KJLS-FM 103.3 10am Sundays

December 22, 2024

“Thinking About Jealousy”

Part 1

Hello, Central Kansas and around the world; thank you for joining us this morning, this fourth Sunday of December and first Sunday of the winter month of December, winter beginning yesterday. Welcome to MATT on today’s best music, Mix 103. It’s great to have you with us today as we discover exactly what the attitudes and meanings of popular music are all about. I’m Fr. Mike, your host for MATT and it’s my pleasure to work with some great songs and great messages—that being what we are all about: songs and messages. We take the top 10 popular songs of today and yesterday, study them a little bit, and come up with a message that can help us live better. Today, we’ll spend our usual time with the top 10, and we will begin our show with some thoughts about jealousy.

When it comes to romantic relationships, jealousy is almost an "automatic." As a couple becomes closer to one another with the thought of the possibility of a permanent commitment in the near future, the two involved will know that there are other possible partners among their acquaintances. They will also know that uncontrolled jealousy can ruin the relationship. Such is the subject of the song “Taste” at number 9 today. The song describes the situation in which the lady in the relationship is talking to another lady who has moved into her place in the relationship.

It has quite a video which I would not recommend for the faint-hearted. “Now I'm gone, but you're still layin' next to me, one degree of separation,” she sings, “I heard you're back together and if that's true, You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you. If you want forever, and I bet you do, Just know you'll taste me too. He's funny now, all his jokes hit different. Guess who he learned that from?” In her explanation of the song, she speaks of the unfortunate events of relationships, and there is no doubt that hanging on to past relationships and then having a difficult time with the person that takes one’s place in the relationship is quite a challenge.

Jealousy is an evil in life. It can destroy good relationships. It is also a fact of human nature. Any time that people get together, and share a certain "closeness," human nature runs its course, and human thinking often goes far beyond reality, imagining things that are not true. But, then again, maybe they are true. Such is the problem with jealousy. One seems to never know completely. The remedy is very easy--sincere communication. And there is very little of that in the situation of the song.

So, let’s talk about jealousy today on the show, and see how the songs of our show address that particular problem. Here Sabrina Carpenter is talking about a lady’s feelings about jealousy directly to the lady who took her place, and it is not pleasant. Our lead song this morning is from Sabrina Carpenter, a 25 year old singer from Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Her song is “Taste” at number 9 from her album “Short ‘n Sweet” on MATT.

(double) 9 TASTE / Sabrina Carpenter

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE / Sabrina Carpenter

Part 2

Double Sabrina Carpenter there, both from her album “Short n’ Sweet”, and her song “Please, Please, Please” on MATT, and a song to her boyfriend who is acting out in a negative way. “I know I have good judgment; I know I have good taste; It's funny and it's ironic that only I feel that way. I promise 'em that you're different and everyone makes mistakes, but just don't. I heard that you're an actor, so act like a stand-up guy; whatever devil's inside you, don't let him out tonight. I tell them it's just your culture and everyone rolls their eye. Please, please, please, don't prove I'm right And please, please, please, don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice; heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another, I beg you, don't embarrass me.” First of all, begging another in a love relationship is not so good, and secondly. you’re led to believe from the rest of the song and video, that he doesn’t heed her advice. In terms of our theme, no jealousy as such here, but another problem is there in that the relationship is in jeopardy and is in dire need of some strong communication.

Our first triple play begins with the talents of David Guetta and Bebe Rexha. “I’m good,” they sing, “yeah, I’m feeling alright. I’ma have the best happy night of my life, and wherever it takes me, I’m down for the ride. Don’t you know, I’m good, yeah, feeling alright. I don’t need the finer things in life. No matter where I go, it’s a good time. I don’t need to sit in VIP; middle of the floor—that’s where I’ll be. Don’t got a lot, but that’s enough for me ‘ cause I feeling alright.” I cleaned up the words a little. About the only jealousy we see here would be our being jealous of him. This is DJ David Guetta and American singer/songwriter Bleta Rexha, better known as Bebe Rexha and their feel good song, “I’m Good (Blue)” on MATT.

(triple) I’M GOOD / David Guetta & Bebe Rexha

NO SURPRISE / Daughtry

10 FOREVER YOUNG / David Guetta

Part 3

New to our top 10 at number 10, producer David Guetta again singing this time with Ava Max and The German group Alphaville and a song which Alphaville introduced in the 80’s, now with a couple of changes and their song “Forever Young” on MATT. “Don't leave afraid what's here tonight;” they sing, “Heaven can wait, no use in watchin' the sky. Don't say goodbye, just hold me tight. Heaven can wait, I wanna dance one more time. Give me the feelin' again, Just one more time. Won't you give me the feelin' that I'm forever young? Forever young, I want to be forever young. Do you really want to live forever? Some are like water, some are like the heat, Some are a melody and some are the beat, Sooner or later, they all will be gone. Why don't they stay young? Forever young.” Two thoughts with the song: first, it is a song of jealousy for what the young have, our theme today, but secondly, it is an appeal to the world to stay forever in the wonder of what it means to be young. Good song.

