Question:
Anthumb
Suck your anthumb tonight
If it makes you feel alright
But ignoring the truth isn't worth it
There's a painful world outside
And your sugarcoat can't hide
The rotteness that lies within
There's a melody that I've heard a million times before
And words that would be ironic if they weren't so sincere
[chorus]
We'll yawn along to every song as it goes on and on and on
We'll yawn to your rebellion 'cuz you're boring us to tears
We'll yawn along to every song as it goes on and on and on
We'll yawn to your rebellion, it's been bull**** all along
Keep your pretensions to yourself
Don't want to see it on the shelf
Nor your performance on late night TV
C'mon, who're you trying to fool
Except for all the kids in school
Who deserve better than this crap (or do they?)
[chorus]
What are you rebelling against
You're just sitting on the fence
That surrounds your perfectly cut lawn
That your dad pays you to cut
Now could I pay you to shut up
And throw out your guitar that your parents bought for you
[chorus]
Answer:
Great song. I see nothing that could be improved. I absolutely love the play on words in the title, it's genius.
Awesome job man.
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Hahaha... the last verse is hilarious, though I think "the fence" would sound better than "your fence." Too many you/your's.
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Good call, Nate. I'll change that right away.
Thanks for the props, guys. Is it cool to say "props" anymore? I feel so out of touch with today's youth...
Answer:
Originally Posted by Skeeter Suck your anthumb tonight
If it makes you feel alright
But ignoring the truth isn't worth it
There's a painful world outside
And your sugarcoat can't hide
The rotteness that lies within Good starting verse. I like the sugarcoat line a lot and I dare say the wordplay on anthumb is brilliant
There's a melody that I've heard a million times before
And words that would be ironic if they weren't so sincere I think that second line would flow better if you took out "that", but otherwise it gets the job done.
We'll yawn along to every song as it goes on and on and on
We'll yawn to your rebellion 'cuz you're boring us to tears
We'll yawn along to every song as it goes on and on and on
We'll yawn to your rebellion, it's been bull**** all along I like the chorus, the "on and on and on" lines have the potiential to be a great catchy hook. As I'm sure you know, the second line doesn't rhyme and while it doesn't sound that out of place...I don't know, it just seems to stick out.
Keep your pretensions to yourself
Don't want to see it on the shelf
Nor your performance on late night TV
C'mon, who're you trying to fool
Except for all the kids in school
Who deserve better than this crap (or do they?) The fool/school scheme is kind of cliche, but it seems to work well here. The rest of the verse looks good too.
What are you rebelling against
You're just sitting on the fence
That surrounds your perfectly cut lawn
That your dad pays you to cut
Now could I pay you to shut up
And throw out your guitar that your parents bought for you Ha ha, this is great, probably the best part of the song.
Is it cool to say "props" anymore? I feel so out of touch with today's youth... I would think so, but I'm also out of touch with today's youth, so who knows what the hell they're saying these days.
Aside from some minor issues, there's nothing much to critique. The idea behind the song is great and you've expressed it creatively in the lyrics. Nice job, keep up the great writing man.
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[quote=Skeeter]Anthumb
We'll yawn to your rebellion, it's been bull**** all along[quote=Skeeter]Anthumb
Okay, I dont' like the fact that your name has "God Rocks" in it, and then you're swearing in your songs. I like the song, I just don't like the swearing. Is it supposed to be a Christian song?
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[quote=relient nelson][quote=Skeeter]Anthumb
We'll yawn to your rebellion, it's been bull**** all along Originally Posted by Skeeter Anthumb
Okay, I dont' like the fact that your name has "God Rocks" in it, and then you're swearing in your songs. I like the song, I just don't like the swearing. Is it supposed to be a Christian song? Gosh is going to darn him to heck for saying that.
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[quote=relient nelson][quote=Skeeter]Anthumb
We'll yawn to your rebellion, it's been bull**** all along Originally Posted by Skeeter Anthumb
Okay, I dont' like the fact that your name has "God Rocks" in it, and then you're swearing in your songs. I like the song, I just don't like the swearing. Is it supposed to be a Christian song?
I don't like Hawk Nelson. Are they supposed to be a Christian band? They sure suck.
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Originally Posted by relient nelson Okay, I dont' like the fact that your name has "God Rocks" in it, and then you're swearing in your songs. I like the song, I just don't like the swearing. Is it supposed to be a Christian song? As soon as you find me a verse in the Bible that says that certain words are wrong and sinful, I will stop swearing. Furthermore, since no song can have saving faith in Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as a Christian song.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Skeeter As soon as you find me a verse in the Bible that says that certain words are wrong and sinful, I will stop swearing. Furthermore, since no song can have saving faith in Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as a Christian song.
Here they are.
Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person- such a man is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
Psalms 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
Proverbs 4:24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.
Psalms 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Hope this helps
Answer:
[quote=Nate][quote=relient nelson] Originally Posted by Skeeter Anthumb
I don't like Hawk Nelson. Are they supposed to be a Christian band? They sure suck.
Whatever dude, I like 'em
Answer:
Originally Posted by relient nelson Here they are. Thank you, but as always, context is key.
Ephesians 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person- such a man is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. I don't see my use of "bull****" to be obscene, foolish, or coarse. By what standard do you see my use of this word to be any of these things? Instead, I see this verse talking about the intent of words. If I use any words, not just swear words, to say something obscene, foolish, or coarse, then this verse applies.
Colossians 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Again, what makes language filthy? The NASB translation, which is more literal from the original greek, translates this passage thusly:
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
I don't consider my use of "bull****" in this song to be abusive.
