New Code Blog

I decided to start a blog to chronicle my programming exploits. Check it out at http://code-adventure.jessecarl.com/. I plan on doing some posts here that are tangentially related but not quite as technical. Look forward to reading my thoughts on why I like music on vinyl better than digitally; you may be surprised by my reasoning.

Zombie Queen

Your trail of slack-jawed stricken
  Clambering to be the next.

Undead masses heed your every word.

Zombie queen!
  Undead princess!
Infecting all within your reach.

Revel in your horde,
  While they have yet to turn.

Undead coup is festering now.

Zombie queen!
  Undead princess!
Infecting all within your reach.

I won’t be touched.
I won’t be tainted!
I won’t drink your brew!!

Zombie queen!
  Undead princess!
Infecting all within your reach.

Zombie queen!
  Undead princess!
Infecting all within your reach.

blearghghgurgleguh!

My Songwriting Quest

I’ve been writing songs inspired by scripture for quite some time now. It wasn’t until about a year ago that I actually had a chance to share my songs with my church. I was really surprised with the reactions people had; I have now even had people tell me they were singing one of my songs in the car that I had not played in months. I’m still not sure how to respond to this, but I think that I need to.

I’ve spent a great deal of time attempting to figure out how I can use my gifts to make a real impact. In this search, I have always discounted music as something like a lesser ministry. I have spent so much time with the scriptures where God implicitly and explicitly denounces ceremonial worship as empty when there is injustice being aided or abetted by the people of God, and I believe with so much of my being that this is the case in America today that I am often on the edge of quitting musical worship altogether. I now believe that musical worship is the best place for me to seek justice, or at least encourage others to do so.

There is more than enough evidence out there to show that music is in fact one of the most powerful and universal forces in the lives of human beings. In scripture, music is often associated with events where God displayed great power. Why shouldn’t I use music to help further God’s Kingdom?

So, I have resolved to concentrate my ministry efforts on music. I have also made it a goal to always base the songs I write for the Church on scripture, and to always include God’s heart for the poor, the oppressed, and the rejected. Maybe God will use these songs to break our hearts so that we can together do the good works he has called us to.

Your Greatest Commandment

I have been writing/posting a lot of songs about girls and other “sad bastard music” topics lately, so it’s probably about time to share the lyrics to a song about something much more important: love. It is still Valentine’s Day, so here is my song about love. More specifically, this is a song about what it is supposed to look like to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30). Since this song is a worship song, I have included the references below the lyrics.

Your Greatest Commandment
  To love You, the Lord our God.
How do we do that?
  What is worship to you?

“Love your neighbor as yourself,”
  You respond before we ask.
What we do for the least
  We do for you.

Your Greatest Commandment
  To love You, the Lord our God.
How do we do that?
  What is worship to you?

Seek justice
  Encourage the oppressed.
Defend the fatherless
  And plead for the widow.

Your Greatest Commandment
  To love You, the Lord our God.
How do we do that?
  What is worship to you?

Let justice roll on
  Like a river
Righteousness like a
  Never-failing stream.

Your Greatest Commandment
  To love You, the Lord our God.
How do we do that?
  What is worship to you?

• Mark 12:28–34
• Matthew 25:31–46
• Isaiah 1
• Amos 5:18–24 (read the whole book; it’s my favorite)

Unless We Bet

I wrote the lyrics to this a while ago. Tonight, after a long night of playing music by myself and with Chris (he posted the video on facebook, but I can’t seem to find a way to share it here…), I put it to music. I started with a little riff I had been using as an exercise all night, and laid it on top of a bit of a drone (with the help of my handy partial capo). The result was awesome. Add this to the list of songs I need to record soon.

As it all starts to fall in place,
  I think of little but your face.
It’s one thing for me to move along;
  I ask you now, would you sing my song?

Life takes us to funny places
  I always wonder where my case is.
We won’t find out ’til it’s all done.
  Unless we bet, we won’t have won.

What’s the risk of us together?
  I’ve no leash, no ring, no tether…

Untitled Song

I wrote this song the other day. The music has changed a couple times, but I need to sit down at the organ and get it down. I don’t have a title yet for it, but if you have any suggestions, I’ll gladly hear them.

I’m writing a letter
  Filled with words which
Can’t make it past my lips,
  But come to life
When, dripping from the nib,
  Fall on cotton.

Crafting a melody
  Conveying moods
My face cannot display,
  But come come to life
When, singing from the strings,
  Float in the air.

You won’t get the message.
  Won’t hear a word.
That conversation will not
  Occur for us.
Communication fails.
  The silence wins.

Edit: I’ve completed the music for this song, and I hope to get a recording up soon.

Why Are The Hip Girls Never Good For Me?

I wrote this song a couple months ago at a say hi show. I had arrived early enough to take a seat at the bar with a Johnnie Black while the opening band started. The first song featured the “hip girl” in the band on the bass. It was at this point that I realized how much that was attractive to me. I also recognized how stupid such an attraction was. After the set, I sat at a table and began writing this song. I’ll get a recording up with all the others one of these days, along with a couple other tunes I have recently finished. Here’s the song – keep in mind, there was whiskey involved.

The way they swing their hips
 When they play the bass.
The way they purse their lips
 When they put on their face.

Hip girls look good on stage
 But they’re just no good for me.
Maybe it’s just my age…
 I like the fantasy.

Knee length skirts and converse kicks:
 The picture of perfection.
They make us all to look like hics,
 So hip is their direction.

Hip girls look good on stage
 But they’re just no good for me.
Maybe it’s just my age…
 I like the fantasy.

With hair dyed black and bangs cut short,
 The mood is apathetic.
Picky with whom they will cohort,
 Keeping up is hectic.

Hip girls look good on stage
 But they’re just no good for me.
Maybe it’s just my age…
 I like the fantasy.