Before them, we wished happy birthday to Chris Daughtry from his album “Leave This Town”, and his song “No Surprise” from the songs of meaning of 2009 and a song of a breakup, something sung about so often in these songs. “I’ve practiced this for hours,” he sings, “gone round and round, and now I think that I’ve got it all down, and as I say it louder, I love how it sounds, ‘cause I’m not taking the easy way out, no wrappin’ this in ribbons, shouldn’t have to give a reason why. It’s no surprise I won’t be here tomorrow, I can’t believe that I stayed till today. Yeah, you and I will be a tough act to follow, but I know in time we’ll find this was no surprise. Felt so good to let go of it now.” Apparently, the person in the song feels that this is the best way to go because he sings, “If I could see the future and how this plays out, I bet it’s better than where we are now.” To me, that is a great attitude—even though it is tough, we will be better off after it is finished. We could be jealous of such an attitude, jealousy being our theme today.

Important things being said here this morning as we work with the theme of thinking about jealousy. We will continue with that thought generated by the song “Taste” from Sabrina Carpenter in just a minute. Another thought here, this one from comedian Dave Berry: “The problem with winter sports is that they generally take place in winter.” I’d say he had some problems with this season. I’m Fr. Mike for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. Why not stay right where you are as you enjoy life with us on this December Sunday morning. We’ll be right back.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 4

Every song has a message and most of the time that message can help us be better people. Such is our belief on this show. And we are back for another segment of “Message at the Top” which gives you the top 10 popular songs of our area that have been most popular during the week which ends today, the Sunday before Christmas 2024. I’m your host, Fr. Mike. Thank you for joining us again this morning. Get ready during this segment for songs from people like Morgan Wallen and Benson Boone. They will all fit into our theme that deals with the fact of jealousy in our world.

As promised, let’s begin this segment with Morgan Wallen. “Last night,” the man in the relationship sings, “we let the liquor talk; I can’t remember everything we said but we said it all”. A little later he sings, “we said too much”. That thought of “too much” is important, I think, because it often implies that we say things without thinking enough about them and whether one is only thinking of marriage or recently married, that can be disastrous—as it is in the song. “You told me,” he continues, “that you wish I was somebody you never met, but somethin’s tellin’ me this ain’t over yet. No way it was our last night. I see your taillights in the dust; you call your momma, I call your bluff. My friends say let her go, but no way it was our last night.” He may wish that, but the words may have really hurt the situation. In terms of our theme this week, he is no doubt jealous of those situations like this that do work out. A song nominated for best country song at the Grammys this year and part of our chart for a long while, from Morgan Wallen and his song “Last Night” on MATT.

(double) LAST NIGHT / Morgan Wallen

7 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

Part 5

The extremely talented duo each in their own way--Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga and Peter Gene Hernandez, better known as Bruno Mars and their song, “Die with a Smile”, number 8 on MATT. It is a love song and shows strong commitment to each other. “I just woke up from a dream,” they sing, “Where you and I had to say goodbye; and I don't know what it all means, but since I survived, I realized wherever you go, that's where I'll follow. Nobody's promised tomorrow, so I'ma love you every night like it's the last night. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you. If the party was over and our time on Earth was through, I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile.” So, words of strong commitment, but there had been struggles, it seems. They sing, “Lost in the words that we scream, I don't even wanna do this anymore 'cause you already know what you mean to me. And our love's the only war worth fighting for.” Fitting into our theme, this week, they were screaming at one another at one time, and were at war with one another, and one of the causes may very well have been jealousy, our theme today, but it finally worked out, that is, they found what their relationship was all about.

Another triple play is in store for us right now, and it begins with a group formed in Iceland in 2010. “Hey”—a word used quite a lot in the song—“I don’t like walking around this old and empty house,” they sing, “so hold my hand, I’ll walk with you, my dear. Some days I can’t even trust myself; it’s killing me to see you this way ‘cause though the truth may vary, this ship will carry our bodies safe to shore. There’s an old voice in my head that’s holding me back: well, tell her that I miss our little talks. Soon it will be over and buried with our past. We used to play outside when we were young and full of life and full of love. Your mind is playing tricks on you, my dear.” The meaning is a little complicated, but it sounds like the lady in the relationship is in need of help, and the man is trying to encourage her, and is no doubt jealous of those who could help her more. This is the group named Of Monsters and Men from their debut album “My Head is an Animal,” and their song from 2011, “Little Talks” on MATT.

