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Tim Tunes
I’m Tim Rose and I’ve been writing songs for over 50 years. Each episode I’ll feature two or three songs that I’ve written over the years on a particular theme or subject or I'll interview someone who has been a key influence on me and my songwriting and performing. In the podcast I’ll explain what I am doing in each song, where they came from and the circumstances under which they were recorded. In interviews I'll explain how we met, how the interviewee became involved in music and how they influenced my work.
Tim Tunes
2-7 Faith
In my personal vocabulary, the difference between belief and faith is that belief is based on observable facts and faith is based on, well, a hope for something to be true. Now, I’m not minimizing the importance of faith. Having faith is vitally important. But faith that is unchallenged is just the unconditional acceptance of something that you accept as fact because you were told to. To me, the object of faith is to believe something that cannot be proven, is true.
Hi. I’m Tim Rose and this is the Tim Tunes pod cast. In this episode we’ll cover three songs that involve faith – first, we’ll hear a song about lost faith, the next song is a prayer from someone who’s last resort is faith, and then we’ll have a little fun with faith.
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Intro
[Intro Theme – Motor]
In my personal vocabulary, the difference between belief and faith is that belief is based on observable facts and faith is based on, well, a hope for something to be true. Now, I’m not minimizing the importance of faith. Having faith is vitally important. But faith that is unchallenged is just the unconditional acceptance of something that you accept as fact because you were told to. To me, the object of faith is to believe something that cannot be proven, is true.
I’m not just talking about religion here, but also about other concepts, other inventions, that we have created that require faith. For instance, justice requires faith. Equality requires faith. Love requires faith. I can’t prove that someone loves me, I can only have faith that they do.
Hope is the engine that drives faith. Without hope, there is no faith. Hope is the wish for a desired outcome in the future. Without hope, what is the point of life? Who can predict the future? We all go about our lives hoping that this action or that action will result in a desired outcome. Now that requires faith. No matter how you envision your future, it will undoubtedly be different.
[Pod Lick]
Hi. I’m Tim Rose and this is the Tim Tunes pod cast. In this episode we’ll cover three songs that involve faith – first, we’ll hear a song about lost faith, the next song is a prayer from someone who’s last resort is faith, and then we’ll have a little fun with faith, I hope.
[Pod Lick – Big D]
[The Point]
What happens to us when we lose all faith? Some of us fall into despair and some of us fight back. It depends on your personality and your situation. This first song, from my musical “The Waiting Room” is about a person who has found out they have a very limited time to live, and have few, if any, options. They react with anger and lash out.
When I was in college studying theater, I was taught there are three sources of conflict: one person vs. another person, a person vs. themselves and a person vs. God. This character is in a conflict with God. They have lost faith, not only because they are going to die, but because they see no point to it all and blame God for not making life have meaning. I can’t really say that I blame them…
[Podlick – Fma7b5 Guitar Chord]
This song was written in 2011 and recorded then, by me, as well. Please give a listen to: “The Point”
[Play Song – The Point]
A D E Asus A VERSE 1
What’s it all about? My life, I mean. I wonder, what’s the point of everything?
F#m B7sus B7
When all the noise and clutter has died down again,
E Asus A
I wonder, what could be the point of everything?
F#m B7sus B7
Yesterday my life stretched out so far and wide,
E Asus A
today, as it turns out, it’s a much shorter ride…
F#m D E Asus A
So someone tell please, so little time remains. What’s the point of everything?
E A CHORUS 1
I’ve had my share of fortune, and my small share of fame,
D A
Neither of them ever seemed to matter much
F#m Bsus B
Although both made me happy for a little while,
D E E7
They never brought me friendship or a loving touch…
A D E Asus A VERSE 2
What’s it all about? My life, I mean. Hey God, what’s the point of everything?
F#m Bsus B E Asus A
I’m done with telling you how great thou art, ‘til you reveal my part in everything?
F#m Bsus B E
Yesterday my life was like a sunny day,
Asus A
today the setting sun burns out and runs away
F#m D
Someone tell please, so little time remains.
E Asus A
What’s the hell’s the point of every- thing?
