Patti Lynn Clark Barnett

I can't believe Bin Laden is still on the loose. Following 9-11, we were full of bravado and assurance that he would be easily captured. However, that has obviously not been the case. He has recently taunted America again with his tapes. In these new tapes, he  boastfully predicts that Obama will have no more success in capturing him or winning the war in Afghanistan than his predecessor, President Bush.

My song, "Ode From the Cave", is a parody (with lots of truth) on how Bin Laden might have felt when the first American troops landed in Afghanistan. He was probably shaking in his sandals.

Digital Music File

You don’t poke your finger in America’s eye
If you don’t want a piece of American pie
Ain’t no cherries it's only the pits
Till you give us Binney we ain’t gonna quit
You’ve done tweaked the nose
Of the gentle sleeping giant
You’ve done pulled the whiskers
Of the sleeping gentle lion

He’s an elongated desert horse rat
With a heart full of hate and a dirty head wrap
He sits in his cave by the candle light
Telling Al Qaida boys, “Go out there and fight"
That American bunch is everywhere
Them sinners are saying we invited them here
Oh, boys I think we might have
Made a mistake Oh, boys
I think we made a big mistake

Chorus:
After all we’ve done to those guys
They’re still undivided stronger and wise
This thing ain’t going according to plan
Nobody doesn’t like that President man
Oh boys I think we made a big mistake
We underestimated the United States

Now the desert’s loud the fritters won’t bake
Can’t sleep when everything quivers and quakes
I wonder what’s happened to our rag tag band
Them Yanks are tearing up the Taliban
It’s dark and dank down here in the cave
Ain’t seen no sun since their judgment day
Oh boysI think we might have made a mistake
We underestimated the United States

Well boys it’s gettin’ mighty smelly down here
I would venture out if I could change my gear
But they'd pick me off like a snow white crow
I’m the long tall most wanted man you know
Oh, boys, I think we made a big mistake
We underestimated the United States

Well, this thing ain’t going according to plan
G. W. Bush is determined to win
After all we’ve done to those guys
We’ve only made them stronger and wise
Oh, boys, I think we made a big mistake
We underestimated the United States
We underestimated the United States”

Like most of you, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on September 11, 2001....watching TV and working out. The horror of that fateful day inspired, "Sudden News" soon there after.

Say what you will about President George W. Bush. But no one can deny that he kept us safe for almost eight years. He realized there is no appeasing terrorists and the other enemies of America. There is no "making nice" or creating sincere dialogue with the breed of human beings that changed America forever on September 11, 2001.

SUDDEN NEWS
Digital Music File

Tuesday 9-11 2001 no one will ever forget
The devils of darkness descending in planes
And the reign of terror they did
We watched disbelieving
Could this really be happening on American soil?!
Out of nowhere they came without any warning
On a mission somewhere out of hell

Chorus:
Sudden News, Sudden News
Has crushed with a blow to our hearts
But America’s stronger than ever before
You never will tear us apart
You’ll never strike fear in the soul of this nation
Beware of our man at the helm
He’ll deal with you soon
But someday you’ll deal
With a Power much greater than him

You don’t understand us
You hate and condemn our democracy
Freedom and friends
You seek to divide destroy
And deny us our way of life you  just can’t stand
But you can be sure that our hearts beat as one
When it comes to defending our own
Your master mad man hides
Away hatching plans
Where inconceivably evil seeds grow

Sudden news, Sudden news
Will crush you and grind you to dust
America’s strong her patience is long
But you’ve gone far too far
Now you must pay for your deeds
And your cruel devastation
You’ve caused to this country we love
You’re led by a mad man who hides out in caves
We’re led by a light from above

Sudden news, sudden news
Will crush you and grind you to dust
But if there’s a doubt
That whatever goes ‘round
Will come back again, well it does
You’ll never strike fear in the heart of this nation
Beware of our man at the helm
He’ll deal with you soon
But someday you’ll deal with
A Power much greater than him