(triple) LITTLE TALKS / Of Monsters & Men

NO AIR / Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown

5 BIRDS OF A FEATHER /Billie Eilish

Part 6

Billie Eilish there at number 5 in our top 10 this week, from her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, and her song “Birds of a Feather”, former number 1 on MATT. It is a song about falling in love with a person that she wants to "stick together" with. The love to her significant other brings her to tears and begs the lover to never end their relationship. “I want you to stay 'til I'm in the grave”, she begins, “'til I rot away, dead and buried, ‘til I'm in the casket you carry. If you go, I'm goin' too / 'cause it was always you and if I'm turnin' blue, please don't save me. Nothin' left to lose without my baby. Birds of a feather we should stick together. And I don't know what I'm cryin' for; I don't think I could love you more. It might not be long, but I'll love you 'til the day that I die, ‘til the light leaves my eyes, ‘til the day that I die.” Well, she may be crying because of jealousy, our theme today, which can ruin a lot of relationships. But, the lady in the relationship is truly committed to the other and presuming that the other in the relationship feels the same way, that commitment will stay there, and they will overcome any problems like jealousy.

Before her, we wished happy birthday to the lady in the duo, Ms. Jordin Sparks who is 35 years old today. She was singing with Chris Brown and their song “No Air” from 2008 from the album “Jordin Sparks.” The song begins with its theme: “Tell me how I’m supposed to breathe with no air.” Then they continue: “If I should die before I wake, it’s ‘cause you took my breath away. Losing you is like living in a world with no air. How do you expect me to live alone with just me, ‘cause my world revolved around you. It’s so hard for me to breathe. Tell me how I’m supposed to breathe with no air; can’t live. That’s how I feel whenever you ain’t there.” Not very good English, but rather straightforward thought—for some reason, the two broke up, and it feels like they’re dying because there is no air. A very good description of pain. We simply have to work with the pain, and move on in life—which is not the case there: it’s only bad news, what I call a tough song. One of the reasons why I call it a tough song is that too easily pain can lead to revenge, and things really turn badly then. The remedy is to handle the pain as best you can in the first place. And maybe be jealous of those who manage to do it, our theme today.

Interesting things being said here this morning as we work with the theme of thinking about jealousy. We will continue with that thought in just a few moments. Another thought here, this one from Fred Allen: “I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.” Yes indeed. I’m Fr. Mike for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. Why not stay right where you are as you enjoy life with us on this December Sunday morning. We’ll be right back.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 7

Every song has a message and most of the time that message can help us be better people. Such is our belief on this show. We are back for the second hour of “Message at the Top” which gives you the top 10 popular songs of our area for the reporting date of today, December 22, 2024. I’m your host, Fr. Mike. Thank you for joining us again this morning. Get ready during this segment for songs from people like Benson Boone and Gavin DeGraw. They will all fit into our theme that deals with jealousy.

As promised, let’s begin this second hour with a young man who was brought up in South Fallsburg, New York. He sings about about getting away into the country. He begins it by singing, “Staring at a maple leaf, leaning on the mother tree, I said to myself we all lost touch.” We have lost touch in his opinion with the natural things—we look at fruit as chocolate covered cherries and we want watermelons that have no seeds. In fact, nothing from the ground is good enough. And so, he begs his chariot, his vehicle, to allow the golden waves of the sun to walk over his face as he rides that chariot into a promised land, the country, where he’ll spend his vacation and give him the freedom he needs. He is jealous of the people who have the country, jealousy being our theme today. This is the title song from his album “Chariot,” Gavin Shane DeGraw from 2003 on MATT.

(triple) CHARIOT/ Gavin DeGraw

USED TO BE YOUNG / Miley Cyrus

6 LOSE CONTROL / Teddy Swims

Part 8

From his album “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, part 1”, Jaten Collin Dimsdale better known as Teddy Swims, and his song “Lose Control”, number 6 on MATT. It is the story of what happens when a person is lonely. He sings “Something’s got a hold of me lately. No, I don’t know myself anymore, feels like the walls are all closing in and the devil’s knocking at my door. Outta my mind, how many times did I tell you I’m no good at being alone? It’s taking a toll on me, trying my best to keep from tearing the skin off my bones. Don’t you know I lose control when you’re not next to me. I’m falling apart right in front of you. You’re breaking my heart. You make a mess of me.” So it is loneliness, but it is loneliness because one special person is no longer there for him. One of the problems of early relationships and sometimes with later ones, is that we get too serious too soon and fail to try to make the relationship stronger because we are too caught up with feelings. Part of those feelings is jealousy, our theme today, and if it is really serious, it will cause major problems.

