IndieHindie
Registered: 04/21/05
Posts: 63
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Reply with quote | #21 |
Paul and Aaron, thanks for remembering my solo record. I was thinking about a few friends when I wrote "Love Sanctifies," but mostly Chris Colbert, my engineer friend who was really going through a raw time. I've never discussed the song with him or anyone before. Thanks for recalling the line "The radiant Lord of light reveals hii face in the death of night." I just think that's a profound truth. Aaron, you're the first person to mention it.
Troy Daugherty (no relation to Derri) was the guitar player in Hoi Poloi and later in Duraluxe with Chris Colbert.
I don't think I'll do another solo album...but I won't say for sure. I played 10 solo shows but was terrified and a few of them went badly. I never could remember the words and play the right chords at the same time! |
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Eis
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 1,437
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DaveInMaine
Registered: 04/19/05
Posts: 8
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Reply with quote | #23 |
well steve.... when you & derri played in maine, the solo tune you did, "diggin your style" went over so well. :-) iand when i saw you later that summer at soulfest in NH, the people loved you. i hope you will make another solo record.... |
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DaveInMaine
Registered: 04/19/05
Posts: 8
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Reply with quote | #24 |
congrats to emily about the school in mass.  maybe that will get you to come back up to gorgeous new england and play sometime. hehehe did you ever hear the recording of you & derri from when you played in maine in 98? |
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IndieHindie
Registered: 04/21/05
Posts: 63
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Reply with quote | #25 |
No Dave, I never did hear that...and I generally don't care to hear our live recordings. The unplugged album of a Cornerstone performance a few years ago is humbling enough. I sure would like to get some more of that New England lobster, though! I'm thinkin' about surf and turf right now! |
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aaron
Registered: 04/03/05
Posts: 56
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Reply with quote | #26 |
I hate to disagree with such a musical mastermind as yourself Indie but I have the Let It Fly album and it remains my favorite live album ever (tied only with Saviour Machine live 2002) I believe I posted this months ago. But I think you guys' live performances are killer. Now that I have that out the way I wanted to comment comment on the words for the title track about the shovel that someone commented on earlier. First off I have to comment "Speckled Bird" has been my least favorite Choir album. I bought it when I was a teenager and must confess I could never get into it. And upon listening to it today I think I know why the lyrics are all so focused on marriage and having never been married at the time they flew right over my head. But now I think that album is going to be stuck in my cd player for awhile. Steve at this point I'm going to be bold and try to interpret your lyrics  . On "Speckled Bird" you plead to be hit over the head with the shovel is that b/c at that point in life you felt like you need to die so that He might live? (I'm at that stage in my life) and on O How the Mighty Have Fallen when you say you don't want to be hit in the head with the shovel you are stating to the aggressor in the song that you feel as if it's time for him to die to self? I might be reading wayyyyy too much into the lyrics but that's what I get out of it. Either way both songs rock! "Yellow Skies" awesome lyrics that mystical experience you were talking about there I barely avoided a few days ago
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"Some wounds will never mend, says the Author of the story.."-Terry Scott Taylor |
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IndieHindie
Registered: 04/21/05
Posts: 63
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Reply with quote | #27 |
Aaron, I'm pleased that you enjoy "Let it Fly." The thing of it is, Derri and I had to suffer through a-dat tapes of 30 shows searching for decent performances until we were fairly sick of ourselves. I will say this -- We didn't fix anything (What purpose would that serve?), so it's honest. Okay, I'll TRY to answer your question about the "shovel to the head" lines. The contexts of the two songs are entirely different, but they're both about severe communication. In Speckled Bird I'm referring to raw, honest communication in the context of marriage. Sometimes the truth hurts, especially, for example, when a skillful marriage counselor inspires painfully honest conversation hoping to bring about understanding and ultimately -- healing. " Hey, I apprecialte that sound, a true tone resonating..." In "O How the Mighty Have Fallen," I'm talking about cruel judgement from a friend. Nobody appreciates THAT sound. By the way, you're not alone in your intitial dislike of the Speckled Bird album. My Dad didn't even like it, and he's been my biggest advocate. Lyrically and sonically it remains our rawest batch of songs (with a few exceptions i.e. "Like a Cloud"). It faithfully reflected our sentiments at the time. No regrets. Thanks for listening! |
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Reply with quote | #28 |
Hi Steve, I'll try to be brief. Since you're opening yourself to questions about lyrics - I've often wondered what authors you enjoy reading. While I haven't read anything of his in years, and couldn't even make a single quote, I really enjoy what Ray Bradbury did with words. While I would say there is far more light pouring out of your lyrics, I think there is occasionally a similar ethereal effect to your construction. Finally, have you ever published (or considered publishing) any poems, prose or short stories? There is so much junk out there that just takes itself too seriously - I think your voice would be refreshing in that venue. |
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Eis
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 1,437
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Reply with quote | #29 |
Steve, Speckled Bird is ya'll's hardest rocking album...so it has endeared itself to me all the more for that. I ain't married, but I dig the honest "preview"...that's one of my favorite things about your writing--so many "sad love songs" that take an honest, painful, and joyful look at what that kind of relationship is like.