  .The lyrics are updated but the music file is yet to be changed
 
 http://www.pcbarnett.com/index.php/opinion/342-thunder-rolls

                  Thunder Rolls

From Wasilla, Alaska like a blazing Northern light
Comes a phenom on a mission with the White House in her sight
We're talking Sarah Palin here who's unafraid and bold
To speak the truth and nowadays that's rare as panning gold

When she burst upon the scene I had my questions
About the pretty former mayor in high heels
This meteoric mama's world is far from faux o drama
Johnny Mac sure had an eye for the real deal

Chorus
She's a warm hearted woman from Alaska
Corruption and injustice leave her cold
This gun totin' mama will make one term of Obama
From the White House they can hear the thunder roll

She's a governor, a mother and a woman all the way
The main stream media will live to rue the day
They set out to destroy her in every way they can
But her numbers keep on ticking up
While going down for their man

They tried to crucify her with their slander
But the truth will always win and heaven knows
There's now fear in liberal land
The storm is coming and they now can
Hear the thunder roll

Without A Song
DIGITAL MUSIC FILE
 
Just because it's raining I will not stop walking
Because I may have many miles to go
And if I allow a little rain to get me down
Just how much I would miss I'd never know
 
The sun is never always shining brightly
But behind the clouds I know it's always there
Every day, no matter what may come and go my way
I won't let a little rain make me despair
 
Chorus:
I can't imagine my world without music
I can't imagine anything more wrong
Except someone who never prays
An empty soul who cannot praise
I imagine that's a soul without a song
 
Just because it's raining I will not stop singing
It's with a song my heart always takes flight
Gentle breezes, icy winds, light friends may
Come and go, but as long as there's a song I'm alright

Watching the CMAs last week, I was reminded once again of how much country music has veered off the authentic traditional course. It is far more like pop and rap these days. So, I guess you might say country music has gone up town…I liked it better when it was country.   
 
I guess there were a few good songs recognized at the CMAs. For the most part, they all sounded and were performed very much alike. Cookie Cutter is what I saw and heard. Shania Twain presented the Entertainer of the Year award to Kenny Chesney. It saddens me to think of what these last several months have put her through. But she is still the epitome of grace and beauty….a real class act. But somehow, you could still see the pain.   
 
These two songs, "Without A Song" and "Out of the Wind" are nothing like I heard on the CMAs, but I'll share them anyway. "Out of the Wind" is a song  most rurally raised  people will relate to in some way. We all remember our moms cautioning us to, "Wrap up and keep warm" don't we? And I was very happy when a recovering cancer patient friend said she, "Basked in that song". Growing up in the country meant going bare foot in the good old summer time . But shoes would not have been a bad idea to wear in the barns where there could have been dangers.

Out Of The Wind
DIGITAL MUSIC FILE

Wrap up your neck and stay out of the wind
It’s cold and can make your throat sore
And I don’t want my baby girl to get sick
Honey, that’s what your buttons are for

When I stepped on that old rusty nail in the barn
Shoes were for school in the fall
It’s a thousand and ten wonders we didn’t die
With only iodine and alcohol

Wrap up your foot and stay out of the dirt
Watch out for red streaks running north
A sign an infection’s heading straight for your heart
Honey, that’s what your bandage is for

Chorus:
Buttons and bandages, small disadvantages
Keeping me safe, well and warm
Anything it would take, do or say for my sake
She loved from the day I was born

When first puppy love broke my young heart in two
I thought my world had ended for sure
But it didn’t take too long to mend like she said
Honey, that’s just what young hearts are for

They break and the mend and you’ll find there’s no end
To this Ferris wheel ride you are on
Up and down love makes the world go around
Honey, now and long after we’re gone.