Before him, we heard from Miley Cyrus and an excellent song from her album, “Endless Summer Vacation”—“Used to be Young”. As she says, “This song is about honoring who we’ve been, loving who we are and celebrating who we will become. I feel proud when reflecting on my past and optimistic when thinking about the future.” So, the past for her is a good thing, and her future is likewise good. She sings, “The truth is bulletproof. There’s no fooling you. I don’t dress the same, me and who you say I was yesterday have gone our separate ways. Left my living fast somewhere in the past ‘cause that’s for chasing cars, turns out open bars lead to broken hearts and going way too far. I know I used to be crazy, I know I used to be fun; You say I used to be wild, I say I used to be young.” She will not look at the past as a negative with all its problems and jealousies, our theme today. As she says, she simply “took another road.” Good song.

Our next triple begins with the song at number 9 on our playlist top 10 and a song about blaming another. It comes from two other very talented singers. “I had some help,” they sing, “It ain’t like I can make this kind of mess all by myself. Don’t act like you ain’t help[ing] me pull that bottle off the shelf. Been deep in every weekend if you couldn’t tell. They say teamwork makes the dream work. You think that you’re so innocent. After all the stuff you did, I ain’t an angel; you ain’t heaven-sent, can’t wash our hands off this. It takes two to break a heart in two, you blame me, and I blame you.” Of course, as I have said, that is what it is from his point of view. The lady in the relationship probably has her own version. Whatever the case, they will both have to get rid of their desire to blame the other before their relationship will work out. In fact, this relationship will never blossom into the happiness of love until they both move out of the blaming game. Perhaps it would help if they become jealous of others who do not blame each other, jealousy being our theme today. MATT presenting here Austin Richard Post, that is Post Malone from his album “F-1 Trillion”, along with Morgan Wallen and their song “I Had Some Help” number 9 right now on MATT.

(triple) 9 I HAD SOME HELP / Post Malone & Morgan Wallen

NO / Meghan Trainor

4 BEAUTIFUL THINGS / Benson Boone

Part 9

Number 4 right now from his album “Fireworks and Rollerblades,” his song “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone, former number 1 on MATT. It is a song about a man in a relationship who has discovered a person that he really likes and he wants to keep it that way. “For a while there, it was rough,” he sings, “but lately I’ve been doing better than the last four Decembers I recall. And I see my family every month and I found a girl my parents love. She’ll come and stay the night, and I think I might have it all, and I thank God every day for the girl He sent my way. But I know the things He gives me, He can take away, and I hold you every night and that’s a feeling I wanna get used to. But there’s no man as terrified as the man who stands to lose you. I hope I don’t lose you. Please stay. I want you, I need you. God, don’t take these beautiful things that I’ve got.” I’ve mentioned before that it is evident that the person is tuned into God, and from my point of view anyway, that is something that we should be determined to have. Again, if he becomes jealous of others who manage to have the kind of feeling he wants, it might help his situation.

Before him, we wished happy birthday to Ms. Meghan Elizabeth Trainor who is 31 years old today. Her song is a song about how not to get into a relationship. You do it by saying “no.” It comes from her album “Thank You”, and very simply its title “No” on MATT. “I think it's so cute and I think it's so sweet,” she sings, “how you let your friends encourage you to try and talk to me. But let me stop you there before you speak. My name is no; my sign is no; my number is no. You need to let it go.” Then she goes into a little teaching, saying “All my ladies, listen up. If that boy ain't giving up, girls all you gotta say is no.” It’s really not bad advice—you must learn direct communication at times, and difficult or not, we should learn it and in terms of our theme maybe, be jealous of those who really know how to communicate.

We are talking about that, namely “jealousy”, that thought having come from Sabrina Carpenter and her song “Taste”. We have another half hour to go yet as we listen to some more music and messages. A thought to take us out of this segment: it comes from Erma Bombeck: “Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.” Think about that. Don’t go way—we’ll be right back with MATT on Mix 103.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 10

You, my friends, are in tune with “Message at the Top,” your top 10 show on today’s best music Mix 103. Welcome back to the songs that have been most popular in this area during this week which ends today, the third Sunday in December 2024. Our show takes the top 10 from today and yesterday and studies their messages, and then, we call our show MATT. I’m your host Fr. Mike. It’s great to have you here. We have taken our theme from Sabrina Carpenter and her song “Taste” and our theme is “jealousy.”

