I am the husband of one and the homeschooling father of five. I am a singer, songwriter, and a worship leader who plays guitar and piano. I am the Executive Director of Trinity Arts Center, a small Christian Arts Academy in Eastern Tennessee. I'm also a guitar teacher and -- I spend about half my time building web sites and helping companies organize their thoughts, fine tune their products, and turn their customers into company evangelists. I've been involved with four music projects in my life -- Hot Pink Turtle, Spin Radio, Stand Like Stone, and of course, Jamin Rathbun. I'm also training to be an Ultimate Fighter (that's not true). = )
musicWow... I had a ton of traffic on the site Friday (and over the weekend) and it looked like The Way was the most popular song for download (just edged out Pray). Thanks for the kind feedback from everybody -- I appreciate it. = )
A few of you know that my musical journey actually began back in 1993 with a Christian Rock/Metal band called Hot Pink Turtle (yeah, we thought it was funny too). HPT was signed to REX Records and released one album, in 1993, called Ticklewigglejigglepickle. We didn't make too much of a splash but -- we had a lot of fun and were proud label-mates to some great bands like Believer, Living Sacrifice, and even alterna-pop hit-makers Sixpence None The Richer.
HPT was:
Jay Cleem - Drums, Dave Mora - Guitar, Dion Tyler - Bass, and Jamin Rathbun - Vocals.
Anyway... I thought since I was on the mp3 posting warpath, that I'd get this stuff online in case anybody would be interested. Again, this is metal so if Chris Rice and Steven Curtis Chapman are among your favorites (I like both by the way), A Lil' Groove is probably the only song worth your download time. Pickin' Berries is probably my favorite.
WARNING: Dorky song titles and lyrics ahead. Proceed at your own risk.
Notes: Named after the "ugly" chord that begins the song. The song was supposed to be about breaking free from the influence of your sin nature and a sinful world although, 15 years later -- I'm not sure that comes across. = ) You'll have to forgive the lyrical content on some of these songs. You'll have to trust me that my heart was in the right place, I just thought rhyming was more important than making sense. = )
Lyrics: When I was younger I would find myself in pain. Now that I'm older many things in life have changed. Mind over matter I am told. Programmed to be all I was by all the world that is around me. When I was younger I would find myself in rage. Now that I'm older many things don't feel the same. Mind over matter I am told. Destined to be great in mediocrity, to heal myself. Heal my soul. Lord, heal my soul. To heal my soul I've found that my mind has slipped away. In innocence and blindness this pain and rage jus slips away.
Notes: This song was about struggling to allow reason and justice and goodness to be heard above the insanity of the abortion advocates. This song was always fun to play live (except for the rap part). The lyrics are a little iffy again although, my thinking at the time was that they were clever. = )
Lyrics: Little Ed says watch your head 'cause they have too many lungs and altogether they outscream him. They outscream him most the time. I've spent so muuch time evaluating and then the noise just toasts every word, and thought, and deed. Just plain old toasts it. So listen up. Listen up. If Jesus doesn't exist, why do we feel the way we feel? Wop bop you drop down to the floor because you do not understand what the book is for. The old man looked at you and said, he said I do not really care what it is you did. Because I died once so you could live more and why you cannot comprehend I do not even know. Why does this message just keep bouncing off your mind-waves like it isn't for this time. Hey this is me and I'll keep screaming over and above the noise until you hear something worth hearing, not from me but from another one. Above us who is watching over us. Above the noise that is surrounding us. I will keep screaming I'll forever fight the noise. So birds and fish have rights? And tears fall from their eyes when I don't treat them right? It makes me feel like... When babies do not have the chance to live or sing or run or dance, to fail succeed or anything? That's wrong and it makes me feel like... Well I don't see why people are so blind that they'd treat fish over a child. I don't understand that and it makes me feel like...
Notes: Not that I don't like this song but -- I never understood why it was as popular as it was. The name, by the way, is a reverse acrostic for "I Can See Inside Your Mind" (oooo how clever). I warned you some of this stuff was pretty dorky. = )
Lyrics: Oh I feel like I'm a child. My mind is running wild. He looks on silently. Sitting here waiting for my ride. Just trying to pass the time. Her eyes fall onto me. Now both their eyes look into me. They act like they can see the thoughts inside my head. And though I know I'm not a child, my mind is running wild. I need a place to hide. Then a voice said open up to me, I can see inside your mind. A voice said lay it out for me, how is it you spend your time? My thoughts unfold before this jury. I would erase these things I've done. And though my soul is now so calloused. I feel the weight of what I've done. Well we can see inside your mind and we can see it all so clear. And we are looking deep inside and you are not how you appear. If you don't listen to these thoughts that we are putting in your head, then you will wind up dead. These people sitting here before me. Their gazes fixed upon my face. I am so frightened of their verdict. Inside my mind I cannot fake. Im my minds eye, I can 't find a place to hide. In my minds eye. But in God's eyes, I have no reason to hide. In God's eyes, I am beautiful inside.
Notes: This is the only HPT song that broke the Top 20 CCM Charts. It is quite a departure from the rest of the stuff but -- it kind of fit into who we were. At our live performances, we would cover songs like "My Girl" and "Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog" and even "Every Time I Cry" from The Outfield so -- although we were definitely metal, it came across with a sense of humor that balanced out the aggresive music. = )
Lyrics: I never am quite up to par in my mind of what I should be and how and what kind. It shouldn't be simple but maybe it is more simple than I make it out to be? I wonder just what He does want from me? I think I'll always thing He would want more. It seems I should be so perfect and so much. It seems I should feel the presence of His touch. What am I doing right? Yeah yeah. To act justly, love mercy and walk without pride with your God, Micah said, it seems so cut and dry. What am I doing right? I am so empathetic but I'll never live up to the price. That's what grace is for. Thank God.
