Saturday, August 13, 2011

My Annoying Little Brother and The Knock Song

If you have ever experienced an annoying little brother's attempt to de-rail a moment that at the time meant the world to you, then you might like to learn about my successful recording of The Knock Song.  A song that was written by yours truly at the young and sensitive age of 10 (or maybe I was 11, not sure) I wrote it with my heart, the writing itself was saved by my grandma Reiboldt for the past 28 years.  She recently gave it to my mom and just today my mom read it to me over the phone.  Oh yes, The Knock Song!  Before she could finish reading it, I was already singing it.  How could I forget my first song?  I remember it like I wrote it yesterday... the tune to it and everything.  I also remember trying to record it on a little cassette tape recorder while my brother did the dishes in the kitchen not far from my recording space.  I remember that I kept having to stop and re-record because my brother kept interrupting me by singing along, adding a few more "knocks" to mine or saying some remark that completely made me loose my place.  "Randy, this is serious to me!  Just stop interrupting and do the dishes!" I would yell.  And then, turning from my anger I would again attempt to return to my humble and most serene place. Because after all, the content was serious and to record it I had be calm and focused.  But he couldn't help himself, he had to get his voice in one way or another at every recording attempt I made.  The more serious I sang, the more mischievous he became.  Again and again I would snap out of my serene place and yell,  "MOM!  Would you make him stop!"  Of course he got a kick out of me loosing it.  My mom stepped in to save my recording session from my annoying little brother.  Finally he was silent and I got through the whole thing.  I couldn't wait to listen to the finished product.  As the tape rewound I replayed my song in my mind.  "Oh, Just perfect," I thought.  As we listened back we enjoyed my first (and what ended up being my only) recording of a song I wrote.  About half way through something caught my attention.  Those dishes in the background were quite noisy.  Couldn't my brother do the dishes a bit more quite?  But wait, as I listened I realized that they were knocking in a very particular way.  Almost like a rhythm.  One that matched my song completely.  My brother's "silence" seemed a bit too loud and a bit too perfect to me.  It hit me fast... he was actually playing the dishes as drums and "knocking" them around to my "knock" song while I sang.  As I came to the revelation I swung my body around to face my little annoying brother who stood in front of the sink grinning from ear to ear.  At first I was upset that he was making a mockery of my honest recording.  But then we all couldn't stop laughing.  I mean, it sounded really good.  No wonder he is now a drummer in a band and I am a writer and not a singer.

At any rate, here are the words for you.  I'm sure you will be able to "hear" those clanky knocking dishes in the background as you read all of the "knocks" in my song.  Enjoy!

The Knock Song
By Michelle Jordan (10/11 years old)
Written in 1984
God wants my heart in tune, yes in tune
I hear a knock knock knock, in my room
He’s knocking on my door
Knock knock knock
He’s knocking on my door
And he sure wont stop
Knock knock knock, “Let me in”
Knock knock knock, “You’ll be free from sin”
He’s knocking on my door
Knock knock knock
He’s knocking on my door
And he sure wont stop
Knock knock knock, “Don’t be afraid”
Knock knock knock, “You’ll be saved today”
He’s knocking on my door
Knock knock knock
He’s knocking on my door
And he sure wont stop

A knoooooock-a - knock-a knooooock-a knock-a Knooooock-a knock-a Knoooock-a knock
A knoooooock-a - knock-a knooooock-a knock-a Knooooock-a knock-a Knoooock-a knock
Knock knock knock, I finally let him in
Knock knock knock, Jesus had a grin
He’s knocking on my door
Knock knock knock
He’s knocking on my door
And he sure wont stop
Knock knock knock, sin is banging on the door
Knock knock knock, he can’t take it anymore
He’s knocking on my door
Knock knock knock
He’s knocking on my door
And he sure wont stop
Knock knock knock, satin is leeeeeev-in
Knock knock knock, this is the end
He’s knocking on my door
Knock knock knock
He’s knocking on my door
And he sure wont stop

(fade voice away)
A knoooooock-a - knock-a knooooock-a knock-a Knooooock-a knock-a Knoooock-a knock
A knoooooock-a - knock-a knooooock-a knock-a Knooooock-a knock-a Knoooock-a knock...