Let’s dedicate our segment 10 presentation to a singer who is part of a group of brothers named the Jonas Brothers. We’ll have two of his songs, and the other one with his brothers. First, he sings a very sad message because the person in the relationship has given himself completely to another and she has not returned the love. “With her wine-stained lips,” he sings, “she’s nothing but trouble, cold to the touch but she's warm as a devil. I gave her my heart but she won’t heal my soul. She takes 'til I break and I can't get more. You got me in chains, you got me in chains for your love, but I wouldn't change, no, I wouldn't change this love. Trying to break the chains but the chains only break me. Alone in the night 'til she knocks on my door. Oh no, wasted again but I can't say no. Baby tell me why, why you do me wrong, gave you my heart but you took my soul.” He is in a bad way, and besides his feelings there, he probably is jealous of those who have a good relationship which actually may be good for him. From his album named after him, Nick Jonas, this is his song “Chains,” on MATT.

(triple) CHAINS / Nick Jonas

ONLY HUMAN / Jonas Brothers

JEALOUS / Nick Jonas

Part 11

The song that is featured on my website today and the theme of our show this morning, namely “Jealous” on MATT, Nick Jonas and his song “Jealousy” from his album named after him again. It is obviously about jealousy, and the man of the relationship is quite jealous of all kinds of people. “I don’t like the way he’s looking at you,” he begins his song, “I’m starting to think you want him too. Am I crazy, have I lost ya? Even though I know you love me, can’t help it. Turn my cheer music up, and I’m puffing my chest; I’m getting red in the face. You can call me obsessed. It’s not your fault that they hover. I mean no disrespect. It’s my right to be hellish. I still get jealous ‘cause you’re too sexy, beautiful, and everybody wants a taste. That’s why I still get jealous.” The person is jealous and he will have to work with that a little more as he works on his relationship.

Before him, we heard him, Nick Jonas again, this time with his brothers Joe and Kevin, from their album “Happiness Begins” and their song “Only Human” from 2019. “You got all my love to spend,” the man in the relationship sings, “We gonna dance in my living room, slave to the way you move, hurts when I’m leaving you. Love with an attitude, drunk to an 80’s groove. It’s only human, you know that it’s real, so why would you fight or try to deny the way you feel? You can’t fool me, stop pretending you’re shy, just come on and dance, dance, dance, dance.” Being only human could mean tha the is just as jealous as anyone else, and jealousy whereever it is found can be a problem.

Back to our top 10 now, and we go to the top 3, and all 3 of these songs have gone in and out of 1, 2 and 3. At number 3 this week, we hear from Hozier and a song about a man in a relationship talking of the lifestyle of each of the partners. His own is a late-night one along with a little too much relaxation / and the partner is an early bird with a cautious lifestyle. “It can’t be said I’m an early bird, it’s ten o’clock before I say a word. I can never tell how you sleep so well. You keep telling me to live right, to go to bed before the daylight, but then you wake up for the sunrise. But while in this world, I think I’ll take my whiskey neat, my coffee black and my bed at three. You’re too sweet for me.” We have mentioned before that opposites sometimes attract when people are discovering love, but not often, and people like this who find themselves attracted to one another in love, will have to make some decision to compromise so that their relationship will be a happy one, and it will never be happy if there is any jealousy involved, jeslousy being our theme today. This is Irish singer/songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, better known simply as Hozier, and his song “Too Sweet”, number 3 right now, on MATT.

(double) 3 TOO SWEET / Hozier

2 STARGAZING / Myles Smith

Part 12

And moving back into the number 2 position from number 1 last week, British singer Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing” on MATT. “Time stood still,” he begins his song, “just like a photograph; you made me feel like this would last forever. Lookin' in your eyes, I see my whole life. They say you know it when you know it and I know. Promise that you'll hold me close, don't let me go. Take my heart, don't break it; love me to my bones. All this time I've wasted; you were right there all along, you and I stargazin', intertwinin' souls. We were never strangers; I lose my mind when I'm around you; how I come alive. When I'm without you I can't help but feel so lost. I wanna give you all I've got.” He says that when you know that you are in love, then you know, and / he knows. That is in terms of our theme, since there is no jealousy involved in the relationship, it will probably work out.

And moving back into the number 1 position, so that he has occupied that place for a total of 7 weeks altogether is Collins Obinna Chibueze, known as Shaboozey, American musician /singer/ songwriter/ filmmaker and producer, and his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”. He begins his song by telling us that he works hard and has problems that he won’t have when he’s gone. And then presumably, he wants to relax from his work and problems by drinking alcohol. “Someone, pour me up a double shot of whiskey. They know me and Jack Daniel's got a history. There's a party downtown, near 5th Street. Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy. I've been boozey since I left, I ain't changin' for a check. Woke up drunk at 10 am, we gon[na] do this stuff again. Tell your girl to bring a friend.” I changed a word in the song. As we think of our theme with this song, he doesn’t seem jealous of others who are pursuing alcohol, but maybe he should be jealous of those who can control it a little better.