Now when the clouds of life pour out the rain
Chances don’t knock at your door
When it looks like the wind has deserted your sail
Honey, that’s just what your faith is for

We bend and we break and we all get our share
Of heart ache and sometimes even more
If you’ve been short changed, life’s scale’s not the same
Honey that’s what forgiveness is for

Wrap up your neck and stay out of the wind

Heart Of Stone
Digital Music File
 
Heartache takes no holiday it's busy all year long
Pain takes no vacation, its always going strong
Everything you said you wanted you have now left far behind
All we have are memories now scattered in our minds
 
I tried so hard to understand just where did I go wrong
But I can't blame myself because you wanted to be gone
When you tasted freedom from responsibility
The grass looked ten shades greener you decided to be free
 
Chorus:
Our love just didn't matter you determined you would go
You built a new house 'round us then you left us on our own
Now everything is tarnished that should have a shiny glow
The house you left is wooden but you took a heart of stone
 
I guess it's not that different from what happens every day
And yes I know we all are made with unstable feet of clay
But what became of keeping vows, staying strong and true
I thought the last to let me down and break them would be you

I previously posted about the fact that President Bush is a Born Again Christian. This has always constituted my basis for believing in the ultimate authenticity, honesty, and integrity of our president. No one is perfect and Even Born Again Christains will often fall from grace, but will always return to the fold and never fail to get back on track with the Lord.  However, all will be determined some day in a personal Judgment.
 
I would like to take this opportunity to share an experience my father had shortly before his death in 1985. It is similar to a song found on one of my newly purchased CDs by the, "Sons of Song".
 
One night, in a vision, Daddy said he saw Jesus. He could hardly speak for crying in trying to describe the loving warmth he felt encountering Jesus and His indescribable beauty. There was not a dry eye in that hospital room as he related this experience.

In Daddy's vision, he was walking down, "A wide road crowded with people running, rushing and crushing like cattle, headed for destruction". There was a division in the road up ahead with Some One sitting with a large Book in His hand. Daddy had no doubt the person sitting where the road split was Jesus. He was there judging the human race, looking for the names of those approaching. Scripture tells us that the instant a person accepts Christ as Savior their name is recorded in, "The Book of Life".
 
When trying to describe Jesus' personage, Daddy could only burst into tears, saying there was no possible way to describe Him or His brightness and beauty. My father, always the most stoic person I'd ever known, was never given to tears. As Daddy came closer to the fork in the road and approached Him, he said Jesus looked upon him with compassion, put His arm around his shoulder and placed him on the narrow road.
 
Robert L Clark, was a man of few words and not one given to much emotion. But his life was a sermon in so many ways. He honored truth and justice and had absolutely no tolerance for hypocrisy. I never once knew him to tell a falsehood or even garnish the truth. His employees and fellow workers in the earth moving business loved him dearly for his justice and good nature.
 
I am relating this now because, as I mentioned earlier, I received a Sons of Song music collection. One particular song in the collection, "Sorry, I Never Knew You" is also about a dream about the final Judgment. However, the dream in this song involves a more frightening element than in my Daddy's experience.
 
The Sons of Song, a trio of voices, like you will never hear again, have touched the world with their music.

Sorry I Never Knew You  CLICK HERE --> DIGITAL MUSIC FILE

WIN $100 !!!

David And The Ark

This song is taken straight out of 1 Chronicles (13-15, KJV) about the transferring of the Ark of the Covenant (The Ten Commandments) by King David and the Israelites.

There will be $100 to the first child or teenager that will learn this song then e-mail their recording or video to me.  The trick is to get all the names pronounced correctly. The winner's rendition will be posted on this website.

Now, there is something worth doing with part of your summer vacation…that is if you are sharp enough to nail it. Warning: it won't be easy. So be prepared for a real challenge. Now, get going!

August 16th update:

As of now, there has been no one sufficiently interested or up to the challenge of learning and presenting  this song to me. So, I am lowering the bar and raising the prize $$. Any one of any age may now enter. And the winner will recieve $150.00. It is a lot of fun to do--- once you learn it!