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Radio Eclectic Presents Dw. Dunphy
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The Radio Eclectic blog http://radioeclectic.blogspot.com
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IndieHindie
Registered: 04/21/05
Posts: 63
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Reply with quote | #30 |
Frederick, when I read it's gotta be entertaining. Historical fiction is my favorite. Derri turned me on to an author named Stephen Lawhead who wrote a riveting saga called, "Byzantium". Recently, after seeing both movies, I enjoyed "Friday Night Lights" a fascinating true sports story with racial and political undercurrent -- and "Sideways," (my favorite movie in years!) with incredible, hilarious dialogue and character development. Another all time favorite is "A Prayer for Owen Meany," by John Erving. BrennanManning is inspiring and Oswald Chambers is enlightening...but I can only handle that stuff in small doses or I'm asleep. Give me a lynching or a hatchet fight right from the start! I just read 120 pages of the latest John Grisham Book (started it on a flight to Albany) and I'm not even gonna finish it. The writing is lame, of course, but I expected ACTION. What a boring waste! Oh yes, Pat Conroy is a great one. I've enjoyed several of his books. What do you recommend? |
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bereal
Registered: 03/14/05
Posts: 476
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Reply with quote | #31 |
Quote: Originally Posted by IndieHindie
Bereal, "She's Alright" is perhaps my favorite on the new album. I was thinking of a close friend who is recently divorced after many years of marriage. It's a very universal theme, though, and applies to so many women I care about and admire for overcoming adversity..
Paul, yes I was thrilled to co-write that song with Terry. He's a hero to me. It was about his daughter, Noel, but you're right, it sure is relevant to me now! The only other songs I've written with Terry are the first two on the City on a Hill Christmas album. The Dogs never did record "Jeff" after all. Instead, we're doing a bizarre thing called, "Island Dreams." Never try to predict what those lunatics will do next!
Thanks for the insight Steve! I guess women overcoming adversity is quite common. I too have overcome a lot of adversity and most of the women I know have, so I guess that's why it is one of my favorites on the disc. I'm also glad to know that Emily is also overcoming her difficulties.
So the Dogs have decided to go another direction? I can't wait to visit the Island!
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mykel
Registered: 04/22/05
Posts: 975
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Reply with quote | #32 |
hi steve,
as i was listening to the new album on the way home tonite, i heard the lyrics about "the treasure in you" in Terrible Mystery. is that a mike roe reference? or just a coincidence?
beautiful album, btw. we're really liking it.
m |
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Registered: Member deleted
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Reply with quote | #33 |
Steve, I can't say that I'm disappointed, but I half expected you to give a nod to the beat poets. However, if yer looking for hatchet fight right out the gate I don't think that's a good place to start. I've enjoyed reading them in the past, but I guess the main reason I don't read them anymore is they can be a little too - uh, worldly. I suppose the most moving books I've ever read are Catcher in the Rye, Of Mice and Men and Captains of the Sands by Jorge A(r?)mado. If you like Grisham (or at least some of his stuff) I would say check out Robert Ludlum. You might also enjoy Clive Cussler - there's a bit of cheese factor to a lot of his stuff, like he's got a reoccurring character (Dirk Pitt) that's a bit of an over Americanized James Bond, but if you like cars, boats, trains and planes and shoot 'em up adventure he's your guy. I don't think he would inspire your lyrics, though. Anyway, I guess I was mostly wondering if there were any authors in particular that you would point to and say, "yeah, s/he really impacted the way I go about the writing process."  Soooooo, you HAVE thought about publishing a book of some sort?
Thanks, George |
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MO_JOJO
Registered: 04/10/05
Posts: 766
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Reply with quote | #34 |
Hi, Steve. I've been a distant fan since the late 80's, but this site has drawn me back to the Choir's music. I'm discovering some neat things about the band and it's interesting patchwork of fans. I probably have a lot of questions to ask, but I will ask the one. What is "Weather Girl" about? I know some knock "Speckled Bird", but it has been my most-listened-to album of yours (I had no CD player in my work truck and had this one on cassette), and I like it very much. The guitar tunes on that song remain some of my favorite, too. Anyway, back to the subject. I usually like songs for the way they sound and may not know the lyrics for years, but this one stands out in my simple mind. PS. Replaced my lost Wide Eyed Wonder CD, and have it in my computer at home. It's all I've been listening to in the office for at least a week, and it brings back some wonderful memories. You guys are fantastic!