E A CHORUS 2
I’ve squandered my good fortune, and my small share of time,
D A
I worked my fingers to the bloody bone
F#m Bsus B
I’ve been around the world about a million times,
D E E7
But I’d give anything for a few more months at home…
A D E Asus A, E A D A F#m Bsus B D E7 BRIDGE
A D VERSE 3 & ENDING
It’s just not fair and I don’t care about anything!
E Asus A
Until I get to know the point of everything
F#m B7sus B7
Why me, God? What did I do? I don’t deserve it and You know it, too,
E Asus A
Because they say that You know everything
F#m
They say You want my soul, You better look out, son.
B7sus B7
If you see me coming, I think you’d better run.
E7 Asus A
‘Cause I don’t get to get the point of everything
E7 Asus A
No, I don’t get to get the point of anything.
A E7 D A Asus A
No, I don’t get to get the point of ev-ery-thing…
[Pod Lick]
[Miracle]
This next song is also from “The Waiting Room” musical. In this song, a different character is facing the same sort of predicament. Only this character has not lost faith. In fact, they look to God to intervene and provide a solution in their issue. Unfortunately, they have not been very attentive to their faith until they need help. The song is a prayer to invoke God’s help with a helpless situation.
In The Waiting Room different characters are at different stages of grief. “The Point” emphasized the anger part of grief, while “Miracle”, this next song, emphasizes bargaining. The character is saying that they will worship God more if God provides them with a miracle, a cure.
[Podlick – Eye Nu U Wud]
This song was written and recorded in 2016 in my studio in Burlington, MA.
[Play song – Miracle]
D G Bm A INTRO
D G Bm A VERSE 1
Hello, Mr God. I’m sorry it’s been so long.
D G Bm Asus A
It’s just I haven’t needed much as not much has gone wrong
Bm A G F#+ F#
It's not that I'm ungrateful. Thank you for everything
Bm A G A7
Now I need your help again with this one tiny thing
D G CHORUS 1
I need a miracle, if you please
Bm A G D/F# E7sus A7
I'm begging you here and now on bended knees
D G
I will do anything that you say
Bm A G D/F# E7sus A7
I will go anywhere, pay any price, to make it all go a- way
G A D G Bm A
I need a miracle from you
D G Bm A VERSE 2
Although I haven't prayed too much I have tried to do good
D G Bm Asus A
Since we haven't spoken lately I'm not sure where I stood
Bm A G F#+ F#
The doctors say I don’t have long before my final bow
Bm A G A7
I just thought that you could help, maybe someway, somehow
D G CHORUS 2
I need a miracle, if you please
Bm A G D/F# E7sus A7
I'm begging you here and now on bended knees
D G
I will do anything that you say
Bm A G D/F# E7sus A7
I will go anywhere, pay any price, to make it all go a- way
G A C G D
I need a miracle from you oo ooo
C G D BRIDGE
I promise to be better. I promise to be true
C G A walk up neck on A end on Asus to A7
I promise every single day that I will pray to you
D G CHORUS 3
I need a miracle, if you please
Bm A G D/F# E7sus A7
I'm begging you here and now on bended knees
D G
I will do anything that you say
Bm A G D/F# E7sus A7
I will go anywhere, pay any price, to make it all go a- way
G A
And I need a miracle from you just to make it
C G D BRIDGE
Through, Just to make it through
C G A walk up neck on A end on Asus to A7
Lord, I need your help to make it through
[Pod Lick]
[Can You Get Me In To Heaven]
I was born in Knoxville, in the East Tennessee Valley. When I was growing up, pretty much the first question you asked people was not “Where do you go to school?”, but rather, “Where do you go to church?”. Church life was the center of most activity.
We went to church during the middle of the week and twice on Sunday. On Sunday morning we would attend Sunday School and then go to the Sanctuary for the main service and a sermon. Then, on Sunday night we would come back for what was called Training Union another class and another service with a sermon. Wednesday night was the prayer meeting service and RA’s (Royal Ambassadors). If you were not an adult and not in the nursery you went to RAs where you could hone your Christian skills.
One of my favorite activities in RAs involved what were called bible sword drills. In bible sword drills, you would compete by seeing who could draw their bibles and look up bible verses the fastest. I remember having a special hard cover bible so that wouldn’t have to deal with the floppy regular bible covers. Of course, you had to memorize the order of all the books so that you could find the verses the fastest. Psalms is in the middle for instance.
