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Love 101

October 13, 2017 - 8:56pm — Alexander John
MP3 Music Playlist: 
Hip Hop lyrics by Alex were made into a Hip Hop song and a Folk-Country song. See how we did it! Richard has recorded two audio demos. See revised lyrics in Comments section. See the Comments section for the progression of lyrics and the two different song approaches. 

Love 101
Original Hip Hop lyrics by Alex John:

1st Verse:
The cold weather followed me around town
But I never sold my soul even though I was mostly down...
Then I got to know the lord
That's when I knew it was time to put down my sword
That frown turned upside down and I started to adore...
Everything around me - and it seemed magical
Was I in a dream - because life became manageable...
And beyond - this must be the answer
So I put love into every song and mess around like an amateur dancer...
Because very few opinions only matter to me
Life gave me a platter when I decided to be free...
Of the evil, the pain and attachment
People are meant to use our brain as well as heart but it's not mathematics
I want to do art inspired by certain tablets...
I guess I'm just venting
But don't stress because when it comes to love there is no pretending.

Hook:
I have learned to forgive
Because hate burned me like a pile of sticks
But now I smile and live
And it took a while but I'd rather give.

2nd Verse:
The fear I used to live-in 
Is washed away by too many tears but the lord has given...
Some of the best gifts possible
I don't stress because he knows what's best and his love isn't hostile
Provides a dove every time I say "have I lost you?"...
Because he is there
Because he cares
Because he knows our souls and wants us to bare....
Them - and I believe to people we know too
Evil will have no sequel so when it comes to part two...
It's Jesus all the way and his love for us
If I could write a thesis I would not rush...
Or finish because his infinite
Every minute with him is intimate...
So as this little piece comes to a close
I hope you find more than a little peace and forgive your foes.

Love 101
Folk-Country version. Lyrics by Richard Schletty adapted from Alex John's Hip Hop lyrics.
 
There used to be a coldness all around
But something kept my soul from going down
I've come to know a man I call My Lord
Who's telling me to lay down my sword
 
Suddenly, my frown is down side up
Bit by bit, I'm wakin' up
To the wonder and beauty all around:
Amazing colors, gentle sounds
 
Refrain:
Lord, you're the master of creation
Teach me how to dance with elation
I wanna shout, I wanna run
Guided by Love 101
Guided by Love 101
 
I've tried to use my heart and my brain
To bust on through the walls and the chains
That lock me into emptiness and pain
With God, I can change the game
 
Hate would burn as easy as dry sticks
A lotta push and shove – I took my licks
I'm tryin' to learn how to forgive
I simply want to smile as I live
 
Refrain:
Lord, you're the master of creation
Teach me how to dance with elation
I wanna shout, I wanna run
Guided by Love 101
Guided by Love 101
 
Bridge:
As I read the good book
I can start to see
How art is inspired
by the wisdom we desire
 
A world of fear is what I used to live in
Now I'm washed by tears the Lord has given
My joy has overcome the enemy
The Spirit, like a dove, floats over me
 
I believe He's here and always cares
That He knows me well and wants to share
His way to peace: to forgive my foes
That's the Book that I should never close
 
Refrain:
Lord, you're the master of creation
Teach me how to dance with elation
I wanna shout, I wanna run
Guided by Love 101
Guided by Love 101
 
AttachmentSize
Love 101 - Hip Hop.mp35.11 MB
Love 101 - Country-v2.mp36.63 MB
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Comments

October 3, 2017 - 1:56pm — Richard Schletty

Love 101 - good lessons

I like your Love 101 verses. There are some particulary poetic and "dig-deep" expressions in there. I'll try voicing this, along with the last two. Good job.
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

October 4, 2017 - 9:42am — Alex John (not verified)

Thanks Richard

Thank you Richard for the nice comments. I also really like what you did with "Pieces of Peace". The melody makes it very soothing along with the vocals. Also very original the way it is put together. A cross between hip hop, spoken word with a very relaxing instrumental which makes it very memorable. Lookimg forward to hearing the other two and its looking like we have a full album on our hands. Alex.
October 8, 2017 - 5:53am — Richard Schletty

Full album

It'll be a rather eclectic album. I explored a lot of different ways of approaching your lyrics. We need to do more work on all the lyrics. But things are shaping up. Thanks.