Proverbs 10:31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. Certainly. But again, what makes something perverse? Again, I don't see my use of "bull****" in this song as perverse.
Psalms 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. I'm not lying in this song, which is what this verse is talking about. This has nothing to do with swearing.
Proverbs 4:24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. See above about perversity and lying.
Psalms 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Amen to that. I pray that God would watch over my mouth, certainly. What does this have to do with the sinfulness of specific words?
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. It is my hope and prayer that this song would be edifying. I honestly think that a lot of positive-thinking anthems out there actually do more harm than good. I honestly think that many bands in the music industry produce poor quality music and lyrics and are a detriment to a great many people. I hope that my message in this song would edifying. Again, what does this verse have to say about the sinfulness of specific words? Nothing! This verse is talking about intent: speaking edifying speech and ministering grace.
Hope this helps I appreciate your intent to help and you have pointed out some excellent verses (I am very thankful you did not post verses that deal with swearing an oath), but I am hopeful that you will see that none of these verses discuss the sinfulness of specific words. Obscene, foolish, coarse, abusive, and perverse language is certainly wrong; I'm not arguing against that. However, I don't see my use of "bull****" in this song to be any of those things.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Skeeter Thank you, but as always, context is key.
I don't see my use of "bull****" to be obscene, foolish, or coarse. By what standard do you see my use of this word to be any of these things? Instead, I see this verse talking about the intent of words. If I use any words, not just swear words, to say something obscene, foolish, or coarse, then this verse applies.
Again, what makes language filthy? The NASB translation, which is more literal from the original greek, translates this passage thusly:
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
I don't consider my use of "bull****" in this song to be abusive.
Certainly. But again, what makes something perverse? Again, I don't see my use of "bull****" in this song as perverse.
I'm not lying in this song, which is what this verse is talking about. This has nothing to do with swearing.
See above about perversity and lying.
Amen to that. I pray that God would watch over my mouth, certainly. What does this have to do with the sinfulness of specific words?
It is my hope and prayer that this song would be edifying. I honestly think that a lot of positive-thinking anthems out there actually do more harm than good. I honestly think that many bands in the music industry produce poor quality music and lyrics and are a detriment to a great many people. I hope that my message in this song would edifying. Again, what does this verse have to say about the sinfulness of specific words? Nothing! This verse is talking about intent: speaking edifying speech and ministering grace.

I appreciate your intent to help and you have pointed out some excellent verses (I am very thankful you did not post verses that deal with swearing an oath), but I am hopeful that you will see that none of these verses discuss the sinfulness of specific words. Obscene, foolish, coarse, abusive, and perverse language is certainly wrong; I'm not arguing against that. However, I don't see my use of "bull****" in this song to be any of those things.
Okay, here's another thing to think about. The world views bull**** as a swear word. Or at least as something they don't want their kids to here. If you claim to be a Christian, but you're swearing in your songs, what light does that put on your Christian witness? I don't think swearing is necessary to get your point across.
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Originally Posted by relient nelson Okay, here's another thing to think about. The world views bull**** as a swear word. Or at least as something they don't want their kids to here. If you claim to be a Christian, but you're swearing in your songs, what light does that put on your Christian witness? I don't think swearing is necessary to get your point across. First of all, I don't claim to be a Christian, I am a Christian.
Secondly, the world may view "bull****" as a swear word, but do they consider it wrong? Most of the world has no problem with saying and hearing the word and other swear words. Associated with this point is that what the world considers right and wrong has little to do with my morality, which is based on the Bible. The world has no problem with divorce and taking the Lord's name in vain, for instance.
Thirdly, there are a great number of things I don't want my (theoretical) kids to hear until they're older. That doesn't make those things wrong, it makes them inappropriate for a certain age group. The main reason I don't think kids should hear swear words is because kids tend to parrot what they hear, without considering context. Swear words may not belong in polite dinner conversation, for instance, but a young child would not consider that.
Finally, in regards to witnessing; I see a bigger problem in the legalistic view of many evangelicals that things like swearing and drinking are wrong. That, in my mind, puts up a much bigger barrier than hearing a Christian swear. Also, I don't view music as a witnessing tool as I think it's largely ineffective. I tend to ascribe to a more relational evangelism, which, I think, fits the Biblical model better.
I appreciate your concern and the way you're speaking to me about this. Thank you.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Skeeter First of all, I don't claim to be a Christian, I am a Christian.
Secondly, the world may view "bull****" as a swear word, but do they consider it wrong? Most of the world has no problem with saying and hearing the word and other swear words. Associated with this point is that what the world considers right and wrong has little to do with my morality, which is based on the Bible. The world has no problem with divorce and taking the Lord's name in vain, for instance.
Thirdly, there are a great number of things I don't want my (theoretical) kids to hear until they're older. That doesn't make those things wrong, it makes them inappropriate for a certain age group. The main reason I don't think kids should hear swear words is because kids tend to parrot what they hear, without considering context. Swear words may not belong in polite dinner conversation, for instance, but a young child would not consider that.
Finally, in regards to witnessing; I see a bigger problem in the legalistic view of many evangelicals that things like swearing and drinking are wrong. That, in my mind, puts up a much bigger barrier than hearing a Christian swear. Also, I don't view music as a witnessing tool as I think it's largely ineffective. I tend to ascribe to a more relational evangelism, which, I think, fits the Biblical model better.
I appreciate your concern and the way you're speaking to me about this. Thank you.
I wasn't questioning your Christianity. Sorry if it looked that way.