I know we all had our own way of dealing with that day. For me I spent the whole day in shock watching the images over and over on TV. The next day I wrote this song. I realize I'm not the greatest singer in the universe and it's probably not the next top 40 hit but I hope the expression is there. Here is the link and I've pasted the words below. I hope some of you like it.

(Title of thread edited in an attempt to keep this from continuing to be a political issue on the forum. This song was written for 3,000 people that died and billions of us left to mourn that day. It was written before we even knew who did it.)

http://www.box.net/public/xf960svsji

Out Of the Blue


The morning begins like any other day
the sun is shining in a crystal blue sky.
We drag out of bed throw water on our face
look in the fridge for some eggs to fry.

Yell to the kids “Hey, you’d better get up’
you gotta get your breakfast and don’t be late for the bus
Then walk outside get the paper and
the kids fight for the comics and make such a fuss.

A quick hug and the kids are off to school
we dress in a hurry, give each other a pat.
Start the car leave it running in the drive.
Run back to the house to feed the cat.

Drive through traffic without seeing a face
thinking about the day and what we need to do
then turn on the radio and tune in the news
and our world changes forever because ...

out of the blue..comes a jet engine’s scream
and everything changes for our American dream
in a blast of flames and a crash of glass
a thousand lives are gone in a 3 second blast.

Out of the blue, how high it can fly
I’ve thought a plane so lovely
as it soars through the sky
But who would have dreamed
no one ever really knew
that such horror and pain
could come out of the blue.

We get to work, we’re in a daze
a TV’s on and we sit to see
What we watch is beyond belief
It’s a nightmare, it just cannot be.

No one moves, they only sit and stare
as buildings dissolve into smoke and dust.
Our hearts go down with every floor
as if it’s our children, as if it’s us.

The day goes by and we still can’t believe
with every rerun we hope we’re in a dream
and when we wake it will be OK
and we won’t remember what we’ve seen

But it just gets worse and we go to our car
We sit and don’t know what to do
and we look around everyone’s doing the same
Like we’ve all been struck....

.. out of the blue, and we’ll never be the same
and everything changes with a crash of those planes.
We look extra hard on all the people that we love
and think of all that we’ve lost with a strike from above.

Out of the blue, how high it can fly
I’ve thought a plane so lovely
as it soars through the sky.
But who would have dreamed
no one ever really knew
that such horror and pain
could come out of the blue.

Peyton Higgison
9/12/01

Peyton, your voice is just beautiful, your lyrics are just amazing - you're piano playing rocks, and so does your heart... Very cool, man. *sigh*

They'll be lots of stuff going on for the 5th Anniversary of 9/11... it's beyond sad.

i hesitated to open this thread because of the topic.....i am really glad i peeked in though, your voice is gorgeous, the song is great, and your playing is awesome!!!!! thank-you for sharing this beautiful song.

Thank you, Peyton.


God Bless America.
Land that I love
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies ,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America
My home sweet home.
[/b]



Kathleen

My speakers are out Peyton .... The lyrics are excellent...Wish I could hear your voice too...Hopefully later...Thank you for sharing ....Sandy B

Peyton, it was so touching. Thank you for writing this beautiful piece of music.

Peyton, thank you for sharing that with us. I feel privileged and honored.

By the way, you have a nice singing voice (I know you already know this). I always thought it would be something special to be able to sing along to something I'm playing on the piano...trouble is, my range is so limited. I envy those who are able to sing along while playing the piano.

Peyton, that was lovely. Wonderful song, and you sing very well. Thank you for posting this.

Wow, you guys really know how to make someone feel good about themselves. Frankly I'm not a very confident singer nor am I a performer. I've been writing songs since I was a teenager but rarely sing them for anyone other than close friends or my wife. Many thanks for the nice things you all have said.

As far as the song goes, I should add... for me it reflects where we all were before "911" became a rallying cry, before we even knew who to blame, before it became a catalyst for the great political divide. For at least one day we were all, the people of the US and the world, just united in shock and sadness.

Like funburger, I hesitated a while before opening this thread, but now I'm glad. Peyton, that was a beautiful song. I join the others in admiration. And your voice is quite distinctive in a pleasing way. I was trying to figure out whose voice and style you remind me of... Meat Loaf, maybe.

