Restating The Obvious Lyrics and Notes

 Restating The Obvious

(This document is available in PDF format with the purchase of my album, "Restating The Obvious" on my bandcamp site here: https://midiboy.bandcamp.com)

 

“Restating The Obvious” is a complete remake of Midiboy’s 1^st full length CD which was called “Stating The Obvious.”  The original album came with a 16 page booklet that contained the lyrics, along with a story set up to look like a journal.  Unfortunately, I do not have access to the original graphic artwork for that album and because I’ve also restructured, added two songs and rearranged the order of some of the songs, simply copying the original booklet didn’t seem like a great plan either.   An interesting note about the original album, and ultimately still holds true for this remake, is that it was reviewed by two popular online magazines, one Christian and one Secular.  The Christian magazine said that while the music was good, the message was lacking and didn’t really seem Christian.  The secular magazine said that the music was fresh, original and unique, but the lyrics would likely be too Christian for many listeners. 

 

What a conundrum, right?  This album is a modern day retelling of a prodigal son story.  Ultimately, it mirrors quite a few things that happened in my life (with a little bit of poetic license). The prodigal son story wasn’t a happy story throughout, but had a very powerful message with it’s ending.  That’s what we were going for with this album.  As a result, there are number of songs that can’t really stand on their own as having an obvious Christian message as some of the songs actually talk about walking away from the faith.  Not every chapter of every story is a happy one, because that is how stories go.  I assure you though, that if you listen all the way through, you will see a story of redemption that many of us can relate to. 

 

Another cool thing about this album, when Joe and I started writing it, we didn’t even intend it to be a concept album.  We were just working on some music.  At that time, we were both into Christian industrial (that was a thing for a few years) and synthpop music.  So we wanted to write an album that merged those two styles together.  After we wrote 3 of the songs, I noticed that they had a similar theme to them, and that they could be put together in a story.  I then took my song called “Hey God” and said…look, if you put them in this order, they tell a story….what’s more…a good chunk of it resonated with  my own life story.  Let’s do this!  Let’s make this a concept album…let’s make it a modern day prodigal son story.  So that is what we set out to do.  At the end of this document, I will tell a really cool end result of what happened, so stick with me.

 

On the following pages are all of the lyrics to the album along with a few personal notes.  Rather than rewrite the story that was written in the original, I will relate to how this fits along with my own personal story. 

 

Entwined

 

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart

 

I scale the mountain treacherous
Only to see it come down to this
All my efforts are done in vain                         
It's enough to drive a man half-insane 

CHORUS
Abused by my struggles and entwined by the pain
Entwined 

I labor on like a hungry sled-dog
Struck by blows that lay me headlong
My body beaten but my pride survives                                     
It's all I can do to keep myself alive 

REPEAT CHORUS 

 

Personal Notes: 

We all struggle with things from time to time. When I was 16, my parents divorced.  My dad ultimately ended up marrying my mom’s best friend, and that angered me to no end.  I also was having a very hard time in school with being bullied.  I attended a very “rich” private school and was one of the few there that came from a family that lived paycheck to paycheck.  On top of that, I was also born with several birth defects, including a cleft palette.  I also have a hard time synchronizing my breathing with heavy activity, so I would become short of breath in gym class.  Just more stuff for kids to tease me about.  As a result of that, I didn’t make wise choices with eating, so I was a “husky” kid.  So, I was struggling with a lot back then. 

Looking back, I am thankful for those struggles.  They shaped me into who I became as an adult.  God used that pain and those struggles to strengthen me.  I just didn’t see it that way back then.

Remake notes: 

Musically, this song stayed pretty close to the original, but has quite a bit more edge with the chugging guitars and harsh vocal parts. 

 

I Can’t See You

 

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart 

I……can’t…..see…..You…..
The dust obscures my eyes
My hopes are met with sighs
My hands are losing grip
Please Lord don’t let me slip 

CHORUS
I can’t see You, how I need You.