While living in Knoxville, I only knew one Catholic family and one little Jewish girl. I only knew she was Jewish because she brought in this handmade wooden Christmas tree that had gumdrops on the tips of all the branches. It was awesome. I remember the teacher remarking “I didn’t know your people celebrated Christmas.” The poor little girl turned crimson and even in the third grade I felt so bad for her I just wanted to crawl up into my shoes and die.
When I was 10 we moved to Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. Everything was different. There were all kinds of religions, not just protestant ones. There were at least as many Catholics as there were protestants and nobody even asked anybody where they went to church. It was like it didn’t even matter. We went to church once a week and then, not even every week.
As I grew older and got exposed to more people with different faiths. I began to see that religion didn’t seem to play a very large part in determining whether a person was good or bad. And some of the most religious people I met were the biggest offenders. It’s almost like you have to commit sin in order to be forgiven. The bigger the sin, the greater the forgiveness.
[Play Podlick]
This is the first recording of this song created around 1986. It was one of the very first recordings I made on my Teac 4 track cassette recorder. I just sang the melody acapella and then improvised the harmony. I went through and listened to other versions that I had recorded over the years, but I like this one best of all. I guess I have faith that you’ll enjoy “Can You Get Me In To Heaven?”
[Play Song – Can You Get Me In To Heaven?]
C C/B Am7 Am7/G F G C G CHORUS 1
Can you get me into heaven, friend? Do you think you've got the key?
C C/B Am7 Am7/G D7 G G7
It's been a couple 'a years since the good, good Lord said word one to me.
C C7 F Fm
Now old Satan's fiery furnace don't sound like my cup of tea.
C E7 A7 D7 G Csus C
Can you get me into heaven, friend? Do you think you've got the key?
C F C VERSE 1
Ever since I could remember we went to church 'most every day
D7 G
It was the East Tennessee Valley, Southern Baptist way.
C F
Well the Holy Spirit picked me up and He whacked me on the tail.
C D7 G C
He said you better be good and do what you should or I'll send your butt to hell.
C F C CHORUS 2
Can you get me into heaven, friend? Do you think you've got the key?
C D7 G
It's been a couple 'a years since the good, good Lord said word one to me.
C C7 F C
Now old Satan's fiery furnace don't sound like my cup of tea.
C E7 A7 D7 G C A7
Can you get me into heaven, friend? Do you think you've got the key?
D G D VERSE 2
Well, we moved on up to Washington where the brimstone had cooled down
E7 A
Where everybody loves their neighbors so they're always fooling around
D G
And the sermons were so boring that right to sleep I fell
D E7 A D
I had better things to do than fall asleep in that pew I guess I'm headed for Hell
D G D CHORUS 3
Can you get me into heaven, friend? Do you think you've got the key?
D E7 A
It's been a couple 'a years since the good, good Lord said word one to me.
D D7 G D
Now old Satan's fiery furnace don't sound like my cup of tea.
D F#7 B7 E7 A D B7
Can you get me into heaven, friend? Do you think you've got the key?
E A E VERSE 3
Now, God made man in his image according to the tale
F#7 B
And the say we look just like him and that's all good and well
E A
I just hope he's not offended by these little jokes I tell
E F#7 B E
'Cause I heard a rumor that He's got a sense of humor if He don't I'm headed for Hell!
E A E CHORUS 4 & END
Can you get me into heaven, friend? Do you think you've got the key?
E F#7 B
It's been a couple 'a years since the good, good Lord said word one to me.
E E7 A E
Now old Satan's fiery furnace don't sound like my cup of tea.
E G#7 C#7 F#7 B E
Can you get me into heaven, friend? Do you think you've got the key?
E G#7 C#7 (hold)
Can you get me into heaven, friend?
F#7 B E A E
Do you think you've got the key?
[Pod Lick]
[Outro]
That’s all for this episode! Thanks for listening.
As always you can subscribe to this podcast or stream or purchase my published music on your favorite source, Spotify, Pandora, Apple or Amazon. Keep the faith, baby!
[Outro Pod Lick]
[After Outro Pod Lick ends, very softly]
Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in this sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world.