The other night I watched the Discovery special on the World Trade Center. It doesn't matter how many years have gone by; every time I see those towers collapse my heart breaks.

I also liked your song, Peyton. Sad the occasion and the memory it brings.. that day I had been in a conference with some American business men and the conference was interrupted (and of course not continued) in the afternoon when that happened. Still, sad and outrageous as it is, you mentioned that we were united for one day - I believe, we - the citizens of the world (and I consider myself a world citizen, just love that notion) are more united than ever. Songs like yours just demonstrate this.

Patty

Peyton, That was just beautiful. Your lovely song and the memory of that awful day brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing. Your voice is very pleasing to listen to, and the lyrics and music certainly fit each other. Gaby Tu

Thankyou.
Since I am not an American, 911 did not change my life as much as yours. But this text describing how fragile we all feel (and really are) in this strange world, speeks to me as well. Even if I don't want to be reminded it is somehow good.
Your voice is the kind that touches the heart.

I hope you will share more songs !

Ragnhild

Okay, it's been bugging me all day, but it finally occurred to me which singer your voice reminds me of, Peyton: Rufus Wainwright!

excellent songwriting

love these verses..

"No one moves, they only sit and stare
as buildings dissolve into smoke and dust.
Our hearts go down with every floor
as if it’s our children, as if it’s us.

The day goes by and we still can’t believe
with every rerun we hope we’re in a dream
and when we wake it will be OK
and we won’t remember what we’ve seen"

(like your singing too)

As beautiful and heart-breaking as Peyton's song was....

I have a question to ask all of you.


Am I the ONLY one who feels a deep-seated anger whenever I see pictures of that day or when I think of it?

Of course, my sorrow to those families who lost loved ones is also profound and will always be. I can't even begin to imagine what they have gone through and will continue to suffer through for the rest of their lives.

But, I am still as mad as hell. I don't care who knows it. My feeling is so reminiscent of how I felt when Kennedy was assinated. At first sorrow, but then an overwhelming sense of rage.

It's settled in its intensity somewhat. But I will never let it go completely.

This is my country. Just like the place where I am sitting is my home. Thousands upon thousands have lost their lives in defending our way of life. They sacrificied the ultimate and to them I am eternally grateful. And because of their sacrifice, I hold my country and its history and citizens in the highest regard possible. And my pride of being an American citizen is impossible to describe.

That's why I am so outraged. How dare anyone feel they have the right to not only destroy that structure, but, more importantly, the lives of the innocent within.

I make no apologies for how I feel. And I will continue to feel the same until I meet my maker. It's He to whom I will answer for my unforgiving heart. I hope He will understand and forgive me.

Kathleen

"My name is John
I left the world today
my name lives on
in those who think and pray
of what might be.

i pray that what might have been
will forever be
worth the cost
of the life I lost."

Wow, Peyton, very nice. Thank you for sharing this. I, too, like your voice.

Hi Peyton ...

That was a great tribute- and also a tribute to several of your skills. Thanks!

... and you do sound like Rufus ...

Balladeer

Kathleen, I think we share the same values in a sense, and I would like to thank you for expressing your rage which for lack of words I have not been able to express, and it is mine, too - I am boiling with anger.

Patty

Peyton, you are a wonderful singer, a story teller, and you have wonderful skill of a great folk song likeness..
Keep singing and sharing your songs, they are wonderful and the piano that went with it was just so right..
I can only imagine if you worked with others how much your skills would improve.

Thank you for sharing this, its exactly how we where that day too.

