Recently I recorded a song "I Got Me Kneeling" a parody of The Black Eyed Peas "I Gotta Feeling". I am still in process of crafting a video for this. In the interim, somebody asked me for the lyrics, so here they are.
My goal for this song is to demonstrate the great devotional treasures we have at our disposal as Catholics, and yet still be FUNNY (and respectful). It's in no way a complete collection, but I wanted to give a foretaste at the richness, the tremendous diversity we have, a giant cafeteria of practical worship aids that we have been handed down to us, from those who had completed the race over the last twenty centuries. AND YET, it still aims for the FUNNY (yet respectful).
Throughout the text I will also make a little note about each section in brackets. The brackets make it an educational experience, but the context can hopefully illuminate the context, and thus the comedy.
I Got Me Kneeling
I got me kneeling
CHORUS
For the night needs the beam of the good light
And the fight's gotta be the good fight
Know His might is one thing I so do delight
Now is the time, to start it up
The world is tempting, the world's messed up
Take all our failings, give them to God [Repentance]
Then plant our feet firm, on solid... ROCK.
I know I don't know it all
So I pick up a big book of devotionals
I find me a good pray'r to make it my own
It helps me live righteous, gives joy to my soul (ch-ch-church)
Who is that Saint? Stanislaus! [Saintly intercession.*]
I pray he help me, do what I... ought.
It gets profound. Then I slow down. [Contemplation]
When I get silent, I await the Spirit's descent
Come Spirit, come Spirit, come Spirit, Holy Spirit [Repeating short phrases in prayer]
Come Spirit, come Spirit, the Holy Ghost!
Come Spirit, come Spirit, come Spirit-Spirit-Spirit
Come Spirit, come Spirit, come Spirit (Here we Go!)
[FIRST TIME RETURN TO TOP; SECOND TIME CONTINUE]
Read a verse, pray that verse, Lect. Devina-na-na-na [Lectio Devina: look it up]
Exercise, Spirit Guide, Saint Loyola-la-la-la [The Spiritual Exercises of St Loyola].
Get ecstatic, charismatic, glossolia-ia-ia-ia [Glossolia=praying in tongues, i.e., the charismatic renewal]
Memorize, ancient rites, chanting the psalms-psalms-psalms-psalms [The oldest devotional prayers]
The rosary, its mysteries, the Litany of our Lady [Marian]
Memorare, Divine Mercy, and the Regina Caeli
Get-get-get-get with this to know how to pray-pray
Got to ask in faith! G-g-g-got to ask in faith! [Having faith is the paramount prerequisite].
And I'm kneeling!
Enjoy!!
Nick
[*]by focusing on a lesser-known Saint, it demonstrates the riches we have of so many faithful throughout the ages. There are actually *two* Stanislauses I could be referring to here: there's a St Stanislaus Kostka, who is the patron saint of youth, and there's St Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr, who, among other things, is the patron Saint of the moral order.
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Lyrics for I GOT ME KNEELING
I Got Me Kneeling
Early this year, my producer friend David Smith had asked me if I had any interest in contributing to a project of songs for the youth conference NCYC compilation disc. I accepted. A few months later, I flew to his studio and laid down the tracks.
And now, the song is released. It's called "I Got Me Kneeling", a parody of The Black-Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" and it's about personal devotional prayer. It's a general "Who's Who" of the many types of prayers one can use in their own quiet times, from contemplative prayer to charismatic. From Lectio Devina to the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola. From praying for Mary's intercession to that of obscure Saints (go Saint Stanislaus!!). There's confessing of personal wrongs, there's quieting down, there's anticipating the Holy Spirit, and there's the Divine Mercy.
I am at work crafting a new video. The last video has become somewhat a landmark for me, and it has netted more viewings I could have hoped for. This new one would somehow walk that fine line of being both hysterically funny, but also work as a resource for youth groups and schools.
But the only place to get it, now, is the CD "Called to Glory". On the CD are fifteen trax, all of them real good, by some of the best new Catholic youth-oriented artists out there. Not a bad song in the bunch. And I'm selling the CD for only $10, but want to give it to you FREE if you purchase at least two other CDs in my catalogue.
In a few months, the song will make iTunes. If you can't wait that long, go for the CD instead. It's well worth the investment.