My dreams are all but seen
The grass is all but green
My heart breaks from the fall
Now I’ve seen You knew it all 

CHORUS 2
I can’t see You, how I need You
I can’t see You, how I need You 

The sand shows only one
While in pain, Yours are gone
My mind is filled with agony
But  You’re the One who carried me 

CHORUS 3
I can’t see You, how I need You
I can’t see You, how I need You
I can’t see You, how I need You, yeah
How I need You, if I could only see You
How I need You, if I could only see You 

 

Personal Notes:

This song was inspired by the famous poem “Footprints In The Sand” by Margaret Fishback Powers. Having grown up in a Christian home and accepting Christ when I was 9 years old, it wasn’t until this later time in my life that I started having doubts.  I knew I needed God, but I just couldn’t see Him at work any longer. 

Looking back, I can clearly see where He was there and got me through.  I just wish I would have seen it then.  

Remake Notes:

One of the first things you might notice if you are familiar with the original is this song has “sampled vocal snippets” to add to the atmosphere of the song.  The remake of this song was heavily inspired by the style of several progressive rock bands and ends up being vastly different than the original song for the instrumental parts. 

 

Hey God 

Words and Music: Gregg Hart

 

Hey God, do You still remember me?
Hey God, do You still care for me?
I was the boy who always went to Sunday School
I was the boy who believed in the Golden Rule 

Hey God, do You still hear me?
Hey God, do You still love me?
I was the boy who always went to Sunday School
I was the boy who believed in the Golden Rule 

But then I started thinking I was nobody's fool
And then I started thinking, that You were not cool
So I stopped going to Sunday School
And then I stopped believing in the Golden Rule

Hey God!
Do You still care for me?
Hey God, do You still believe in me?

Personal Notes:

I had actually written this song maybe a year before this album was even a thought.  I had just heard a message in church that resonated with me on how God is always there for us, no matter what.  Now, by the time I wrote this song, my prodigal son story was over.  I was back to church, back to serving God, and actually able to see where God was moving in my life.  The idea of this song was written from the perspective of someone who was struggling with God being there for them. 

As I stated on the first page, when Joe and I started writing “Stating The Obvious”, I saw how this song fit into the story, and added it to the album.  It fit like a glove. 

Remake Notes:

Musically, this song has always been one of my favorites that I have written.  While having quite a bit more edge, this song stays pretty true to the original.  Where the original song used loops for the guitars, the guitars were played live on this version.  (Well, the guitars are actually keyboard, but as opposed to using predetermined loops, since I have a much better selection of synth sounds, including some of the most realistic guitars that a keyboard can do, I played them).

 

Isn’t It Obvious

 

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart

 

Isn’t it obvious that I can’t live up to your standards
Isn’t it obvious that I do not need your judgments
Isn’t it obvious that I might need your forgiveness (Don’t you walk away) 

My voice is strained and my life is drained
Because I am crying out
Crying out because I need understanding
Crying out because I need to know
To know that you will not leave me dying inside (Can you hear me)
Dying as I lay on my face wounded by the stares 
Wounded by the lack of care          

Do you even want to know how I feel
Or do you deny that this is all real               
It is REAL to me!

Isn’t it obvious I can’t go on living without some knowing
Isn’t it obvious that I cannot stand the shame
Isn’t it obvious that I have no one else to blame (just myself not you) 

My heart was bruised and my mind abused
But now I am pouring out
Pouring out because I cannot contain this
Pouring out my soul so that you know
So you know you’re not alone (I know how you feel)
My blood and my sweat pour out so you know that you are not alone (And I know that it’s real)
You are not alone
It is too obvious to deny any longer 

You are not alone  (4x) 

Do you even want to know…

 

Personal Notes:

The lyrics in this song might seem a bit tricky at first.  I relate to this because I felt like I couldn’t live up to the standards of the other people around me.  I wasn’t good enough, so to speak.  Did anyone really care about how I felt? I can relate to the second half because I feel like if the roles were reversed, and I was looking at someone else just like me, I’d understand what they were going through and I’d be able to tell them that they were not alone.