Sorry about the delayed approval of your comment. You forgot to sign in. Guest comments had been set to "require approval by admin" but I wasn't getting notices. I set guest comments back to automatic approval. However, I'll be at risk again for spam. It's a delicate balance.
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

October 14, 2017 - 4:29am — Richard Schletty

Country version of Love 101

Hi, Alex. I liked the title of your lyrics so much that I thought it should be folded into the refrain and repeated throughout the song. The lyrics below are an adaptation or paraphrasing of your thoughts – but put into a fairly strict and uniform rhyme and meter. As my version develops, I will be demonstrating how "prosody" can make the lyrics compelling. I'll post the lyrics this evening, then slowly work at a melody and chord progression over the next few days. I think this song could turn out real nice. 

REVISED 10/19/2017:
 

Love 101
Folk-Country version
 
There used to be a coldness all around
But something kept my soul from going down
I've come to know a man I call My Lord
Who's telling me to lay down my sword
 
Suddenly, my frown is down side up
Bit by bit, I'm wakin' up
To the wonder and beauty all around:
Amazing colors, gentle sounds
 
Refrain:
Lord, you're the master of creation
Teach me how to dance with elation
I wanna shout, I wanna run
Guided by Love 101
Guided by Love 101
 
I've tried to use my heart and my brain
To bust on through the walls and the chains
That lock me into emptiness and pain
With God, I can change the game
 
Hate would burn as easy as dry sticks
A lotta push and shove – I took my licks
I'm tryin' to learn how to forgive
I simply want to smile as I live
 
Refrain:
Lord, you're the master of creation
Teach me how to dance with elation
I wanna shout, I wanna run
Guided by Love 101
Guided by Love 101
 
Bridge:
As I read the good book
I can start to see
How art is inspired
by the wisdom we desire
 
A world of fear is what I used to live in
Now I'm washed by tears the Lord has given
My joy has overcome the enemy
The Spirit, like a dove, floats over me
 
I believe He's here and always cares
That He knows me well and wants to share
His way to peace: to forgive my foes
That's the Book that I should never close
 
Refrain:
Lord, you're the master of creation
Teach me how to dance with elation
I wanna shout, I wanna run
Guided by Love 101
Guided by Love 101

—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

October 12, 2017 - 8:16am — Alexander John

Hip Hop Stucture

As far as the hip hop structure I am using it differs very much from the structure of all other types of genres. I have been writing and performing hip hop for over 10 years and am very confident in my ability to write "a good rap song". However i'm very new to all other forms of song structure and am willing to learn. I like what you do with some of my lyrics and the way you put them into other genres. It's all for the glory of GOD. Alex.
October 12, 2017 - 11:02am — Richard Schletty

We can learn from each other

It would help to hear some samples of your hip hop songs. I don't mean to push you into a structure that is not your style. My preference is for structure so I'm just showing you options that are inspired by your lyrics. With the above rewrite, I envision a Country styled style of music and singing, a genre that I have not explored. All for the glory of God!
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

October 12, 2017 - 11:29am — Alexander John

I think so.

I like the fact you are crossing over the hip hop lyrics into other genres and I think it takes alot of skill to do that. I was just letting you know that the hip hop lyrics I write and the way I write them may sem a bit messy and a bit over the place but when it comes to hip hop that sort of thing is common. But I really like what we have been doing and the track God Is On The Scene is a great example of what we can both do with our skill sets. Love 101 I think will turn out just as nice. Alex.
October 13, 2017 - 2:33am — Richard Schletty

Hip Hop version of Love 101

Alex, I laid down your Hip Hop lyrics over some drum loops in Logic Pro. I hope you don't mind that I changed a few things. It's very close to your original. I added the audio file to your original post entry above. Enjoy.

Love 101
Hip Hop version by Alex John
Slight revision by Richard 

1st Verse:
The cold weather followed me all around town
But I never sold my soul even though I was down
Then I got to know the lord
That's when I knew it was time to put down my sword

My frown turned upside down 
and I started to adore 
Everything around me - it seemed magical
Was I in a dream? Life became manageable

And beyond - ah, this must be the answer
To put love into every song and move like a dancer

Because very few opinions only matter to me
Life gave me a platter when I decided to be free
Of the pain, the evil, attachments and fanatics
We can use our brains and hearts but it's not all mathematics

Making art is what I'm intending
When it comes to love there is no pretending.
Inspired by certain tablets
I'll stop venting and get new habits

Hook:
I have learned to forgive
Because hate burned me like a pile of sticks
But now I don't stress. I smile and live
And it took a while but now I'd rather give.