I will never forget that day, I took my son to the doctor it was around 9:30ish. He was seen quickly and we where only a 5 minute drive back to work but I stopped at my usual stop a convientant store close to the daycare I worked at. I was coming out of the convientant store when a man came rushing through the door past me expressing "Another plane just hit the trade center!" as he ran to the counter where the cash register and clerk was, he threw his arms up in the air, slamming them back down on the counter top saying "Havent you heard? The World Trade Center has been hit in New York and another just hit? Its terrible, oh my God..." the rest of what I was hearing was in a blur and I dumbfoundly walked with my baby boy to the car in shock. I remember looking into my sons face he was so miserable with his cold and flu symptoms. I was tired myself from all of the medicines, his reactions, the terrible diaper rashes and constantly always catching the colds that went around... I drove to my job, (a daycare) with the radio on, the broadcasters where telling the horrific news. I gave my boss a doctors note for me to go home with my son cause he was really sick as kids in daycare get all the time. Then I drove straight home where I turned on the tv. The tv was set with the news on and it stayed on for 2 weeks there after. I may have only worked a few more days the following week after this day before I had enough of a job that was making my son so sick with sinus and ear infections... I couldnt see a future in a daycare business, a place that herds kids in like cows... Kids need one on one attention in all their life growing up. Keeping them together with so many hands and germs all festering can not be good for anyones health, yet sick or not people take for granted the care that is provided...sending sick kids to daycares or school anyways so they can go to work or not be bothered with caring for them theirself.

I knew in my heart that 9/11 was the biggest disaster for others that I had never met, but my heart ached for them.

It was a sign for me to realize I should do what was best for my childs health and my own as well as others. I wanted to carry out a memory of people I didnt know with a message to others that life is to short to waste time in places where you dont want to be or the people dont care and they are not thinking about others in the respect that they should stay at home when they are sick so they wont spread the germs to others only making the flu season last that much longer.... .

I home school my children for that very reason so every year the cold and flu seasons come around we may be sick for a little while but we can get rid of it within a week or two without it ever coming back... If I send my kids to a public school I believe it would only be terrible for their health. We stay at home when we are sick the full length that the symptoms occur.. I would feel bad if someone got sick all because I went to the store and sneezed on a grocery cart. I would really feel bad if it was such a cold that could be the cause of a life threat or death for a elderly person, a baby, or anyone else for that matter..


This is my answer to the question that loveschopintoomuch asked...
This gets me so nerved up....
I get so mad when people are out in public complaining about their symptons as well as they are coughing and sneezing with the flu symptoms...
Or people are simply complaining about how they dont feel well yet they are still going to work.
People complain all the time without realizing that they have a choice to make.

A choice like the people that went to work that day in the New York. The people that lost thier lives they didnt choose to die, yet they chose thier job..
There are people that became heroes that did so much more than I ever have done in my intire life. They chose to be there too and they never once complained. Probably didnt realize the long term damages either. In fact there where strangers helping strangers because its the human things to do..

The job needed to be done, there where lives to be saved, souls to be put at rest, hearts to mend, along with restoring what was lost. No one knows when a disaster likes this is going to happen but in our soul and spirit we know what is right for ourself and will go the path that is intended even when it seems wrong or brings on something not feeling right...

I just hope my point is clear that I am trying to make and it doesnt offend anyone nor hurt them. Its true though. Its all about this, we choose to to the things we do and if your complaining then it must not be right you dont have to stay where you are.. Life is to short for complaining about something if you are not happy or you are unhealthy.. Live as though it was your last day to live everyday. Make your choice be the one that you can live with without bringing someone else down. We are lucky that we are survivors...Think about others and put yourself in someone elses shoes.

People put their life at risk to go to work so that someone in need can be saved everyday. Jobs that can save another can be as simple as a clerk in a convientant store, a daycare teacher, a nurse, a doctor, lawyer, grocery store stocker, bus driver,taxi driver, banker, secretary, pc programmer, photographer, news editor, firefighter, police, clerk of court, judge, mechanic, garbage man, scientists, professors, administrators, there are so many jobs I can not name them all..

Even though the choice is there, I bet no one was complaining the day of 9/11 and if they where they probably didnt realize just how short life can be or how lucky they really are..

***The complainer probably is still somewhere complaining and not thinking about their choices and actions thay make affect others who sacrifice just as much as anyone else or to what they do in this life too.****

I myself really should have nothing to complain about daycare business in this way.. I am not really, I am telling my story about the choice I made to change what I knew was right and wrong for me.

I am sure that others did the same that day of 9/11.. I remember watching a documentary where someone was saying they should of been on one of the planes or it was that they should of been on the floor that the planes hit...

I learned a lot that day about myself and from reading what others wrote about or the simple fact that others should already know...
Choice is our freedom to live no matter what your beliefs are or your religion is.. ...

