories still haunting me
So many things I'd do again

But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone
If I close my eyes tonight, I know I'll be home

Got married on my 21st
Eight months before my wife would give birth
It's easier to be sure you love someone
When a father inquires with the barrel of a gun

The union was far from harmonious
No two people could've been more alone than us
The years would go by and she'd love someone else
And I realized I hadn't been loved yet myself

From there, it's your typical spiel
Yeah, if life was a highway, I was drunk at the wheel
I was helpin' the loose ends all fall apart
Yeah, I swear I was destined to fail and fail from the start

I bowled about 6 times a week
A bottle of Beam kept the memories from me
Our marriage had taken a 7-10 split
And along with my pride, the ex-wife took the kids

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me
I can't believe this is the end
I can hear those sad memories still haunting me
So many things I'd do again

But this is my deathbed, I lie here alone
If I close my eyes tonight, I know I'll be home

I was so scared of Jesus but he sought me out
Like the cancer in my lungs, it's killing me now
And I've given up hope on the days I have left
But I cling to the hope of my life in the next

Well, then Jesus showed up, said, "Before we go up
I thought that we might reminisce
See one night in your life, when you've turned out the lights
You asked for and prayed for my forgiveness"

You cried, wolf, the tears, they soaked your fur
The blood dripped from your fangs, you said, "What have I done?"
You loved that lamb with every sinful bone
And there you wept alone, your heart was so contrite

You said, "Jesus, please forgive me of my crimes
Sanctify this withered heart of mine
Stay with me until my life is through
And on that day, please take me home with you"

I can smell the death on the sheets, covering me
I can't believe this is the end
I can hear you whisper to me, "It's time to leave
You'll never be lonely again"

But this was my deathbed, I died there alone
When I closed my eyes tonight, you carried me home

[Jon Foreman] I am the way, follow me and take my hand
And I am the truth, embrace me and you'll understand
And I am the light and for me, you'll live again
[Matt Thiessen] For I am love, I am love, I, I am love

Pop in Education

** CAUTION: not my usual post!!! **

As some may know, I am a music education major as well as a journalism one.

I am also a huge fan of using pop music in education.

I know that the majority of middle and high school students don't enjoy classical music. That's okay... I don't love it, either.

A good way to reach those kids and influence them through music is by using popular music in the classroom.

My father was a band director for 27 years and for his last 8 years or so, he's been teaching a class called "The History of Rock 'N Roll". Basically, it covers music covering the span from blues and it's transformation and evolution to rock. Through that class, I know my father reached students that otherwise wouldn't have gotten farther than a middle school general music class.

I also think that teachers should branch out in their band and choir classes and use more modern literature.
For example, I know that one of the reasons I love pep band is because we play fun, popular music.

It's important for kids to realize that music isn't just about classical or baroque or romantic; it's about making art and doing something to make the world more beautiful.

I'm at a PAYPHONE... but not really...haha

Who uses payphones these days, you ask?
...Apparantly, Maroon 5!

The song is about the guy that has no change to call home because he changed so much for a girl.

The lyrics tell the story of the guy that wishes that the girl would give them another chance.

However, towards the end of the song (before Wiz Khalifa chimes in), the lyrics explain that "even the sun sets in paradise".

Speaking of Wiz Khalifa, I must say that I really am not a huge fan of rap in a song like this.
Having said that, he does add to the overall artistry of this.

I think my favorite line is this:

"If 'Happy Ever Afters' did exist, I would still be holding you like this."

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

Here are the lyrics that are pretty great, in my opinion:

I'm at a payphone trying to call home
All of my change I spent on you
Where have the times gone, baby it's all wrong
Where are the plans we made for two?

Yeah, I, I know it's hard to remember,
The people we used to be...
It's even harder to picture,
That you're not here next to me.
You say it's too late to make it,
But is it too late to try?
And in our time that you wasted


All of our bridges burned down
I've wasted my nights,
You turned out the lights
Now I'm paralyzed,
Still stuck in that time,
When we called it love,
But even the sun sets in paradise

I'm at a payphone trying to call home
All of my change I spent on you
Where have the times gone, baby it's all wrong
Where are the plans we made for two?
If "Happy Ever After" did exist,
I would still be holding you like this
All those fairy tales are full of it.
One more stupid love song, I'll be sick

Oh, you turned your back on tomorrow
'Cause you forgot yesterday.
I gave you my love to borrow,
But you just gave it away.
You can't expect me to be fine,
I don't expect you to care
I know I've said it before,

But all of my bridges burned down
I've wasted my nights,
You turned out the lights
Now I'm paralyzed,
Still stuck in that time,
When we called it love,
But even the sun sets in paradise

I'm at a payphone trying to call home
All of my change I spent on you
Where have the times gone, baby it's all wrong
Where are the plans we made for two?
If "Happy Ever After" did exist,
I would still be holding you like this
All those fairy tales are full of it.
One more stupid love song, I'll be sick
Now I'm at a payphone

[Wiz Khalifa:]
Man, f*** that s***
I'll be out spending all this money
While you're sitting round wondering
Why it wasn't you who came up from nothing,
Made it from the bottom
Now when you see me I'm stunning,
And all of my cars start with a push of a button
Telling me the chances I blew up
Or whatever you call it,
Switch the number to my phone
So you never could call it,
Don't need my name on my shirt,
You can tell it I'm ballin.
Swish, what a shame could have got picked
Had a really good game but you missed your last shot
So you talk about who you see at the top
Or what you could have saw but sad to say it's over for.
Phantom pulled up valet open doors
Wiz like go away, got what you was looking for
Now it's me who they want, so you can go and take
that little piece of s*** with you.

I'm at a payphone trying to call home
All of my change I spent on you
Where have the times gone, baby it's all wrong
Where are the plans we made for two?
If "Happy Ever After" did exist,
I would still be holding you like this
All those fairy tales are full of it.
One more stupid love song, I'll be sick
Now I'm at a payphone...