That theme was taken from Sabrina Carpenter and her new song, “Taste.” My prayer for you and me is that we will be able overcome any jealousy we have and be able to work with all people in a good way. My thanks to our producers and sponsors, especially our sponsors at Hays Car and Truck Alignment, Holy Family Elementary School in Hays, and Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays. If you want to contact me by mail, I hope you do so at KJLS radio, Hays, KS, 67601 or my e-mail address is frmikescully@yahoo.com. -My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find some meditations on these songs and some great movies and a transcript of this show. If you want to join us on the web, go to www.hayspost.com and click on Mix 103 at 10am Sunday morning. A final thought from author Joshua Millburn: “The things that truly bring us joy are rarely things.” As we close with our number 1 song “A Bar Song” from Shaboozey, may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music Mix 103, and among the other things that we have said today, our advice is to hold a good thought. We have a special Christmas show this Wednesday, Christmas day, at 10 am and this is my personal invitation to all of you. Hope you are here. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. Be safe, peace to you, and be good.

1 A BAR SONG / Shaboozey

December 15, 2024

“What Should Make Us Happy?

Part 1

Good morning Central KS and around the world; thank you for joining us this 15^th day of December, 2024, as we are right on top of the Christmas season. Welcome to “Message at the Top” for this Sunday. Get set for the top 10 songs of our area right now as determined by the research from your requests, people like Teddy Swims and Post Malone, and get ready for some top 10 songs of the past as well including people like Ed Sheeran and Christina Aguilera. And we will call to mind a number of birthdays this week. I am Fr. Mike and you have your dial set to Mix 103, number one in Central Kansas. Our number 1 song last week was from Hozier and we’ll see if he stays there today.

As I said, a number of birthdays this week, and one of them belongs to Billie Eilish who will be 23 on Wednesday. And a number of months ago, she had a song which brought about the question of what should make us happy? And we brought up the fact that there is such a thing as a World Happiness Report. It is determined by 14 different variables, for example: income, healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom, trust, generosity and 8 others. The Index this year showed that Finland is the happiest country in the world, the same as last year, with Denmark and Iceland holding the next top positions. The overall rankings of country happiness are based on those variables and the World Gallup Poll. Of interest, the United States is at number 24, Canada is at number 15, and the lowest rating at number 144 is Afghanistan.

At any rate, Billie Eilish’s song “What Was I Made For?” is a 10+ song in my opinion. And the song, and the video which she directed, is the thought of a person growing up in a world that sometimes is too complicated. “I used to float,” she sings, “now I just fall down. I used to know, but I’m not sure now. What was I made for? Takin’ a drive, I was an ideal, looked so alive, turns out I’m not real. I don’t know how to feel, but I wanna try. Someday I might.” And she closes the song in a hopeful manner: “Think I forgot how to be happy, something I’m not, but something I can be, something I’m made for.” So, her answer to the question of her song: what was I made for?—is “to be happy.” So there is my reasoning to talk about the World Happiness Report. If she is correct in the song, the people of Finland are the happiest people in the world.

I don’t know about that, but let’s talk about what should make us happy on today’s show as we celebrate Billie Eilish’s birthday. This is the Song of the Year at the Grammys a couple months ago, therefore the song with the best composition, from the soundtrack of the record-breaking movie “Barbie,” this is Billie Eilish and our theme today, number 1 for a number of weeks, now at number 4, “What Was I Made For?” on MATT.

(double) WHAT WAS I MADE FOR / Billie Eilish

4 BIRDS OF A FEATHER / Billie Eilish

Part 2

Double Billie Eilish there, that last one at number 4 in our top 10 this week, from her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, and her song “Birds of a Feather”, former number 1 on MATT. It is a song about falling in love with a person that she wants to "stick together" with. The love to her significant other brings her to tears and begs the lover to never end their relationship. “I want you to stay 'til I'm in the grave”, she begins, “'til I rot away, dead and buried, ‘til I'm in the casket you carry. If you go, I'm goin' too / 'cause it was always you and if I'm turnin' blue, please don't save me. Nothin' left to lose without my baby. Birds of a feather we should stick together. And I don't know what I'm cryin' for; I don't think I could love you more. It might not be long, but I'll love you 'til the day that I die, ‘til the light leaves my eyes, ‘til the day that I die.” So, the lady in the relationship is truly committed to the other and presuming that the other in the relationship feels the same way, that commitment will stay there, and it will be what makes both of them happy, our theme today.