Looking back, I learned a lot from my past, and I truly do feel like I can better relate to people who are struggling. 

Remake Notes: You may recognize this version from being very close to the version I released on “Fluffy: Stating The Obvious, Too!”  It basically is, but I redid all the drums and the guitars to make it fit closer to this album.   The “You are not alone” bridge section is completely redone.  I used a guitar amp setting called “Black Hole” which I think was their take on the guitar sounds from “Black Hole Son” by Soundgarden.  Such a good amp setting.

 

Alone In December

 

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart 

The winter winds bring a chill to my frame
My mind wants to know if it will ever be the same
Reminiscing of our tomorrows
Parting for me was no sweet sorrow, oh no! 

Chorus:
Alone In December
Just me and the snow and the cold
Only you I remember
As I sit alone in December 

The winter whites turn all I see to blue
Sitting here by the fire cold and thinking about you
Our best-laid plans found no fruition
Lost inside this somber transition, oh oh 

Repeat Chorus: 

In December, In December, I don’t wanna be alone anymore 

Repeat Chorus: 

The winter whispers nothing sweet into my ear
My lonely heart was sure that this would be the year
Knowing inside that we will never be
My life moves on without you with me 

Chorus:
Alone In December
Just me and the snow and the cold
Only you I remember
As I sit, as I sit all alone
In December
Just me and the snow and the cold
Only you I remember
As I sit alone in December
In December
In December 

 

Personal Notes: I can’t even begin to tell you how much this song resonates with me.  Lyrically, it is one of my favorite lyrics that Joe has ever written.  Musically, it resonates with me emotionally.  I don’t know what it is, but the emotions and feeling of this almost don’t need lyrics to convey the message.  Musically, I consider this my all time favorite that I have written.  Even though I said the music almost doesn’t need the lyrics to convey the message, the music and lyrics glued together perfectly.  The two were meant to be together.  Lyrically, this resonates with me because at a time in my life when I was feeling very alone, not completely trusting in God, wishing and praying that He would bring someone alone that would love me for who I am, and that I could love back.  There was someone that I had been friends with for a very long time and one Christmas,  I finally worked up the courage to tell her what she meant to me, and I was immediately put in the “you’re like a brother to me” zone.  I was crushed.  But it was at that point that I told God, “Ok God, it’s all You now.  I’m relying 100% on you.  No joke, one week later, on New Year’s Eve, I met the woman who would later become my wife.

Looking back, It is so amazing to me how God works in our lives when we serve Him.  I’m not saying we will always get what we want, but if we serve Him with all of our heart and truly do our best to live for Him, it’s impossible not to see how awesome He truly is and how He is there for us. 

Remake Notes: I almost didn’t remake this song, because I felt like it was perfect the way it was, and to redo it would be do it an injustice, but I started working on it anyway to see if I could give it what it needed.  I am SO happy with how this one turned out.  I feel like it has even more impact now than ever before. 

Archaic

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart 

I cannot understand why this has to be
Why did she have to leave?
Why did God abandon me?
Does it really matter?
The truth I once used to know
It is obvious that I do not know
It has made me into this cynic
This life that is now archaic 

I can’t live this way maybe I will walk away
No one here can make me stay
Is another life really all that bad?
As this one has all but faded
But I must keep looking out for me
To go and escape this reality
Before I fall into a panic
From my life that is so archaic 

Is it just me or do you feel this way?
Do you understand anything I say?
Is it just me or do you feel this way?
Can I go on like this another day? 