Peyton:[/b] Your song made me cry. It brought back those haunting and horrific memories of that awful day. Your song was so beautiful and your voice was also beautiful. Thank you for sending it to us. We all need to reflect on one of the horrendous days in our nations history.

• NEVER AGAIN!

Top marks Peyton ... we are toally enchanted by the poetic simplicity and absence of anger of your endearing 911 tribute ... your high (and much admired) sensitivity to human suffering could hardly be better expressed. A copy of this poem should be valued by the White House ... to calm any incentive to wreak vengeance.

Bringing to mind the same gentleness of outlook, I might tell you that I have been extraordinarily fortunate to have met Nelson Mandela on two occasions (preparing his State residences) ... he is the miracle that saved South Africa from racial strife ... his secret, in spite of 27 years incarceration, is to always concentrate on a win-win solution to any problem ... his famous saying reads "When you negotiate you must be prepared to compromise". Will we ever learn?

I'm just confused by btb's last sentence.


Kathleen

Hi Kathleen,
You wonder what "will we ever learn?" means. May I paint a picture of my take on the cruel day 911 and subsequent thoughts.

SA time is 7 hours ahead of New York so the chance viewing of 911 on TV at the time came as a supefying act of insanity. Forgive us who are not as close to the human tragedy as you in the US for seeing things slightly more objectively ... first the thought of an incredible bizarre aircraft accident ... but, while glued to the screen, and frantically trying to mentally assist those on the upper floors to escape ... the second aircraft slamming into the second tower told the bitter story of terrorist madmen with such hate for the US ... that they were prepared to give up their lives in defiance ... the enormity of the suicide 4-plan mission led to only one author ... it had to be of Moslem origin ... and all this while anxiously watching the brave NY firemen racing against time to save the frantic flight from the inferno on the upper floors of the Tade Centre ... what
selfless courage!!

It is now 5 years on and we are able to reflect with a little less emotion ... we have smashed suspects in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon but they keep coming back and attacking our lifestyle ... but what is more to the point is that we are dealing with particular religious zealots who believe in suicide Paradise prizes for
blowing oneself up with innocents.

In trying to discover a solution to the impasse ... my mind went to the saintly example of Nelson Mandela ... thus the quote which spearheaded his mighty influence in taming the racial firebrands that could so easily have torn SA to pieces 12 years ago ... "when you negotiate you must be prepared to compromise".

But he added:

"Concessions are inherent in negotiations.
It is difficult to negotiate with those who do not share the same frame of reference.
When you negotiate you have to accept the integrity of another man."

That's why I added ... in view of the present global turmoil ... "will we ever learn".

God Bless America.

Peyton:

Thanks so much for sharing this song. Share some more, OK? I like how your use of the background synth/strings was never too much or overused.

-angelojf

Thank you, btb, for responding with your usual eloquence and insight.

I could not agree with you more. It's hopeless to try to negotiate with people who believe their sacrifice will provide them a ticket to heaven (or whatever they call it...I'm sorry, don't mean to be flip).

Some time ago, I read the outrageous statement by some militant or religious group that the people who lost their lives on that horrendous day were not victims at all. But instead, they respresented the true essence of America...greed, power-hungry, Godless, etc. So, they "got what they deserved."


Just this morning on the Today Show, it was reported that more Americans feel emotionally saddened by the events of 9/11 today than they did just a year after the atrocity. Perhaps it took time for it all to sink in.

Just as the Jewish people believe it is so important to remember the Holocaust, for if we don't, we are bound to repeat it. I share this view.

I'm sorry. I'm rambling. I don't have a clue on what it will take for the whole world to find peace one day. I personally think that day will never come. God help us all.

My heart breaks for ALL the innocent victims...both at home and in foreign lands.

Kathleen

Thanks Kathleen,

But aren't we lucky to have Peyton in our Chopin 55.1 group.

Yes, indeed!!

Kathleen

Great playing Peyton!

I witnessed the towers collapsing from my appartment's window. It made me feel helpless, sad and angry at the same time.
Will the world see peace one day? It will, IF two conditions are met.

First - we need complete secularization of all governments. The more separation between the state and the church the better. There is only one way to argue with religious fanatics - you kill them. There is no other method - by accepting the irrational, they no longer respond to reason.