Let’s stay in our top 10 and go to number 6 right now. It is from Teddy Swims and the story of what happens when a person is lonely. He sings “Something’s got a hold of me lately. No, I don’t know myself anymore, feels like the walls are all closing in and the devil’s knocking at my door. Outta my mind, how many times did I tell you I’m no good at being alone? It’s taking a toll on me, trying my best to keep from tearing the skin off my bones. Don’t you know I lose control when you’re not next to me. I’m falling apart right in front of you. You’re breaking my heart. You make a mess of me.” So it is loneliness, but it is loneliness because one special person is no longer there for him. One of the problems of early relationships and sometimes with later ones, is that we get too serious too soon and fail to try to make the relationship stronger because we are too caught up with feelings. Feelings will always be part of happiness, our theme today, but too many people think that they are the only part of happiness that is important. This is from his album “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, part 1”, Jaten Collin Dimsdale better known as Teddy Swims, and his song “Lose Control”, number 6 on MATT.

(triple) 6 LOSE CONTROL / Teddy Swims

HIGH HOPES / Panic! At The Disco

HO HEY / The Lumineers

Part 3

From their album named after them, that was the Lumineers, a group who was formed in the year 2005, and are now based out of Denver, Colorado and their song “Ho Hey” from the songs of meaning of 2013 on MATT. Using the catch words “Ho” and “Hey” throughout the song the group tells a story of a person who is looking for love. "I’ve been trying to do it right," they sing, "I’ve been living a lonely life. So show me family, all the blood that I would bleed. I don’t know where I belong, I don’t know where I went wrong, but I can write a song. I belong to you, you belong with me, you’re my sweetheart. I don't think you're right for him. Look at what it might have been. Love, we need it now, let’s hope for some ‘cause we’re bleeding out.” Tying that thought into our theme today, namely what will make us happy, certainly being people who are really looking for love will do it.

Before them, we heard a song encouraging us to hope from the band Panic! At the Disco, and their song “High Hopes” from their album “Pray for the Wicked” on MATT. It was the number 1 song of meaning and the number 1 song of popularity for the year 2019. “Had to have high hopes for living,” they sing, “shooting for the stars when I couldn’t make a killing. Didn’t have a dime but I always had a vision, always had high hopes. Mama said, fulfill the prophecy, be something greater, go make a legacy, rewrite your history, light up your wildest dreams.” Smart Mama, and one of the things that will make us happy, our theme today. Great video by the way.

Every song has a message, and that is what we are all about here on MATT—discovering the messages located in the songs. Our lead song came from birthday person Wednesday Billie Eilish.” I’m Fr. Mike inviting you to stay with us. After a short break, we will continue our presentation of the top 10 of today and the 2000’s, and some 90’s and 80’s. Let me take you to break with a hopeful thought from Mother Teresa: “It’s not how much you give, but how much love you put into giving.” A pretty good guide for giving and a way to happiness. Your dial is set for interesting stuff, media-style—Mix 103 and you are listening to “Message at the Top”.

+++COMMERCIAL BREAK+++

Part 4

You are in tune with MATT, your top 10 show on the best mix of music around these parts, Mix 103. We call it MATT because we take the top 10 songs of our area, and study their messages in the hopes that our lives that are often so complicated because of our lifestyles, those lives can be better by using the messages of the songs that we play. I’m Fr. Mike, your host, and it is great to have you with us this third Sunday of the winter month of December, almost Christmas in the heartland. The theme that we are using today came from a song of Billie Eilish and her song “What Was I Made For?”

At number 10 in our top 10 this morning is new song to that top 10 and a new artist by the name of Mark Ambor from New York City. His real name is Mark Gregory Damboragian and his song is one of those “happily in love” songs. “I know sleep is friends with death,” he begins his song, “But maybe I should get some rest cause I've been out here working all day. Blueberries and butterflies, the pretty things that greet my eyes when you call and I say, ‘I'm on my way’ You and me belong together like cold iced tea and warmer weather, where we lay out late underneath the pines and we still have fun when the sun won't shine. You and me belong together all the time, spilling wine and homemade drinks. We throw cheers, the worries sink. It's so good to be alive! And we know that we don't got much but then again it's just enough.” Sounds like he is indeed glad to be alive, and in terms of our theme, that is something that certainly makes him happy. From his album “Rockwood,” this is Mark Ambor and his song “Belong Together” number 10 on MATT.

