Poor Old Lu все тексты (слова) песен, переводы, видео, клипы

It seems that every Lu album had at least one "upbeat and funky" track. "Bliss" is one of those. Though we were never known to be a funk band, we did seem to have an edge where that style could be found now and then - and it was especially fun during our live shows. The gritty bass track is certainly one of the most notable aspects of this song... that and the groovy break-it-down solo type part. A good album song, and a great live song! (Side note: the title "Bliss Is" is strangely close to the title of an Ocean Blue song, "Bliss Is Unaware". I'm pretty sure that my brain took the title from that song, though I didn't know it at the time. Oh, well.)

Lyrically, I'm surprised that this song didn't receive more criticism. It is fairly brash and in-your-face, but also quite true - at least for the time. What's it all about? I'm glad you asked. "Bliss" was written about family. My family, to be exact. I grew up in a good household with loving parents, two older brothers, so on and so forth. We all got along quite well, actually, but after moving out of the house I realized that we had some serious communication problems. In essence, not communicating when needed ("on the floor, out the door, clean the slate"). Most people can live with that just fine. In fact, many people do. The problem came when I read a short passage in the book of James. "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" - James 4:17 NIV. I realized that I couldn't claim ignorance anymore. If it was on my heart, then it needed to be dealt with. This truth has had a profound impact on my life. In my family, in my friendships, and in my heart. Ignorance is not bliss.


Raised to be rich
Trip or be tripped
Give to get, live to get

This song has always been one of my favorites, for some reason. It wasn't a single. We didn't really play it in concert (just once, that I can remember). It rarely stuck out to people as a "strong" song off of the album, but I always liked it. I think the recording (with the preceding *mess-up*) is very cool. I always dug the really large 'tom' drums at the beginning *AND* the bridge remains one of my personal favorites!

Lyrically this song is pretty straight forward, I think. It talks about our usual difficulties, that is, being "worn out" and dealing with a new day ('is it daybreak'). The chorus wraps up the essence of the problem, "I can't hold this weight upon my shoulders anymore...". What this song does very differently is it wraps up the solution in the bridge... in (4) short lines... "so I.... give all.... to You.... my God". That's it. Enough said.


Is it daybreak? I'm sure
And you're feeling weary
There is so much, I know

This song has undergone a few changes over the years. Mostly notable for it's Spanish flair, it was originally written in 1990, just before we (BellBangVilla) went into the studio to record our first album, "In Love With The Greenery". The first recording was much shorter than the later versions. It consisted of just the first verses and chorus. In 1992, after a band name change, we decided to re-record Cannon-Fire Orange with additional lyrics and instrumentation for our album "Star-Studded-Super-Step". It was greatly improved. Finally, in 1994, we recorded Cannon-Fire Orange one more time for the album "Sin". Though the changes were much less drastic this time, the sound, recording, and "authenticity" were better. We also knew that many of our current fan base (at the time) had never heard our previous versions of this song, so it was new to most people.

Lyrically, this song was written in 1990 (for the first recording), and completed in 1992 (for the full-length version). Because of this there is little cohesiveness between the verses. The beginning verses were written for the original song, but the rest of the lyrics were pulled from a poem written later. If someone just *had* to have an explanation for this song, then I would say that "cannon-fire orange" represents our reliance upon sinful ways, and how those sins become who we are. In the end, though, we "cannot stand without the help of His hand".

sailing away
Towards uncertainties
Uncertain seas
Change today

I don't remember where this song came from... it was just 'there'. Though a number of the songs off of 'Sin' were written in the few weeks before recording started, this song was among those that were veterans by that time, and, in fact, we even recorded a rough demo for 'Complain'. One of the notable items in this song is the two different lead vocal track sounds - one normal (and full sounding), while the other is very "mono" and slightly distorted. This wasn't only fun to do, but also created a "ask a question" and "give an answer" vibe to the various verses. On the last verse, of course, the tracks are switched so that the answering track is then "asking the questions", so to speak. There's something deep there, I imagine...somewhere. I still feel that this was the best song to start the album with. It's rough, strange, and hard to put your finger on... like much of 'Sin'.

This song 'lyrically' kicks the album off just as it should... dealing with our sin, our indecision in sin, and the results thereof. Though we may complain, so much of the situations that we find ourselves in are a direct result of our selfish decisions. So much of the pain that we deal with emotionally and spiritually are a result of turning our back on the Lord. We may try to turn to the left or to the right, to pass the blame or to play the victim, but we need only look to ourselves to see the root of the issues we deal with.


Did you see my hands were tied?
I pierced this Savior's side
Well, what have I done?

The thing that sticks out about this song, of course, is the very quiet beginning until it really kicks in. A lot of fun. As was the rest of Straight Six, this song was written entirely in the studio as we spent a month writing and recording. The song is boomy, repetitive, strange and catchy. The background vocals on the chorus are strangely memorable, though not recorded particularly well -- somewhat fitting for the whole album, rough and disjointed. In the long run, 'Country' ended up being a good show song.