The second condition for the world peace, which is just as important, is discovering better energy sources. Fusion power certainly comes to mind. This is needed, because even if we do get rid of the irrational from the diplomacy, there will definitely arise conflicts over energy resources as they become more scarce.

If there was plenty of cheap energy available for everyone to use, the US would no longer need to worry about the Middle East oil - and we could leave them be in their 10th century beliefs... Which is exactly what's going to happen once the Oil Age comes to an end.

I think I'll bump this on this day...

Eternal:

Your points are well-taken.

It's too bad one has to go to the extreme. But I, like you and millions of others, don't see any alternatives.

In their way of thinking, they would go to heaven. So...still upsetting.

Kathleen

"Their way of thinking"!!!!!!!!!! What about the idiotic act that our "president" did in the name of his "GOD"! We did the same thing to Iraq that Islams did to us. IN THE NAME OF!!!

President Bush, thinks "GOD TOLD HIM" to go and kill in Iraq. How can anyone be so ignorant to think that they did it to us, but WE are somehow different?????? Guess what, we did it too!!!!!

Pathetic double standards. Our leader united our enemies and divided our alies. The world was with us on on that dreadful day, but today, because of our country's actions on Iraq, the world is against us, as they should be!!!!

Pathetic




That was a beautiful song. Nice voice, nice lyrics. Great piano playing!

Thanks Piano Gal and thanks everyone for such great support. This has been a good discussion and I would hate to see it fall into a political debate. (That's why I kept my views pretty much to myself). I was hoping with the song to touch on that moment before we "took sides". We all know how heated it can get when we discuss this stuff.

Since I started this thread I would ask that for this thread at least (and this day) we just remember the way we all came together that first day, not in hatred but in shared love and anguish. I think there is a forum here at Piano world for political discussions and I'm betting the moderator would prefer that kind of stuff go on there and not here.

Again, thank you all, you really are a great bunch of people.

You're right Peyton...it's just so hard to have such deep feelings about things like this and keep them to myself. It's just wrong on so many levels.

I appreciate your song, it really was the highlight of my day. It warmed my heart...

Sorry Piano Gal:

You completely misread my thread.

I have no wish to get involved with the politics of anything because, quite frankly, they're all stupid and don't have an ounce of common sense.

But, when I said.... "In their way of thinking, they would go to heaven," I was referring to the terrorists' beliefs that when they kill Americans (just Americans, mind you), God smiles on them and it is a ticket to heaven because (as everyone knows) Americans are lazy slobs, money-grabbing pigs, and Godless slugs! We are evil, personified.

This is what they believe. I am not putting words in their mouths. That is why they are so willing to blow themselves up along with all those they hate. Including small children and babies!! Tell me...what kind of religion can teach such hate and what kind of mentality can believe it?


Yes, I know. Our country has taken a lot of lives, innocent ones. BUT not in the name of a God, and we sure don't think we're going to heaven because of it!

And you know what? I don't give a rat's ----- what other countries think of us.

No matter what we do, they hate us.

When we give them aid and assistance (while at the same time depriving those in our own country who need help), they hate us.

If we don't give them the help or assitance they think they need, they hate us.

The fault of our country is this: We ARE TOO DAM GENEROUS! There is no country in this world whose citizens are more charitable and giving. That is a fact. Look it up when you get a chance. Maybe you might gain a little more respect for your fellow-Americans.

If only one/tenth of the countries in this world paid us back just a portion of what they owe us we wouldn't have to depend on the resources of other lands for energy. We could find our own on our OWN soil. I'm talking way back since WWII..France, England, Germany to name a few). Mexico, when the value of their dollar went down the drain, we took money 25 billion dollars from Social Security (I'm talking about robbing our senior citizens of a just-above poverty level existence ) to help them out. Will we ever see any of that money repaid. Sure! Right!!

I was not in the greatest mood today to begin with. Your letter just set me off.

I am dedicating this to the people who lost their lives on 9/11 and to their families. God bless and keep them. Oh, and I should add: May God forgive them for being Americans.

Kathleen

Kathleen, if we gave them aid, why do they have to pay it back? Unless...we have alterior motives hum..

Something for nothing...not us!