Now that I’m free and doing what I choose
Still I can’t believe I continue to lose
What has become of my so-called life?
As this now has got me jaded
I’m starting to feel that nothing satisfies
Maybe more desires need gratified
Could it be that I am still a cynic?
Even all of this seems so archaic 

 

Personal Note:  We wrote this song right after “Alone In December” and the story continues right where that one left off.  The idea being that the protagonist of the album felt like God had abandoned him.  Personally, there was a time in my life when I felt like God abandoned me, and I felt like the faith that I had was “my mother’s faith” and it had become archaic to me.  What’s more, even after I “walked away” from my beliefs for a while, I felt like everything had become archaic.  I was tired of life period. 

Looking back, I am thankful that in spite of me turning my back on God, He never did so to me.  Like the prodigal son’s father, He was there, waiting for me when I returned, never disowning me, still anticipating my return.  

Remake Notes:  This song has become a fan favorite for many people.  It starts off with some insane percussion and then moves into a very catchy guitar riff, and an even more catchy bass line during the verses.  Originally, this song was almost all Acid Loops, however in this version, there are no loops used.  Everything was recreated by me with various virtual synths.  The original also had samples from the Matrix.  I have decided not to use those this time because I am distributing this globally and on all streaming networks, so rather than use the samples, I had a friend “play the part” and create original samples instead.  I also added a pretty sweet guitar solo.  Another fun fact, about a year after the original album released, Toby Mac released a song using the EXACT same guitar loop that I used.  People actually asked me if Toby stole that from me.  No.  No, he did not.  But now I know he uses Acid Loops. 

Plummet

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart 

I find myself drawn to the ultimate pleasure
Indulging myself in thrills beyond measure
How did I go so long without all of this?
Now that I see all that I once missed.
There is no one to tell me where I must go
I walk away from the past so I have control 

There is nothing like being free
There is nothing like pleasing me 

You think I am sinning with reckless abandon
But the life I see you live is like a mannequin.
I cannot go on and deny myself (again)
I can hardly see how this leads to Hell
So just back off and leave me be
What is fine for you is chains for me 

There is nothing like being free
There is nothing like pleasing me
There is nothing like being free
There is nothing like pleasing me 

I see that I no longer need what I cannot see
All I ever need is all that pleases me
Now that I have it all
All that’s left of me
Is for you to see me fall
Wouldn’t you like to see me fall?
Wouldn’t you love to see me fall?

 

Personal Note: At this point in the story, our protagonist feels like he finally “has it all.”  I definitely felt that during my life.  I had moved out of my mom’s home, I had my own place to stay, my own car, and even got a computer that I had my eyes on for the longest time.  I love how the last verse kind of puts a spin on that with the fact that all that was left was for other to see him fall.  At that point, Luke 15:13 is quoted in the style of a Southern preacher.  It fits together SO well. 

Looking back, true freedom only comes in Christ.  When we are living like the world, we may not realize it, but we are bound in chains.  

Remake Notes:  This song has quite a different feel.  I themed it to fit in with the following two songs as well, as you will hear with the female vocal parts and the ominous sounding parts.  The idea here was to convey that our protagonist was in a very dark time in his life.  I feel like that was missed on the original album. I also used a different translation of Luke 15:13 as well.  (NASB)

Façade

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart 

The most exciting life that I have ever faced
Has left in my mouth the bitterest taste
After seeking out all that I wanted as my own
I am left all alone and feeling robbed to the bone 

I could not see past the façade that put up such an illusionary front
I see beyond, beyond the façade, a life that I could never really want 

What happened to my friends who were there for the fun?
Cuz when the lights go out I cannot find anyone
They were always there to point me to some more
Now that I’ve had my fill they are my friends no more 

I could not see past their façade they put up such an illusionary front
I see beyond, beyond their façade, the friends that I could never really want
I could not see past the façade that put up such an illusionary front
I see beyond, beyond the façade, a life that I could never really want

I thought that this was always what I wanted
To somehow satisfy what I thought I needed
Yet these pleasures have only added to the emptiness
And now I am left to live with this failed awful mess 

I could not see past the façade that put up such an illusionary front
I see beyond, beyond the façade, a life that I could never really want
I could not see past the façade that put up such an illusionary front
Can I see beyond, beyond the façade, to a life that I would really want? 

