Insider Info

Better Read The Bible : Every time I read the Bible, I read it through the lens of whatever's going on in my life at that moment, and something pops out that I can relate to, something I'd never noticed before. It's always new, as if it's a living and breathing book that's always adapting to give me what I need in the moment. Sort of miraculous how that works! Okay, sure, sometimes I have to wade through some "boring parts" but maybe those will be the exciting parts the next time I read it.

I was surprised recently to learn that an acquaintance who is quite biblically knowledgeable has never actually read the book itself. He/she prefers to purchase books from "experts" on the subject and figures that's a much easier way to get to the bottom of everything. You don't have to waste time reading the boring parts.

Hmmm...

Good for you for learning stuff but, personally, I think I'd better read the Bible for myself and hear straight from God.

Speaking of the Bible, credit and thanks to John 14:6 for giving me the ending of this song. :o)

The Recording: Whew! I had a lot going on in this song when compared to most of my songs. I came up with a drum beat that sounded very Cajun to me, so I played accordion on it, thinking that would give it a Zydeco feel, but I pretty much epically failed. It came out sounding like a polka. Not good.

I regrouped and recorded an almost Reggae-ish feel with Angel, my Larrivee C-10E acoustic guitar, then added electric guitar to get the polka out of my head. That was better.

When I was playing around with some guitar tones on my electric, I came across one that made it sound like an organ. Guess what? That's not an organ on this recording, it's my red G&L Fiorano guitar. Weird, but sorta fun. I tossed in a bit of the Fender P-Bass, sang a lead vocal and a couple of harmonies (using my beloved Aston Origin mic) and the song started to take shape.

I thought I'd do some stacked vocals, as in "Barbara Ann" by the Beach Boys or in "The Weight" by The Band. The last line of the bridge section is "The road has been prepared" so I held out the final word then sang "prepared" again a third higher for a couple of beats, then sang "Prepare ye the way" higher still. That last line, though, was at the top of my vocal range, okay, slightly above it, and I spent probably two hours on that one line and still sounded sketchy. Argh.

I asked my wonderful wife, Wendi, if she would come into the studio for a moment. "Sing this, please?", I asked.

She did.

First time.

Perfect.

She nailed it in 30 seconds! Yay! I like it! Way to go, Wifely!

Now that you know , that's probably the highlight of this recording. Listen for Wendi singing, "Prepare ye the way." :o)

Oh, and also listen for the almost subliminal click sounds on the upbeats in the choruses. I hit a piece of wood with a little wooden stick.

Hitting things with wooden sticks is my super power. Not gonna lie. Sorta proud.

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Better Read The Bible

Words & Music by Ron Hall - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

A lot of people writin' books where the pages say
These are the words you should pray if you want to be saved
But I don't know how they know
Can someone tell me?

A guy's walkin' down the street and he's knockin' on my door
And he's telling me the Lord will love me more
If I'll just buy what he's selling

I think I better read the Bible, oh yeah
And find out for myself
I think I better read the Bible
And hear straight from God

I think I better read the Word, word by word
And let that inner voice be heard
The Lion and the Lamb in those red letters
It doesn't get any better

I heard a singer sing a song where the lyrics say
The way that you should live your days if you wanta be saved
But I don't know how he knows
Where did he learn that?

The guy's got a nice suit so they put him on a TV show
And he's showing me the way to go, but I don't know
I think I'll turn that channel

I think I better read the Bible, oh yeah
And find out for myself
I think I better read the Bible
And hear straight from God

I think I better read the Word, word by word
And let that inner voice be heard
The Lion and the Lamb in those red letters
It doesn't get any better

Look around, there's so many street signs sayin' which way to go
Just to get from here to there
Oh but I'm takin' my sweet time, ‘cause I already know
The road has been prepared (prepared - prepare ye the way)

We only need to read the Bible, oh yeah
To find out for ourselves
We only need to read the Bible
And hear straight from God.

We only need to read the Word, word by word
And let that inner voice be heard
The Lion and the Lamb in those red letters
Oh, the Lion and the Lamb in those red letters

The Lion and the Lamb in those red letters
Saying I am the way, and the truth, and the life
No one comes to the Father but through me