Lyrically, this is another one of our rare "pseudo-political" songs... in a way. This song parallels the ideas that our society has about serving our "country" with the ideas that we see in the Bible. Do we spend time looking at temporary "worldly" issues, or focus on the souls of those around us? What is the proper balance? Our perfect example, of course, is in Christ Jesus. We need to love those around us and lay ourselves down for them.


For the love of this country, hey
One man pinned up and traded away
For the love of the country, hey

This song is probably most notable (to me) for being very much *below* my normal singing range. The out-of-range vocals reminds me, I suppose, of 'Untitled' off of The Cure's 1989 release Disintegration, an incredible album. It works, I suppose, and that's what matters.

I've never been accused of writing a whole lot of love songs, and rightfully so. 'Sunny Weather', I suppose, is as close as I've gotten thus far. This song was actually written for my wife, but I never told her ... she figured it out later on. It doesn't have the typical romantic flair of Pop 40 love songs, but just a simple truth: though I'm not perfect, God is working in my heart!


She shook her head and turned away
She said she will not hear my voice today
"you are still asleep and still the same,

Perhaps our song with the highest "twang factor", Hope For Always was consistently a good concert song. Maybe it was the very fast tempo, the praise-ful "cry" in the lyrics, or the western theme. Who knows. This song has always been very different from other Lu songs... and that's ok.

I'm not entirely sure that I understand every line in this song, to be perfectly honest. There is a picture, verse by verse, of struggle. There is also a picture of a hope that is only found in "You", that is, Jesus Christ. As we struggle and fail, He can lift us up and make good out of what seems only bad, but we have to go to Him on our knees. Finally, the song wraps up with simple truth... "You, with love and truth, will make us new, and will hold us thru..."


When 'all is mine' is over
Would You have the time, my friend
To push me up and over

This song offended some. Not the music, of course, but the title and lyrics. The notion of "I Am No Good" is not particularly popular in a society where we are constantly told to "believe in ourselves" and to "stick up for your rights". Even among believers there can be a difficult quandry with this. The truth is, any good that is in any of us comes from Jesus Christ. Any worth that we have in this life is from Him and Him alone. That said, I personally like this song very much. It's different, that's for sure. It has light jazz overtones. The arrangement is slightly odd, but it all works. Heck, this song was even fun in concert!

We've already touched on the lyrical content, I suppose. The dominant concept in this song, as the title might suggest, is that "I Am No Good". There is a progression in the song of self-reliance, the first few verses, to the final line, "now I fall indeed". That's the progression that we all need. Amen.


So it seized me
So it grieves me
Grabs me everyday

'Lie, Lie, Lie' hearkens back to those great songs
of the '70's... or atleast it's supposed to.
The track begins with a horrendous buzz and background
noise. All just part of the special sound.
We brought in Dave Sprinkle (yes,
Aaron and Jesse's dad) as well as our youth pastor,
Craig Finley, to sing background vocals.
Lastly, we added a good 'clap' track to round it out.

Oblivious to some things more in store
And when I wept I knew not what
Or when or why what for
Is this earth so great though it will not last
Through crashing walls what stands is
One good thing one way one chance

And glimmer shining up and through the floor

Arguably the most popular Lu song - at least in concert. 'My World Falls Down' was always a slight notch up in the 'distortion' department than most of our stuff, but still fit very well. The beauty of this song might lie in its aggressive nature that soon tapers off. It is at times sing-songy, but then turns to flat out screams. Come to think of it, this song is strangely complex. I doubt very much that it fits the mold for the perfect pop single, yet it works quite nicely. Some have commented that this song is, perhaps, "perfect". I don't know about that, but it's still a lot of fun to listen to and play.

At its very core, 'My World Falls Down' deals with a common struggle of knowing wrong, but doing nothing about it. Seeing sin, but refusing to give it up to God and deal with it. First the struggle ("oh, how my world falls down"), then the realization ("and how I sink at the sound"), yet so often we go on with our routine ("but how I won't shut up") - perhaps hoping that it will just go away, but it does not. The chorus, of course, is the cry to be freed from this paradigm. How can I live this way, Lord? Will I always be like this? "My God, get me free!" Still a very real issue in most of our lives. On an interesting side note, the second verse (I guess it's a verse) has an intended parallel to an incident where I fainted at a Taco Bell. While we were eating, I choked (more or less) on my food, a churro and Pepsi, starting feeling very light-headed, and finally just passed out in the chair next to me. They all thought that I was just being funny. Adding that brief story into these lyrics serves no actual purpose, its just amusing. I don't think any of the guys picked up on it until years later. (note: the final yell at the end of the last verse is *not* an expletive, it just sounds a bit like one.)


Oh, how my world falls down
And how I sink at the sound
But how I won't shut up

I see, You are merciful
I see, You are kind
I see, You are full of love
That is far beyond my mind

I hope, for strength to stand
I hope, to be the man that I should be
I hope, that You will embrace

It promises much
It promises you'll never be cold
The words are such
As to turn you until you are sold
And walk in this rut
And run in the ground where we know
Have the lights gone dim
In the light of this sin?