 

Personal Notes: Now that our protagonist “has it all” he is starting to realize that he was left unsatisfied.  There’s that old adage that says “The grass is always greener on the other side” and that is definitely something I have felt in my life.  

Looking back, I realize now that even when things look better “over there”, we need to be thankful for what we have “over here.”  God has and will continue to provide what I need in order to serve Him better.  I may not have what I think I want, but honestly, He has been very gracious there too as I have a nice house, and plenty of stuff that I wanted, like my music equipment and the computers I need to run my studio.  I realize that He has blessed me with all of that, and I will use it to serve Him. 

Remake Notes: Originally this song had a very cheesy “guitar part” that I created by using a trumpet patch with distortion.  Joe and I were really into a Christian group called “Mortal” at that time, and this song definitely has those vibes.  Still does to an extent, however, this time around, I’m using one of my guitar virtual synths and it definitely has a more brutal sound.  The instrumental section of this is vastly different than the original and then there is the ending, which goes right into the next song…very ominous ending this time around with the female vocals and the bass giving hints of the next song. 

Buried Above The Ground

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart 

Isolation
On the short end without consolation
Can I bear to remain this way?
With my head in my hands
On my knees with no place to stand 

Chorus
Without a sound
There is no one around
They leave me here
Buried above the ground 

Desolation
In the ruins
No time for elation
Does anyone see me this way?
With my hope on a string
On my own with no peace to bring 

Repeat Chorus 2x 

A generation in degeneration
This generation needs regeneration 

Repeat Chorus 2x

Personal Notes:  At this point in our story, our protagonist feels that he has hit rock bottom and that all of his “new friends” have left him to die, leaving him “buried above the ground.” 

Looking back, I had made some serious mistakes in my life that could have landed me in jail, or even worse.  That’s another story for another time though.  Very thankful that God was able to see me through all that, and was able to get my attention again.   

Remake Notes: A very guitar-centric song, this one has always been one of our heaviest.  It’s even heavier this time around when it gets to that chorus.  The bridge this time around has an almost shoegazing rock feel.  I really like how that turned out.  Also…the ending…which leads perfectly into the next song is very haunting.

 

Shipwrecked

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart

I am shipwrecked but the world leaves me stranded
Reaching out but coming up empty-handed
I can see that pleasure has only let me down
Everyone stands aside to see me drown
Where is the feeling of satisfaction?
Where do I go? What is my reaction? 

Shipwrecked 

I am sidetracked and lost in reality
Letting doubt cloud all there is to see
I can feel the waves surging from within
Nobody’s there to save me from my ruin
Where is the feeling of satisfaction?
Where did it go?  What is my reaction? 

Shipwrecked
Shipwrecked

Personal Note: This song is an analogy of hitting rock bottom.  I know I had to hit rock bottom before I turned back to God.  He gave me plenty of warnings, but I didn’t heed.  This song basically says it perfectly. 

Looking back, I am thankful that God allowed me to hit rock bottom “safely” so to speak. While I still have scars (both emotionally and physically) of hitting rock bottom, they are reminders of what I did, and what I need to avoid going forward. 

Remake Notes: Ok.  While “Buried Above The Ground” is probably one of the heavier songs, this one is right up there.  It’s a little more on the thrash side of things, but man…I love this song.  While it has a similar feel to the original, and uses a few of the original resources, all of the guitar work is new.  (It used to be all loops).  There are also samples of real shipwrecks and coastguard rescue attempts. 