Our country is responsible for taking many lives and in my lifetime I have seen it justified time and time again, as if we are better, and have the right to invade and take human lives of another country because they simply don't believe like us! What gives us the right to impose our beliefs on them as if we're the better race? I'll tell you who! It's the the same thing that gives them their rights to kills us "GOD"

Their God/our God. Keep ******* religion out of our government already. I listened to Bush this morning telling Matt Lauer that God gives him the the strength. I bet Osama feels the same.

Who the hell do we think we are justifying taking lives...

Because "we" were responding to what has been done to us. Of course the world would love us more, if we simply pretended 9/11 didn't happen - and burried our heads in sand, but is that really the right message to send to the fanatics bent on hurting us? Bush does not cause terrorism - it's terrorism that "causes" Bush...

Our troops weren't killing innocent civilians while screaming "Allahu Akhbar" - in fact, everything in our power was done to avoid collateral damage.

I'm sorry, but comparing our response to the slaughter that took place on 9/11 is nothing more than giving sanction to the evil that caused it in the first place.

Only a "useful idiot" could watch the following, and still try to defend Islamofascists:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ7Y_gBhzpc

I think I'm quite a bit older than you, PG, but I have NEVER ONCE heard anything like what you are reporting.

Never have I heard any justification that we thought we were better than other countries. Never. That's plain stupid. Many of our ancestors came from those other countries.

Or the justification that we are the better race. Just what race are you talking about?? Our country is the MELTING POT OF THE WORLD! Do you know the words written underneath the Statue of Liberty?? If not, you should read them.

Never have I heard any justification having to do with our not liking another country's religious beliefs. THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON FREEDOM OF RELIGION AS ONE OF THE BASIC RIGHTS.

I honestly think you must be living in another country because your arguements do not hold true for this one.

We've gone to war for several reasons. We've taken innocent lives (to our shame) for others, but never those you have mentioned.

Yes, I should have used the word "loans." Maybe what we were trying to buy is a little respect. How foolish we are if this is the case. Or perhaps we were helping a country try to provide its citizens with some basic necessities, like food and shelter.

America's heart has ALWAYS been in the right place. It's brain, maybe not. But we have always acted in the best interest and with concern for the safety and well-being of our citizens.

And you are going to condemn us for that? Tell me of another country that does not do the same?

You sound very angry with America. You might be happier living somewhere else. I could suggest a few countries that would welcome you with open arms. I think you'd fit right in.


Kathleen

Now you sound like Barbara Bush when Katrina hit, what did she say? Something like, "those people ought to be happy now since they have more now than they did before."

You can say anything you want, but I love my country, but absolutely despise the fundamental bullshit movement of our current government.

So what is it like Kathleen, if I'm not with them (conservative, fundamentals, that think they're god and can justify killing), then get out of our country? What you say obviously defines completely who you are: a closed minded, follower, that has convinced herself that what our so called leaders do is the right thing to do no matter what, even if it means taking lives! Call it what you want. I call it murder!

Go convince someone else of your idiotic, close minded, fundamental beliefs!

Peyton eloquently and respectfully requested that we keep politics out of his thread. How about it?

Thanks!

Well said markb.

Pianogal is not old enough to have shared memories of Winston Churchill's famous "blood, sweat and tears" prescription to stand up to and defeat the horror of the ruthless Nazi regime.

The sweet Churchillian quote was made in times of peace ... certainly not in the heat of battle.

Thanks again Peyton for perhaps the most fitting
and gentlest of tributes to 911 ... the benign words of a true statesman.

PG: I never wanted to get into character assassination, but since you opened the door, I will.

There's a saying that goes something like: You can't rationalize with a fool or argue with an idiot.

And on that note, I'll leave you to your warped, ignorant, and ungrateful attitude.

Kathleen

Never argue with an idiot, because people looking would not be able to tell who's the idiot.

Beautiful playing Peyton, there's something very true in the spirit of your playing, certainly well beyond politics!

Thanks! 5 years on, we are still struggling with it...

REMOVED to avoid heated discussions

NO politics from me, even though politics is my number one life interest.
Very touching song Peyton, it reminds me a lot of pink floys album The Final Cut.
Actually Pink Floyd have nothing on you.

One thing I will say, is that conflict is as natural as life itself.

There will never be peace, so long as there is life.

The saddest reality I have had to face up to until now.