Notes: This is one of my favorite songs on the TWJP album, especially live. There was just something about the verse that felt good. = ) This song was intended to be Part 1 of a musical trilogy. A Boat & His Boy (Part 2) was written for our second album but sadly = ( -- was never released.
Lyrics: This wisdom comes to me and I try to make it clear. But I sometimes wonder is it mine? My vision comes from something. How do I know it's true? I sometimes wonder is it mine? I pray to find it someday. To find wisdom and truth. To see a vision or sign. In my eyes. Each new day I will try to find light behind these eyes. One thing that we all can see. One thing that we all agree. Yeah we know. He's alive we know. Testing everything we find. Answers obscured by our minds. An it makes me wonder, whey am I so blind? Why do things in life so quickly pass me by? Another spinning round. Another upside down. I still haven't found but I'm still searching. These answers I have known. These wonders I've been shown. This puzzle 'round my heart and I'm still searching. *
* I always liked this phrase, which I included at the suggestion of an old friend, and talented artist, Jay.
Notes: This was probably my least favorite HPT song but (dang it) everybody else seemed to like it. Somebody wants to hold your hand... (I'm embarrassed). = )
Lyrics: Somebody wants to hold your hand. Somebody wants to hold your hand. So you better get down to it. Give it everything and do it. Somebody wants to hold your hand. I was thinking about it just the other day. About all the things that seem to satisfy in some way. It turns out, I figured, most of it just 'aint worthwhile. In the long run all this physicality just 'aint in style. It don't last, the buzz of alcohol, the high of smoking dope. It don't last and won't pass the test of time. Nope 1 2. Reach higher man, dig deeper into what you really need. Everybody knows. Spiritual restoration. Now your back's against the wall and your world begins to fall. just surrender it all. Jesus listens. Searching for reason and rhyme. Finding ways to cloud your mind. Oh you're running out of time.
Note: This was another fun song live but -- it's a bit of a long haul (7+ minutes). It's about the impact my parents had on me (which I appreciate more and more as I get older) and -- how the foundation they helped give me, helped me to sort through the truth and the lies out there. Thanks Mom & Dad. = )
Lyrics: And time goes by. We're watching as the seasons change. And we will die. Nothing's gonna stop that now. And time goes by. There's no way we can rearrange. And we will die. Nothings going to stop that now. Time flies. See it rise. Is it in time? I see in m fathers eyes, something that surpasses time. A part of him is inside and that will never die. Now that time has passed, I have begun to see through his eyes. An as childhood slips away from me. If I don't live like every moment really matters. Then we will know our pain. Another moment passes. Another dream whispers by. Sometimes I can recall them. Sometimes they're lost into the night. And then a voice says to me, out of my TV. He says to buy my prayer cloth. He says its powers will set you free. Another voice says to me, out of that same old TV, it says to listen to me. He says my words will set you free. And then a voice inside me whispers through my brain. It says to listen to me. It says I'm more than this -- I'm saved.
Notes: I have no idea where some of these names came from. We use to take turns naming songs and this one (I think) was Dave Mora's choice. = )
Lyrics: I never know just what is wrong or right til fear goes away. I never realize I'm losing sight until the light of day. I never realize I've fallen down until I crawl a mile. I never realize I wear a frown, until I see a smile. How can I still make excuses, watch the selling out of souls. The fear of verbal abuses, I need to do what I'm told. No fear and no sadness, no stumbling, no loss. No shame and no blindness and no compromise. Everywhere you go. In all that you do. Every word God-breathed. You cannot lose. They're bowing down in front of things their hands have made. There's prostitution under every tree. I remember in the loyalty of your youth, you loved me as a bride. Followed me through the barren lands and holy you appeared to my eyes. Strayed so far now. Oh what fault in me could you have ever found. Why do you run? Unbelieving, follow idols and forget from where you've come. What have you done?
Notes: As I mentioned above, this song is my favorite on the album. It's the one I had the most part in writing musically and I just like the pretty parts -- contrasted with the "screaming love" bridge toward the end. Gives me goose-bumps every time. Plus -- Gary Shockey (an old friend) always liked it. = )
Lyrics: I was once pickin' berries in a big old red and yellow, green and brown tree. When a teenager came up to me. He said I called him a pig. He hit me in my eye. People thought it was cool that he made me cry. Now in my life, I cannot find a place to hide. And in my life, I can still hear his voice inside. And in my dreams, that voice keeps calling out to me. An in my mind, I can't clear of what I fear. A twisted looking little man. A funny shape to his expression. Trying to avoid the eyes. I can't stay clear of what I fear. I am not a little man. What is held just above my head? I do not fully understand. I just stay clear of what I fear. Why am I always running, always hiding from something? I never realized how much hate I would see if I opened my eyes and looked around to see the men staring at me. I can't stay clear, the hate if follows me. I want to fill you up with love and it will never leave you. I want to turn all of your hate into the love that God gave me. I want to smother all your hate and see the light shine from your eyes. A love that covers over all. A love that will never leave. What's the deal with this world? Seems just a little twisted. Twisted sense of vision. What's the deal with this world. Needs some rearranging. This world that we live in. What's the deal with this world?
As with Stand Like Stone, I've got a few unreleased things from HPT that I may try to dust off and post later this year. I'll let you know. = )
© 2006 Jamin Rathbun & Superdink.com. All rights reserved.
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