 

Blurred

Words and Music: Gregg Hart 

I remember when I used to see the world thru the eyes of a boy
Everything there was to see was so bright and clear
Because I was a boy
Just a little boy 

CHORUS
Now everything I see is blurred
Don't know what I'm looking for
Can you please help me, sir?
I cannot seem to find the door
-I've got to get out of here 

Does anyone have the question for the answers that I cannot find?
Don't ask me where I'm going; everything runs together in my mind
Runs together in my mind

REPEAT CHORUS 2x 

Where did I go wrong?
Did I take a wrong turn?
Have I known all along?
Will I ever learn?
Am I looking to hard?
Have you been here all the time?
Have I gone too far?
Have I crossed the line?
Does anyone ever feel this way?
Has anyone ever felt this way before?
Does anyone ever feel this way?
I think I thought I heard you say, "Here's the door"

Does anyone love me, anyone know me, anyone hear me, does anyone care anymore? 

CHORUS 2 2x
Now everything I see is blurred  (Can you please help me?)
Don't know what I'm looking for  (Can you please show me?)
Can you please help me, sir?   (I really need you now)
I cannot seem to find the door   (Can you show me the way?)

 

Personal Notes: Realizing that he has completely made a mess of his life, our protagonist tries to retrace his steps in his thoughts, wondering where he went wrong.  He is looking for someone to lead him out of the mess he made. For me, a dear friend of mine came to visit me in the hospital after an accident I had and asked if she could have her pastor come talk to me.  Reluctantly, I agreed.  He came and sat down next to me and asked if he could read Psalm 23.  I said sure…he read about 5 words, and then said, you know what?  I feel led to read Psalm 139 instead.  He read the whole thing, but honestly, the only thing I heard was “You can run, but you can’t hide.”  Of course, those words aren’t said directly in the Psalm, but they are the words God revealed to me when he got to verses 7 and 8, where it basically says there is nowhere we can go to flee God’s presence. He’s there.  No matter where we are.  That is when I made a decision to get back to God. 

Looking back,  I’m very grateful for my friend that brought her pastor to come see me.  It was that night, on my hospital bed that I rededicated my life to God and wrote my first Christian song.  (It was called Once Again) and can be found on my album “Revitalized.” 

Remake Notes:  I wrote this song back in 1994 or so.  I fit perfectly on “Stating The Obvious”, so we used it.  As far as remakes go, this one is probably the most different from the original of any song on here.  It’s closer to the version I released on “Fluffy: Stating The Obvious, Too,” though the drums, guitar and vocals have all been redone as well as the orchestrated ending. The only thing that I kept from that version was one of the keyboard parts and some of the dubstep sounds.  The ending goes right into the next song.

Reality Is

Words and Music: Gregg Hart 

Been wandering this desert what seems like 40 years
Been hoping to find pleasure and only finding tears
Nothing that I’ve done, nowhere I’ve been
Has done a thing to make me feel complete within 

CHORUS 1
The reality is that I am lost
The reality is I need You
Reality came at such great cost
That could only be paid in full by You
That is reality 

I can’t see You I am entwined in my sin
As I plummet to rock bottom, I am dying within
The clarity I knew has become so blurred
The life I live now has become so absurd. 

REPEAT CHORUS 

BRIDGE
I’m lost…lost in reality
So lost…lost in reality
I’m not blind, but I cannot see
For I’m lost….lost in reality 

CHORUS 2
The reality is that I am lost
The reality is I need You
Reality hung upon the cross
3 days later He walked right out of the tomb 

REPEAT CHORUS 1

 

Personal Notes: This was the way I felt once my friend’s pastor got done reading Psalm 139 to me.  

Looking back, while I firmly believe I wasn’t “lost” in the sense of salvation terms as I believe God will never let go of anyone that is in His fold, I was lost as far as the way I was living my life.  I was lost in reality, as it were. 