'Sickly' was written entirely in the studio over the course of a few hours. The guys (Aaron, Nick & Jesse) began to jam on a moody song in the main room while I (Scott) tried to work out a suitable melody and lyrics. Without much warning 'Sickly' was born. Very moody. Slightly aggressive. Quiet and loud. 'Sickly' remains one of my very favorite Lu songs - partly because I think it's a good song, and partly because of how mysteriously it came to be. Coupled with 'My World Falls Down' on the tail end, 'Sickly' has also been a favorite concert song. An equally moody video for 'Sickly' can be found on Poor Old Lu's 1995 video cassette, 'Sit & Stare'.

This song is strangely simplistic lyrically. The verses deal with opposite extremes, for the most part, such as "sunny/raining" or "sad/happy", while the chorus is just flat-out frustration and confusion. It isn't until the last few lines that any good comes of it all - "well, I don't know much, but I think I'm on my knees; well, I don't' know much, but I think I gotta pray". Sometimes that's what it all comes down to - still dealing with the pain, confusion and frustration, but knowing *only* that we have to pray. Amen.

is it sunny?
Or is it raining out today?
Is it calm outside?
Or is the wind all on your face?

This song is probably one of the 'filler' tracks on 'Sin'. It wasn't a single. It wasn't much of a concert hit. In fact, this song was rarely mentioned at all. Why is that? Who knows. Maybe it's just not that good. It was one of the rare mellow tracks on 'Sin'. Slightly dreamy and somewhat playful. Aaron came up with some good background vocals, and Nick's bass line quite nice. I suppose 'Slow' just helped round out the album. We'll leave it at that.

This song is very much written with 'emotions' in mind - literally. Some lines refer to colors. Some lines refer to common feelings that we have. Other lines note environmental shifts - weather and such. I'm not sure if this song is really clever or just very silly. No matter, because the chorus holds the song together nicely: things get crazy, Lord, so please slow us down. That's still true.


Green I've seen
As jealous as anything

This song never really went anywhere. Definitely the song that no one could remember the name of, it didn't accomplish a whole lot.

Lyrically, this song is obviously a farce. Taking 'selfism' and putting it into the light for what it does, and how wrong it is.


What is special now?
Well, I think that I am
And I see that we all revolve around me

She was staring at the ceiling
I was staring at the floor
He was fixed in thought and wonder of what lied behind the door

There was a man with little movement
I knew I'd seen him here before
The people with the children were sick to death and would wait no more

this theatre
is so run down
the grabbing hands
oh the people of this town
my costume is on
and the scenery shines
they all wait for me
to say my lines

Much of the songwriting for 'Sin' can be broken up into three parts. A few songs were written shortly after Mindsize was recorded, during various tours, etc.. A large majority of the songs were written in the two weeks preceding our recording dates - in our church youth room. The final few songs were written in the studio, "on-the-fly" or something like that. This song is one of the few that I have distinct memories of us writing in the two weeks before recording started. It came like a shot. The guys came up with the music - moody and powerful, and I slipped out of the room to write some lyrics. Like many of our songs, I don't remember *actually* writing the lyrics, but I know that these words came quickly - very quickly. Maybe that's part of the reason that I've always liked this song so much.

I think that the words of this song flow as good as any that we have. I don't think there was much mystery as to the message here - at least I hope not. What does it boil down to? Simple. No matter what material possessions we have, excessive smarts that we claim, or good acts that we have made - it means nothing without Christ. The chorus is interesting in that it can almost represent how someone might take stock of their own life and their own actions - a dime for my good actions, a nickel for the good things that I could do, and a quarter for my good intentions! In the end, we're left poor despite all of these things if we do not have the Savior.

in my money, I was at home
To the beggar, I was so cold
In my pockets, all that I could hold
As I left here, this was all I was told...

It is the sweetest thing to know that
To know it is right
And what a sight
To step ahead and see the Son, now

Not a cloud in mind
Or waiting on time
I've emptied my hands

As one of the successful singles off of 'Sin', 'Where Were All Of You' may be one of the most representative songs of what Poor Old Lu's sound is like. Aggressive. Dreamy. Deep. Poppy. Something like all of that, but mixed up and jumbled around. This song is especially notable for the driving bass line and very effected vocals. In 1998, a special re-mix was made for the album 'Chrono'.

Although "finger-pointing" lyrics were usually avoided, this song probably points a finger, jabs, and makes a swift kick to the head. 'Where Were All Of You' basically contrasts the world's push for defending personal rights to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and the fact that He laid down His rights for us when He went to the Cross. His rights to a proper trial. His rights to be treated decently by his own people. His rights to be worshipped as Lord of all. Instead, He was "nailed on high to give us life", but where were all of the people screaming for rights at that time? Where were we who want our way so often? To be like Christ requires sacrifice for those who do not deserve it, love for those who are unlovable, and compassion for those who would strike out at us.


Hey you got a little something to say
I know you think it wrong
And you're gonna make the world okay