OK, you’ll enjoy this story much more if you use your best Irish or Scottish accent as you read. Even if you read it to yourself and you don’t read it out loud. You’re already doin’ it. Aren’t ya? Yeah, the way that power of suggestion works is a mystical phenomenon.

Have you ever heard of the Blue Celtic Cloud?

Some say it’s not just a vapor. Not just part of the sky. And some will swear the Blue Celtic Cloud is even more than just a mystical phenomenon. They’ll swear it’s a living, shimmering “entity” that floats above the verdant highlands and rugged coastlines of Eire.

In fact, I heard a story about it. And I’ll share the story with you now. Word for word.

(by the way, your accent is delightful)

Anyway…

Rhiannon, a young druidess, was the guardian of the aforementioned Blue Celtic Cloud. She had inherited this sacred duty from her grandmother, Maeve. And Maeve had whispered tales of the cloud’s power into Rhiannon’s ears ever since she was a child.

Maeve told her the Blue Celtic Cloud was no ordinary puff of vapor. Not at all. Because it contained the dreams and hopes of the Celtic people. And it could transform those dreams and hopes into healing rain to nourish the earth and all who with open hearts to music.

And one crisp morning, during the last few days of Spring, as a mist kissed the heather-covered hills, Rhiannon felt a drop of water on her forehead. The Blue Celtic Cloud was swirling with a luminous energy. Even as the rest of the world was quiet and still.

So, Rhiannon chanted ancient incantations she learned from her grandmother. And the Blue Celtic Cloud descended and surrounded her in a soft, glowing mist.

A gentle rain began to fall. But the strange thing about it was that Rhiannon didn’t get wet. Because the rain fell directly into her heart. Or at least it felt that way. And she could also feel the dreams and hopes of the Celtic people as beautiful music also found its way to her heart. And, without even realizing it, the song made her smile.

It sure was a whimsical, wonderful mystical phenomenon. But sadly, Rhiannon had no one to share the song with. So, she sang it to the Blue Celtic Cloud. And she asked the Cloud to send it to someone, someday, some way, who could and would pass it on to others.

Finally, hundreds of years later, the Cloud found an unsuspecting, but willing, songwriter to write down the words and compose the song.

And that’s how the ninth song on my Lullabye Bye collection of lullaby songs for kids came about. Cross my heart and hope to fly.

Listen to a sample of “Blue Celtic Cloud,” as well as all the other songs in the Lullabye Bye collection here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VV4pKjLJWgg)

And it shouldn’t take a mystical phenomenon for you to jump on over to the Rhyme and Reason Bookshop to get your special kids their very own Lullabye Bye coloring, drawing songbook. And did I mention, there’s a link, in the book, to download all the songs?

Well, there is. So, download your Lullabye Bye book in the Rhyme and Reason Bookshop right now.

Stay tuned…

The post Mystical phenomenon, in this song, goes on and on appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I can hardly believe it’s already been almost 4 years. But the calendar doesn’t lie. And the metadata in the documents I saved doesn’t either. Yeah, almost 4 years since I produced rough cuts to several new songs. And I have a couple of main reasons why I call them “rough cuts.” One of those songs is called “I Can Do.” And, yes, it’s one of the many songs I’ve written where I swim upstream against current trends. But so be it.

And, no, I don’t get some sort of surreptitious pleasure from going against the grain. In fact, I wish my worldview and songwriting style were more the norm. But that ain’t gonna happen. So I know those opportunities I passed up on, back in the day, for recording deals, are the only ones I’ll ever have.

But I know the One who created me, AND made sure I can live forever, is much more pleased with my choice. And He said the world hated Him before it ever hated me. So, I’m in the best of company.

Anyway…

Back to those songs. There are seven of them. So far. And I have a deep and abiding desire to produce them from rough cuts to smooth. But, to my constant consternation, for six years, respiratory issues have kept me from accomplishing that goal. And my wife and I have moved to two entirely different parts of the country to hopefully help alleviate those issues.

Right now I’m gaining some cautious optimism that maybe I’m making some progress (Your prayers are desired and appreciated). And I hope I can do some recording, soon, and make some tracks. Sadly I’ve had that hope dashed against the rocks a few times in the past six years. But the thing about real hope is, it springs eternal.

So, that being said, here’s a snippet of lyrics from a little song in B flat called…

Outside the lines the grass is greener.

I know the morning sun will shine,

I can do…what I need to. I know it’s so, so I can do!

The rest is reserved for when I fully produce this song and the others. Until then, you can dive into lots of my other songs, AND all kinds of books, when you click or tap this link:

(https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B008R08LUG/allbooks)

Stay tuned,

The post I Can Do. And in B flat, too appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

This morning, like too many mornings this year, I woke up before getting enough sleep. And I’m dealing with some issues that restful, recuperative sleep would help. So, of course, I decided to wallow in my misery and make a list of all the things people better watch out for around me today. Not! No, I started thinking about some of the lullabies for kids I’ve written. And I wondered if any of them would help ME sleep. Then, Drifting Sands popped into my head.

As you listen to or read the lyrics, notice the rhythm. Every sentence in each verse has four syllables. And the chorus has a calming one-two-three, one-two-three-four-five beat. So each of those lines equals two lines of the verses. Until you get to the last line in the chorus. Then, with the word “And” that line becomes the only one with an odd number of syllables.

Rhyme and reason are vitally important to me. And the rhythm in the rhymes is too. It’s no small thing because we humans are complex designs with rhythm in our hearts. Our systems function like clockwork. Better than clockwork because they function without us even having to think about them. Except when outside forces and age and lifestyle choices affect us. But that’s another story.

As you can see, not enough sleep can get you pondering perplexities. So, I’ll just leave you with these last thoughts (and the lyrics to the song)…

Daytime flew by…

Drifting sands…desert dreamtime calls.

Live oaks creaking…

Chorus…inst…last part of 1st verse…chorus

© 2011 Tony Funderburk (July 9)

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The post Drifting sands distant lands and the rhythm in my hands appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Lullaby Songs Hold A Special Place In My Heart

Through a reasonably random set of circumstances, this evening, I stumbled upon the lyrics to an old Welsh lullaby… “All Through The Night”. (see below)

That song has a very special place in my musical life. It was the very first song I ever received a “1” for in solo vocal competition.

If you’re not familiar with school music competitions, a “1” is actually the best score you can get. Once I got that score…my life as a singer was sealed in diamonds.

My eighth grade choir director spent hours of her personal time working with me. She taught me to use my breathing diaphragm in a way I have always used since then. And I’m sure her care and attention to vocal details got me going. She gave me the zeal to train for 10’s of thousands of hours. Singing and loving every minute of it.

Your email address is the key to my TRUTH Journal. It’s how you get lots of fun stuff delivered right to your inbox. Spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And when you sign up, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away. Fun for kids AND not too cutesy. And adults will enjoy it, too. Because it’s filled with the power of God’s love.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

Stay tuned,

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,

Angels watching, e’er around thee,

While the moon her watch is keeping

Angels watching ever round thee

Though I roam a minstrel lonely

Hark, a solemn bell is ringing

Music by Edward Jones…Lyrics by John Ceiriog Hughes circa 1784

Bedtime Buckaroos

The post Lullaby Songs And My First “1” appeared first on Tony Funderburk.