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my strength is dead
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on every word He's said.
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The_Warbler
Registered: 04/20/05
Posts: 40
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Reply with quote | #35 |
Hi, Steve--
I've always found the lyrics to "Polar Boy" to be somewhat disturbing. I know a lot of your songs are based on specific experiences from your lives, so is this the case with this song? Or were you musing about something more general and/or spiritual? I'd love to know. Thanks!
Chris
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Eis
Registered: 03/12/05
Posts: 1,437
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Reply with quote | #36 |
Quote: Originally Posted by The_Warbler
Hi, Steve--
I've always found the lyrics to "Polar Boy" to be somewhat disturbing. I know a lot of your songs are based on specific experiences from your lives, so is this the case with this song? Or were you musing about something more general and/or spiritual? I'd love to know. Thanks!
Chris That metaphor works soooo well in that song. Very disturbing song...very realistic song...
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Radio Eclectic Presents Dw. Dunphy
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MightyIsMyRayGun
Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 1,905
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Reply with quote | #37 |
Quote: Originally Posted by aaron
Steve this is like a golden opportunity. I would love to ask you about so many lyrics from the previous albums but I'll contain myself to just the latest one. What was the inspiration to "I Wish I Knew"? If it's too personal I understand it's just that it spoke to my soul so clearly. I feel this way about my wife b/c she suffers from debilitating migraines and sometimes she has to be hospitalized. And everytime she's in pain the words from that song are exactly how I feel, it's like you knew our situation perfectly. Just like you did on "Sad Face." God bless you for your lyrics....they always strike my soul.
Aaron- I'm in your club unfortunately. Our last trip to the ER was a Halloween night, fortunately she's not admitted to stay in the hospital, just a shot of Demoral or Morphine and a rest on the bed for 45 minutes so the Doc can check on her (followed by the bills for $600) How horrible for your wife. And I know that those in our situation, the spouses, the ones who don't experience the physical pain, nausea, light sensitivity, depression etc, we don't like to bring it up, but how horrible for you, too. Watching the woman that you love so dearly in that much agony, draining vitality from her, keeping her from goals, changing her life. I know what it can do to your spirit. And of course there's the accompanying things such as many cancelled plans, showing up at parties alone (if can make yourself go at all), anger at it all. Do you ever look at your wife and wonder how she accomplishes what she does in her life? How she accomplishes all that she does with this enemy hounding her, waiting to attack? I marvel at my wife's strength. She doesn't like to talk about the pain, she says it's boring.
Peace to you two. I won't listen to How I Wish I Knew the same again thanks to you and Steve. |
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MightyIsMyRayGun
Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 1,905
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Reply with quote | #38 |
Quote: Originally Posted by IndieHindie
No Dave, I never did hear that...and I generally don't care to hear our live recordings. The unplugged album of a Cornerstone performance a few years ago is humbling enough. I sure would like to get some more of that New England lobster, though! I'm thinkin' about surf and turf right now!
Steve, you've gotta know that the what the folks at the show are experiencing and what shows up on the tape are not the same animal at all! The emotion that was in the room doesn't usually make it into the recording...but the wrong notes and cracking voice always do! |
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MightyIsMyRayGun
Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 1,905
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Reply with quote | #39 |
Quote: Originally Posted by IndieHindie
Frederick, when I read it's gotta be entertaining. Historical fiction is my favorite. Derri turned me on to an author named Stephen Lawhead who wrote a riveting saga called, "Byzantium". Recently, after seeing both movies, I enjoyed "Friday Night Lights" a fascinating true sports story with racial and political undercurrent -- and "Sideways," (my favorite movie in years!) with incredible, hilarious dialogue and character development.
Another all time favorite is "A Prayer for Owen Meany," by John Erving. BrennanManning is inspiring and Oswald Chambers is enlightening...but I can only handle that stuff in small doses or I'm asleep. Give me a lynching or a hatchet fight right from the start!
I just read 120 pages of the latest John Grisham Book (started it on a flight to Albany) and I'm not even gonna finish it. The writing is lame, of course, but I expected ACTION. What a boring waste!
Oh yes, Pat Conroy is a great one. I've enjoyed several of his books.
What do you recommend?
Steven Lawhead!!! I bought my wife a book of his yeeears ago without knowng better. She is into Fantasy and SciFi et. so I saw this book called Merlin. She said that he made out Merlin to be a Christian, which she got entertainment from!
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MightyIsMyRayGun
Registered: 04/04/05
Posts: 1,905
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Reply with quote | #40 |
Steve, Terrible Mystery makes my heart hurt. Is this about a sister? first I thought you were going through a divorce but then realised that you mentioned having known her since you were a child, unless that wan't literal. Hauntingly beautiful song. |
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