Remember the hour that reshaped the world.
Not a day goes by that I do not wake up and recall it. All those precious people.

Great tribute Peyton.

Very nice Peyton!
Thanks for sharing that.

My dad once told me: "Never argue religion or politics".

I don't mean any disrespect to the people involved in the argument. I just wanted us all to remember the rule of thumb.

Piano Gal, that's one of the silliest (nicest term I could come up with right now) things I've ever seen posted here:

If anything, as I remember Dennis Miller (who's not very religious) saying on his show a couple years ago, we might need to "find ourselves a God" here in America, and quick. Because I'm not sure we can beat these radical jihadist monsters (who want to kill you, your family and your friends - liberal ones too) with the unity/causes that we currently have. As incredible a concept as it is, freedom just doesn't have the kind of rallying cry or pull that radical Islam does when it gets its brainwashing fingers on millions of young minds. In short, this enemy is going to be very, very difficult to beat this century, especially as soft as most of Europe and the U.S. has become (or "sensitive", if you will).

What gives you any indication at all that God is somehow governing our actions in America? Gheez! Oh, and don't use that "gives me strength" line, as if it's a bad thing or crazy or something. Look at your enemy for Pete's sake. That's where you'll find a radical bunch of head-sawer-offers that are motivated to these very actions by their god. Thanks for listening.

Rick

Rick, I don't believe in God and "it" doesn't give me strength. I think that our country focuses too much on religion when it comes to government. We are the "enemy", their enemy. We've killed, raped, tortured, and yet people like you turn the other way and call it something different. Why can't you see, we're just like them?

I've received many private e-mails on this forum supporting my position. I had to copy a quote from one that said it better than I could have.

From private e-mail:

"What can I say - only in America can you blatantly rape people and get re-elected for a second term - so long as they can keep a good chunk of Americans in the fantasy that America is the indisputable paradise on Earth in which only people who think that way should live."

Peyton - loved your song and your sentiment. Too bad your thread continues to go south. Perhaps you can get it locked or deleted.

You have my admiration for your skills at the keyboard and composing.

That email you referred to PianoGal is just nonsense. When did we rape or torture anybody? What are you talking about? Not those Naked Twister games with Lindy England I hope. That doesn't quite make the cut, don't you agree? I guess you've not heard that the terrorists in Iraqi prisons (just handed over to Iraqi officials) are already begging to "bring the Americans back". You wanna talk rape, well...you're looking in the wrong part of the world Miss, and probably the wrong time too. You know what Saddam's "worse" son did, don't you. It involved young school girls, a limousine, his servants interrupting classes...the usual I suppose, for him anyway.

People like you make it so much easier on the jihadist fascists. Why do you do that? Haven't you noticed that they want to kill you in horrible ways? They care about none of the things that you most likely care about. "Piano schmiano...burn 'em. Who needs 'em. Who needs to create anything beautiful anyway? That's sacrilege. Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart...all Jesus-lovers, and even Chopin took the cross at the end....ban 'em!! There's only one book we need, and one purpose in life". That's my best Islamic radical imitation. Need more practice, I know. But please, watch out for that thousand-pound gorilla right there!

Rick

Please lets stop this endless discussion ... because endless it will be (unless a moderator locks it )

The nice thing about something as wonderfull as a piano is that it can unite people of other beliefs and races and it can make them set their differences aside.

Let's please keep it that way and if the urge is to strong, try a private message ... please ... pretty please ...

What is it about this statement that you people don't understand? Get over yourselves and stop it. PM each other if you really feel the need to spew about this topic. Have some self-control people.

Uh oh, SAS is getting mad. And believe you me, you *don't* want SAS to get mad.

Why, what will happen if SAS gets mad?

Oh, you don't want to know!

Okey Dokey I am kind of curious though.

There was a PW member named "luckydude." He made SAS mad. We never heard from him again.

Then there was "daisy." She also angered SAS and mysteriously disappeared.

As did "madhatter," "bones," "pianomonster," "keyman," among many others. All of them crossed SAS. All of them--gone.

Oh my goodness. You mean he could kick us off this site? Who is this guy SAS?

Guy? SAS is a girl! My advice to you, Piano Gal, is to lay low for a while. And whatever you do, don't mention pumpkin carob chip cookies.