David And The Ark
DIGITAL MUSIC FILE

David was a man who loved the Lord
And followed after him with all his heart
And after Israel made David King,
He said "We're going to bring back the ark"

So he gathered all Israel together
He assembled the children of Aaron and Levi
Of the sons of Kohath, Merari and Gershom
 Elizaphan, Uzziel and Hebron

Then he called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests
For Joel and Eliel the Levi fathers' chiefs
For Uriel, Shemaiah, Amminadab and Asaiah
"Go sanctify yourselves so we can bring the Ark"

So David said,
"Appoint your brethren to be the singers
With instruments of music like the harp
I've prepared a place and a brand new wagon
Today we're bringing home the ark
We'll bring it on a brand new cart"

Chorus:

There was the sound of the cymbal
The trumpet and the timbrel*
The psaltery and the harp
It was a day of rejoicing
They were lifting up their voices
King David was dancing.
They were bringing back the ark

So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel
And of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berachiah
And Ethan the son of Kushaiah
Of the sons of their brethren, Merari

And with them their brethren of the second degree
Zechariah Ben and Jaaziel,
Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab Benaiah
Maaseiah, Matathiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah
Obededom and Jeiel

So the singers Heman, Asaph and Ethan
Were appointed to the sound of the cymbals of brass
And Zechariah, Benaiah, Maaseiah and Eliab
Aziel, Jeiel, Shemiramoth
With their brethren Unni
They were skilful and cunning
With their psalteries on Alamoth

And on the harps Mikneiah, Obededom Matathiah
Elipheleh Azaziah, Jeiel
And for the song Cheneniah But Elipheleh Berachiah
Obededom and Jeiah were door keepers for the ark

Chorus:

Then the priests, Zechariah, Netheneel and Shebaniah
Jehoshaphat, Benaiah, Amasai
And Eliezer were the priests that blew the trumpet
Before the ark of God

So David and the elders and the captains over thousands
Went to bring up the ark of the covenant of God
Out of the house of Obededom where they'd left it
'Cause they feared when God struck Uzza
'Cause he took hold of the ark

For some inexplicable reason, I had been thinking about Cindy Bates Quayle lately, the subject of this song. Coincidentally and unexpectedly, just last week I got an e-mail from her sister, Theresa Bates Connolly, who now lives in Norwood, Missouri. It must be time to share this song. 

While living and substitute teaching in Phoenix, I became acquainted and close friends with the Bates family that had relocated to Phoenix from Jonesborough, Tennessee, my home town. (Small world after all!) I didn't really know them well in Tenn., but Theresa and I became quick and close friends and I was made to feel like part of her family. Cindy, the second of three children was such a demure, modest and beautiful girl. She was later happily married to Mike Quayle, Vice President, Dan Quayle's brother. Not long after, she was diagnosed with leukemia. As devastating as this was, no one could have been more positive and courageous than Cindy. The same strong spirit/faith she exhibited on that plane out of Atlanta to Phoenix was the same calm spirit she had when I last saw her in Children's Hospital in Philadelphia.
 
Thankfully, this song was written for Cindy before her death at forty three….and she loved it! I just hope it will be an encouraging example for anyone who may be, ' Walking through the shadows' and fighting their own battle.
 
Cindy
DIGITAL MUSIC FILE
 
I remember that first shaky flight to Phoenix
You sat beside me and assured me everything would be OK
I know that same spirit now is guiding you
And helping you to make it through each day
 
Chorus:
 
And you are teaching us to walk on through the shadows
Never fearing and in weakness staying strong
Never giving up or in to pain and sadness
That's the reason we are singing Cindy's song
 
Long ago I did a portrait for your wedding
I wonder if its still hanging there to tell
You were always called the quiet one of the family
Just a sweet shy and lovely blue eyed girl
 
Chorus
 
Not too long ago I saw you here in Philly
Your doctors said they'd never seen one quite like you
So determined and unwilling to be broken
In your spirit that will always see you through
 
Chorus