And now, the song is released. It's called "I Got Me Kneeling", a parody of The Black-Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" and it's about personal devotional prayer. It's a general "Who's Who" of the many types of prayers one can use in their own quiet times, from contemplative prayer to charismatic. From Lectio Devina to the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola. From praying for Mary's intercession to that of obscure Saints (go Saint Stanislaus!!). There's confessing of personal wrongs, there's quieting down, there's anticipating the Holy Spirit, and there's the Divine Mercy.
I am at work crafting a new video. The last video has become somewhat a landmark for me, and it has netted more viewings I could have hoped for. This new one would somehow walk that fine line of being both hysterically funny, but also work as a resource for youth groups and schools.
But the only place to get it, now, is the CD "Called to Glory". On the CD are fifteen trax, all of them real good, by some of the best new Catholic youth-oriented artists out there. Not a bad song in the bunch. And I'm selling the CD for only $10, but want to give it to you FREE if you purchase at least two other CDs in my catalogue.
In a few months, the song will make iTunes. If you can't wait that long, go for the CD instead. It's well worth the investment.
Making a Music Video
In a week or two, I should be able to reveal my very first music video on this site. It's "This Time of Forty Days", my loving comic ode to the season of Lent. (Based on the minor hit "King of Pain" from The Police's Synchronicity album (1983)).
The process of shooting has been all around hectic and crazy, but now we are in the editing process, and it's "hurry-up-and-wait" mode. I've already seen two drafts. We're going to keep tweaking it until it comes out just right--it's a very delicate process, trying to provide the best balance between serious introspection and comic hilarity.
When it's done, I will upload it to YouTube, and subsequently this site. I would try to link it up to a few other sites. My biggest desire is for this video to be passed on via word-of-mouth, from those of you who like what you see, and want to see more videos like this. This video will have all the elements that will make it imminently watchable (from an entertainment perspective) while providing enough meat and inspiration (from an inspirational perspective). It will also be timely, since it will be released just before the Lenten season.
If you are a youth leader, or a catechist, or a blogger, or a faithful Catholic (or other religious denomination that celebrates Lent), I invite you to embed this video into your own blog, to help spread the word. If you like it, if you can also leave a positive comment, that would be great.
Help make "This Time of Forty Days" a YouTube sensation! Thanks!
The process of shooting has been all around hectic and crazy, but now we are in the editing process, and it's "hurry-up-and-wait" mode. I've already seen two drafts. We're going to keep tweaking it until it comes out just right--it's a very delicate process, trying to provide the best balance between serious introspection and comic hilarity.
When it's done, I will upload it to YouTube, and subsequently this site. I would try to link it up to a few other sites. My biggest desire is for this video to be passed on via word-of-mouth, from those of you who like what you see, and want to see more videos like this. This video will have all the elements that will make it imminently watchable (from an entertainment perspective) while providing enough meat and inspiration (from an inspirational perspective). It will also be timely, since it will be released just before the Lenten season.
If you are a youth leader, or a catechist, or a blogger, or a faithful Catholic (or other religious denomination that celebrates Lent), I invite you to embed this video into your own blog, to help spread the word. If you like it, if you can also leave a positive comment, that would be great.
Help make "This Time of Forty Days" a YouTube sensation! Thanks!
Internet Radio Interview
I've been terribly busy in the last year, so I apologize for not keeping this up to date.
If you want to hear an interview I gave for an Internet radio station, I invite you to check out www.catholicmedia.fm this coming Thursday at 8:30pm. I will also be on their chat, where you can ask me any question.
Thanks again!
Nick
If you want to hear an interview I gave for an Internet radio station, I invite you to check out www.catholicmedia.fm this coming Thursday at 8:30pm. I will also be on their chat, where you can ask me any question.
Thanks again!
Nick
Great Christmas Music and New Booking Agency
This past weekend I was able to get TopCatholicSongs listing of the top Catholic Christmas/Advent albums out there. Susan Bailey of Grapevine Magazine took this information and publicized it on her newssite, as well as countless blogs, groups, and the Music section of Catholic.net. What can I say? I'm very happy for the artists represented on this list. If you are in the market to discover new Christmas music, this is an excellent place to discover some faith-filled Catholics who are working hard to create lasting music for the holidays.
In other news, as of today, I have been formally included in the roster for CMG Booking. The growing list of Catholic speakers and musicians there are unprecedented and impressive. I am very thrilled to be included in such company.