2nd Verse:
The fear I used to live-in 
Is washed away by many tears but the Lord has given...
Some of the best gifts possible
He knows what's best, his love isn't hostile

I'm given a dove every time I moan 
"Have I lost you, lord? Am I all alone?"
That's when the Spirit whispers "He is there. He cares.
He knows your soul. You can lay it bare."

In the eyes of God we're all equal 
Nobody wants evil to have have a sequel 
It's Jesus all the way. You know his love for us
Can bring us together in mutual trust

If I tried to write a thesis 
about the way I came to Jesus
I wouldn't rush it cause he's infinite.
Every minute with him is intimate

So as this little piece comes to a close
I hope you find more than a little peace and forgive your foes.
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

October 15, 2017 - 7:08am — Alexander John

My partner loves the country version.

Hi Richard, my better half loves the country version and I dig both versions. I love how you can cross over my lyrics to different genres and make them sound as good as you do. 
October 16, 2017 - 8:11pm — Richard Schletty

Revised versions uploaded

Alex, please check out the revised Country and Hip Hop songs. I uploaded them here. I added some extra voices in the Country version and adjusted the volume of my voice in the Hip Hop version.
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

October 17, 2017 - 2:59pm — Richard Schletty

Our eclectic album - wrapping it up

Alex, I'd say we're about halfway toward completing our album. Now we're at the stage where we should decide what the best tracks are. Some of the recordings I did were very rough and I'd like to redo some of them. There are a couple standout tracks that have exceptional clarity, emaotion and/or artfulness. We should try to bring all tracks up this level. I need to master all the tracks so they have the same volume. I am going through all the tracks now and will give you my recommendations soon. I welcome your thoughts! They are your songs and need to fulfill your goal of communicating the Word of God in a "hip" manner. We are reaching out to all ages with messages of mercy and hope.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.  
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

October 16, 2017 - 3:31pm — Richard Schletty

Country vs. Hip Hop vs. ???

Maybe I should do another version of Love 101. How about Gregorian Chant? :-)

I'm glad you and your better half like what I'm doing here. Thank YOU for the inspration. My friend, poet Bob Young, also likes both versions. See his poetry here: www.jesuspoems.com 
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

October 17, 2017 - 6:01pm — Alexander John

Sounds Good

Hi Richard, we definitely have alot of good material to choose from and I look forward to seeing and hearing the lineup of songs that we choose to use. Thankyou for collaborating with me and bringing so much life to my lyrics and also adding your own style. Its been alot of fun and I really hope that what we have done touches peoples heart and soul. Were you thinking of putting the album up online for people to download and/or doing physical copies. If we decide to put it online you can put it on your website. As always looking forward to what comes next. All the best. Alex.
October 19, 2017 - 1:52am — Richard Schletty

We'll get there... in God's time

I just posted a revised version of the Folk-Country version of Love 101. I felt that some phrasing was either too complicated or a bit hard to grasp. I am trying to make the song accessible to many. Let me know what you think. The two versions of Love 101 should be the model for the rest of the songs. I'd like to suggest that the name of the album be Love 101. - Richard
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

October 19, 2017 - 4:51am — Alexander John

Love 101 .. yes.

Hi Richard, I agree that Love 101 would be the most fitting tittle for our project. I just listened to the recent uploads of our songs and they sound great. I do struggle to write in forms other than hip hop but if you are happy for me to continue posting lyrics in that form I will. I guess its because my whole life i have been into it and there is alot of great catholic hip hop artists I have been discovering this year in particular. Peace.
October 19, 2017 - 10:54am — Richard Schletty

Hip hop is happening

Keep posting your lyrics the way you have been. I’ll rap them as they are (with slight adjustments, as needed). Plus, I enjoy taking your seeds of inspiration to another genre, as a songwriting lesson for all of our viewers here at this website. I want to teach the craft of songwriting, but I’m best at Liturgical, Inspirational and Folk-Rock genres. So that noise you hear occasionally is me stretching beyond my comfort zone.
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

December 9, 2017 - 4:58pm — Guest (not verified)

Beautiful, uplifting song of thankfulness

Gotta say, the country (soft rock?) version grabs me. That said, both hit the right note. Wonderful lyrics. Sung and spoken spot on by Richard. Really nice guitar work on V2, Richard...
Jack
December 16, 2017 - 12:13pm — Richard Schletty

Country (soft rock?) version grabs

Jack, thanks for your kind comments, my good friend-in-music. Too bad we can't get this joint hopping the way macjams.com used to hop. Best to you. 
—

Richard Schletty | Schletty Design and Music | www.schletty.com

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