Remake Notes:  This is a brand new song for the album.  It replaced “Lost In Reality” which was an instrumental which I felt like was unnecessary filler on the original album.  I also didn’t like that it left out an important part of the story which is told in these lyrics. I love how the lyrics allude back to several songs on the album as well.

 

Realization

Words: Joe Flint & Gregg Hart
Music: Gregg Hart 

The best of intentions have done nothing but leave me broken hearted
And still I can't remember just how the whole thing started
How quickly I became a captive to the doubts
Forgetting all along there was that one way out
As the values I knew to be true
Became so distant and abused.
Swallowed up by the hunger of the tempest
Caught off guard I gave in to the tempted
I want to get out of this awful mess. 

I have come to the realization that I need something more.
Through all of the misfortune, I have had to deal with my denial
And now it is too obvious for me to deny any longer.
How I need to turn this all around
Remembering what it is to be on sacred ground.
To be released from what entwines me
To open my eyes and finally see.
Raise me from my walking grave
I know my own life I can't save
I want to get back to the better days 

Who am I? Why am I here? What’s my purpose? Where am I going?
But there You are! What did You do? You gave up Your life so I might live. 

I have come to the realization, that You’re my something more.

 

Personal Notes: Once I realized that I needed something more, I knew I needed to get my eyes back to Jesus. 

Looking back, I am thankful that I had the foundation that my parents both instilled in me to know what the “something more” I needed was.  After I rededicated my life and got back to church, things started to get better.  I still had to deal with consequences of my sin.  In fact, I’m still dealing with them…and likely will for the rest of my life.  But like Paul and his thorn in his side, it serves as a reminder. 

Remake Notes:  This is VERY close to the version I released on “Rock Beats Giant.”  I redid the piano and it had a few glaring mistakes in it.  Also, Joe wrote all of the verse and chorus lyrics.  I added the bridge for the remakes.  (Who am I? Why am I here….)

 

Longing

Words: Joe Flint
Music: Gregg Hart 

Getting caught up in the techno blitz
Being consumed by the glamour and dazzled by the glitz
I reach for the toys that would satisfy a child
Knowing that none of them can pacify the wild
As this world offers riches and promises me more
Leaving only therapists as a sweet reward
Spinning downward in an endless spiral
Giving in to my fears and living in denial
That I need to get out
That I need to get back
Get out (Get Out)
Get back (Get)
Back to my senses and back to my God (4x) 

Touch me
Receive me
Loose the chains and set me free
Lying back I sink into my bed springs
Being burdened by the weight of so many needless things
I cling to the hope that can dash away the fear
Running so far how can you possibly be near
As I recall the gentle words you used to speak to me
Still I cover my eyes SO AS NOT TO SEE
That I am slipping yet you are reaching
Seeing that these trials do all of the teaching
Telling me to get out
Telling me to get back
Get out (Get out)
Get back (Get)

Back to my senses and back to my God (4x)

I don't know what I was thinking
I thought I had everything
BUT
I had nothing...
I am longing to be restored
I am longing to be adored
I am longing for something more
Can you give me something more?
Touch me (at the deepest of my being)
Receive me (Because I am believing)
Loose the chains and me free 

 

Personal Notes:  This song has always been a highlight for me on this album.  Not only is it the happy ending to a tragic story, it’s an extremely catchy song.  It has a sense of joy to it that I can totally relate to from that day in the hospital.  

Looking back, as I said earlier, I am so thankful that God got my attention again.  He set me free from my chains.  I am now truly free. 

Remake Notes:  I confess.  This is just a remastered version that I released on “Rock Beats Giant.”  I was very happy with how it turned out, and since maybe only 10 people heard “Rock Beats Giant” and the fact that you can’t have a remake of “Stating The Obvious” without this song, I just used the same version. 