But I really LIKE pumpkin carob chip cookies! *blinking innocently*

SAS is a girl????? I'd rather be in a fight with a guy.

Okay, laying low, low, low... Maybe

Frank, it's been a pleasure knowing you.

Okay... Change the subject, then. How about a new Ben & Jerry's flavor?

"Heavenly Hamburger!" A vanilla base ice cream, with chunks of real ground beef, lettuce, onion, and tomato!

*praying, stocking the tornado shelter, and pulling on asbestos turn-out gear...*

I don't know as it's so much "kick off the site." Sounds to me more like spending time- a looong, loooooong time- with Jimmy Hoffa....

He said he never had sex with that girl. Eventually it came out that he did, but it's kind of a stretch to blame her.

If a group of people attacks and kills lots of Americans or American allies, then it's the duty of the government to do whatever it takes to stop them.

The point being that if you don't stop them then there's nothing left.

I don't think this position makes America good or bad, it's simple self defense.

You're right Cooper, "them" was Osama NOT Sadam! It's sad that the president has convinced some americans that "them" is NOT who "them" are.

Sad, sad sad...

Okay, now you're REALLY in trouble!

My cookies have been insulted, I've been called a guy, and people continue to ignore the DON'T TALK POLITICS ON THIS FORUM warning. What's a girl to do? --Sigh--

Right, I think the sequence was:
- Saddam invaded Kuwait
- We beat him halfway
- We sat and let him shoot at us for about 11 years
- We beat him the rest of the way
- The big mess in Iraq continues
- Somehow the 9/11 terror people got involved
- Saddam and Osama are both bad
- Why doesn't the president just fix all this?

I've composed a haiku just for you, then:

About that Life Thing
Don't get worried about it
Go have a cookie

The anonymnity of screen names and the passion of political discourse do not mix well.

Hey isn't today "International Sing Out Loud Day" ???

So go ahead if it is, SING OUT LOUD!

SAS, Please don't let them sing about the ya know what anymore here, there is a another place for it, just not here.....

PEACE OUT!
There has to be peace now...
Some worry, asking "Oh how"?
The scary monsters growl..
The fearless prowl..
Take another route..
Some will pout..
Others won't doubt..
Go on, throw in your towl..
Light a candle for what this thread was about.
Join together for its time to shout..
Let it all Out!
SING OUT LOUD!

:D

:D

No carob here please
Only chocolate chip will do
I am not a guy

HAHAHAHA!! Brilliant!! *applauding*

*Nicely* done.

A song from Peyton
He kindly shared in tribute
Emotions ran high

After time has passed
and we can see the light
Hey, this crap don't rhyme

This not rhyming thing
I think I may be a poet
Naw, just a little lazy, not having to think of a word that rhymes, so, back to the piano, but, for some reason, I'm hungry.

Wooooooow gmm1

Wooooooooooow

Just Woooooooooooooooooow

gmm1,

You're not following the rules of haiku. We will have to subtract points for that.

Hoping you would not notice, Jeff...

It was that last phrase, huh?

:) , , :p -
, ,

(ouch)

We had chocolate chip cookies galore
But still they yelled out for more
With a dry heave and chunder
They blew chunks like thunder
When they found the cookies were made out of spores!

There once was a chocolate chip cookie
So big it could feed a large Wookie
But fur it did fly
'Cause carob was nigh
The cook was removed with a hooky!

(Ok, so that last one probably isn't a word, but, hey, it rhymes!!! LOL)

And my butt produced a new dooky...

lol ok yours is better...

An aspiring pianist named Pierre
T'was quite fond of his teacher's derriere
He reached out for a feel
She smashed his hands with her heel
And he screamed out, "c'est la guerre!"

Peyton, you have a good voice and the song is nice. I wonder if you could tell me, how do you write songs. Do you first sing the melody or how? However, good job! I even downloaded it:)

Thanks. I write in different ways. Sometimes I'll get a story in my head and start writing lyrics then sit down to find some chords to go with it. I'm working on one now called The Better Man. I had just a rough idea of the story. I did a few lines and then sat down at the piano. Once I had some chords I changed the lines to fit the cadence and melody. So they are sort of working hand in hand.

WOW! Beautiful. New to board and discovered your song. Keep singing mate.