Friday, July 19, 2013

“Take Me” 2013: Mike McBride Breaks Through

“Take Me”
2013: Mike McBride Breaks Through


Click to listen to "Take Me":  http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/18027121

As of August 5, 2013 we have added "Good Samaritan"

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/18204444


The last couple of years, Mike McBride ‘came back’ to us. For many years, circumstances beyond our control had kept him away. But now, he was back at our get-togethers and re-discovering all of our music. We played our reunion concert in 2011 and he came to help me play music and we all jammed at our get-togethers. But recently, he was expressing to some of us how he had this new music he wanted to write, but felt blocked somehow. There seemed to be no way to get it out in the way he wanted. Well, we are here to report that the dam has BROKEN – BIG TIME! Josh has mastered a lot of the art of recording and has helped Mike record what he has in his heart. (And this is just in time to go along with a new impulse I’ve had in recent months to arrange and prepare our songs for recording.) 

Just now, Mike has finished recording the finishing touches on his new song, “Take Me”. (In theme, it sort of reminds me of Clapton’s "Tears in Heaven”.) The result is absolutely beautiful.  These are a few thoughts he had about it:

The music always comes easily for me.  The message takes time, prayer, focus.  Then, as with "Take Me", the message comes and flows.  That's not to diminish the writing process.  I still juggle the organization of the song, write, delete, rewrite, struggle with doubt and insecurity.  Most of my recent music writing is focused on our humanity, where I've been, where am I going, ‘what did I do?’. 
 
"Take Me" started with events like the Dark Night Rises theatre shooting and so many attacks before and after.  We see so much violence in society today.  Being the parent of two beautiful young children, and I am surrounded by so many wonderful friends (you in LW are the people who give my life reason), I think of the pain and suffering that the survivors feel.  The anger, the lack of control, the inability to conceive how this could happen….so many emotions…The inability to forgive, the guilt of surviving, not being able to protect the loved ones: "Why them God and not me?"  But, somehow, we must continue, always respecting the will of God, being ready when it is our time.  So, we do our best to live a good life, always remembering those whom we have lost, waiting to get to the end, when we can be with them again.

It's difficult to write words about the words.  My hope is that the combination of music and words bring out the emotion that moves others to get meaning that applies to their own life, struggles, pain, and that they can let go and let God take them to eternity.

Chuck saw another level of meaning in that it is our Lord who ultimately said ‘take me’, taking our place in the experience of sin and death, knowing He can take ALL of us with Him to life.

Mike has been a gorgeous piano player right from the start, and this is classic Mike-in-Living-Waters-style (as my son, Peter, recognized immediately. “Wow! That is REALLY Living Waters”, he said.) Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever heard Mike sing anything better than this, not anywhere, not anytime. Perfect timing; for the song, for him AND for us as a ministering band. For me, this song is a miraculous confirmation of everything God has done and will do for and through us. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, “Take Me”!

Peace & Love & JOY,
Mark LaJOIE!


“Take Me”
by Mike McBride
Copyright 2013

I’ve got a one track mind and it’s to be on time
When it’s the right time, Lord, for me
So, steady ahead, and we will get to the end
And we will catch eternity
Take me….
Please take me!

You are the reason for my life
You are the beauty
You are the light
You're everlasting from the start
You are the motion, you are the mind
You are the only one of a kind
You are the potion in my heart                         

So please don’t take our love too soon (please don’t take our love too soon)
Even the darkness has its moonlight (the dark night has its moon)
We will remember all of you (we will remember you)
So please don’t take our love too soon

[solo]

How can I learn to forgive?
How can I go on living?
When all I ever wanted was to hold you in my arms
To protect you from all harm
To keep you safe and warm
Next time, Lord, take me
Please, take me….

I’ve got a one track mind and it’s to be on time
When it’s the right time, Lord, for me
So, steady ahead, and we will get to the end
And we will catch eternity
Take me….

So I keep living with the living
And I keep giving all I’m giving
And I know one day I’ll come home
Take me home with you
Take me
Please take me…..
Take me

I’ve got a one track mind and it’s to be on time
When it’s the right time, Lord, for me
So, steady ahead, and we will get to the end
And we will catch eternity
Take me….
Please take me…..
Take me