 

Coming Home

Words and Music: Gregg Hart

 

I know I have said this all before
But I must state the obvious once more
I’ve drifted so far from where I need to be
That line drawn in the sand
Washed away by waves of complacency
My lukewarm heart neither cold or hot
I must get back to my senses and get back to my God 

I’m coming home to where You are waiting for me
I’m coming home to where You want me to be
I’m coming home to where I belong
I’m coming home to where I can sing Your song
Once again 

I got knocked down, but I got up again
I put an end to my endless wanderin’
I was doing life like a lonely prodigal
My selfishness left me cynical
The joy in me became so blurred
The truth I knew became obscured
Until I got back to my senses and I got back to my God 

(and now I’m)
Coming home to where You are waiting for me
I’m coming home to where You want me to be
I’m coming home to where I belong
I’m coming home to where I can sing Your song
Once again

 

Personal Notes: I’ve always felt like the album needed one more song to properly finish the story, but the original album had no room for another song.  Since this remake doesn’t have “Degeneration” or “Regeneration” there was enough room for the song that it’s always needed.  To me, this song reminds me of when the Prodigal Son was spotted by his father as he was walking up the path to the home. 

Looking back, there was no greater joy than returning back to God.  

Remake Notes: True story, while I’ve always felt like “Stating The Obvious” needed one more song, this is not the song I originally wrote for the ending.  The song I originally wrote was released on “Rock Beats Giant” but I decided not to use that one as I wanted a song that alluded back to the album in the same ways that “Reality Is” did.  Also, there is a noise throughout the entire sound that you might be wondering what it is.  It’s the sound of a jet taxiing down a runaway and revving up its jets in order to take off.  Then at the end, it’s simply the noise of a car driving down the road.  In other words, sounds of travelling home. 

 

Closing Thoughts

 

So, that’s the album.  Like I’ve mentioned, it loosely follows my own life story, and it may even be yours as well.  If this album in any way resonated with you, please let me know.  You can contact me via my website at www.midiboy.com or you can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/midiboygregg. 

I did want to share with you a really cool story about the original album.  One person funded the original  album from the ground up to be released globally with one instruction.  He wanted us to use the album as a ministry tool rather than selling them for $15 or so a piece.  (At that time, CDs were going for $15-$18 a piece).  He said as long as we give away at least half of them (he funded 1000 of them), he would pay for the entire project.  We agreed.  

I had posted on my website at the time to contact me if interested in the album and I would send it for free.  A young lady emailed me a few weeks later and asked if I’d be willing to send her 50 of them that she could pass out at a youth event.  I had no idea who this girl was, other than she was emailing me from New York. (Or New Jersey…I don’t remember…New something).  She said she’d be willing to pay because she knew that sending 50 would be expensive, and she knew that my website was offering to send a single CD for free. 

I told her that I would be glad to send them, and not to worry about paying as long as she promised to give 49 of them away and she could keep one for herself.  She agreed, so I sent them.  She insisted she send me a check for $20 to at least cover shipping.  She wouldn’t accept “no” for an answer, and in order not to offend her, I let her send the check.  

Anyway, several months later, I got an email from a teenage boy who told me that he was at a baseball game and some girl was passing out CDs for free.  He said he knew it had to be Christian because who else would give away CDs for free at a sporting event.  Anyway, since he determined it had to have been Christian, he refused to listen to it and almost threw it away, but instead threw it up on his dressed to maybe look at later.  Apparently, he was struggling with life and was ready to give up.  He was sitting on his bed with a gun in his hand ready to kill himself and he decided to check out that CD to see if maybe it would help.  He said it spoke to him, almost as if it was his own story.  He put the gun down, and gave his life to God.  He then told me that he wasn’t sure he would be able to completely give up what he was doing wrong, and that he likely won’t respond to any further email, but he wanted me to know that the CD touched him.  

That’s what it’s all about, friends.  Unfortunately, I never heard back from him, but I am sincerely hoping to meet him for the first time in Heaven one day.     

I hope this album in some way speaks to you as well and I hope to hear from you if it does.

 

-          Gregg (Midiboy)