(double) 10 BELONG TOGETHER / Mark Ambor

JUST LIKE FIRE / Pink

Part 5

That song comes from the soundtrack of the fantasy movie “Alice through the Looking Glass”, Alicia Beth Moore Hart, better known as Pink and her song “Just Like Fire” from 2016 on MATT. The song itself is a song of the desire to improve oneself. “I know that I'm running out of time” she sings, “I'm walking on a wire, trying to go higher, feels like I'm surrounded by clowns and liars. We came here to run it. Just like fire, burning out the way. If I can light the world up for just one day, just like magic, I'll be flying free. See I would rather we just go our different way than play the game.” If we are people who are continually trying to improve ourselves, we will be pretty happy people, our theme today.

This next triple play begins with the song at number 8 on our playlist right now; it is a love song and shows strong commitment to each other. “I just woke up from a dream,” they sing, “Where you and I had to say goodbye; and I don't know what it all means, but since I survived, I realized wherever you go, that's where I'll follow. Nobody's promised tomorrow, so I'ma love you every night like it's the last night. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you. If the party was over and our time on Earth was through, I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile.” So, words of strong commitment, but there had been struggles, it seems. They sing, “Lost in the words that we scream, I don't even wanna do this anymore 'cause you already know what you mean to me. And our love's the only war worth fighting for.” Fitting into our theme, this week, they were screaming at one another at one time, and were at war with one another, but it finally worked out, that is, they found what their relationship was all about, and therefore the answer to what should make them happy, our theme today. This is an extremely talented duo each in their own way--Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga and Peter Gene Hernandez, better known as Bruno Mars and their song, “Die with a Smile”, number 8 on MATT.

(triple) 8 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

SORRY / Justin Bieber

GHOST / Justin Bieber

Part 6

Double Justin Bieber there, that last one from his album “Justice,” from the year 2022 and his song “Ghost,” on MATT. “Youngblood thinks there’s always tomorrow,” Justin Bieber sings, “I miss your touch on nights when I’m hollow; I know you crossed a bridge that I can’t follow. Since the love that you left is all that I get, I want you to know that if I can’t be close to you, I settle for the ghost of you. I miss you more than life. Your memory is ecstasy.” The situation is one of hope because the man in the relationship is rejoicing that he has the memory of his girlfriend which somehow gives him the feeling of good times in the future. And in terms of our theme, the more hope we have, the happier we are going to be.

Before that one, we heard the first part of his double play, this time from his album “Purpose”, Mr. Justin Bieber and his song “Sorry” from 2015. One of the ways that will actually help our happiness is to be sorry as expressed in the song. It is a song asking for forgiveness. “You gotta go and get angry at all of my honesty” he sings. “You know I try but I don't do too well with apologies. I hope I don't run out of time. Could someone call the referee ‘cause I just need one more shot at forgiveness. I know you know that I made those mistakes maybe once or twice. And by once or twice I mean maybe a couple a hundred times. So let me redeem myself tonight. ‘Cause I just need one more shot at second chances. Is it too late now to say sorry? Yeah I know that I let you down.” As I said, when it comes to being personally happy, one of the ways is to always think of the possibility that we should be asking for forgiveness. Unfortunately, too often such a situation turns to revenge, and people get hurt.

Our show is full of good advice from these top 10 songs, and great messages from those songs, even if we have to stretch the meanings of the songs a little bit. The title of MATT today is “What Will Make Us Happy.” Birthday person Billie Eilish gave us the thought. Our next 30 minutes of music and message will explore that theme with songs from Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone and Post Malone along with Morgan Wallen as well as music from Ed Sheeran, Ave Max and the group AJR. Here is a quote about age from Mr. Mark Twain: “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” I can understand that. I’m Fr. Mike for “Message at the Top”. Don’t even think about touching that dial!

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 7

We are back, and as that fine announcer just said, we are MATT on Mix 103, as we celebrate the third Sunday of December together. I hope it is a good one for you. This is “Message at the Top”. I’m Fr. Mike, ready to lead you through another 30 minutes of music and message today. All of our songs this morning are working on a theme which takes the songs’ meanings, and ties them into the thought of what can or should make us happy.

As promised, let’s begin with the number 7 song on our playlist right now. It comes from two other very talented singers and is a song about blame. “I had some help,” they sing, “It ain’t like I can make this kind of mess all by myself. Don’t act like you ain’t help[ing] me pull that bottle off the shelf. Been deep in every weekend if you couldn’t tell. They say teamwork makes the dream work. You think that you’re so innocent. After all the stuff you did, I ain’t an angel; you ain’t heaven-sent, can’t wash our hands off this. It takes two to break a heart in two, you blame me, and I blame you.” Of course, as I have said, that is what it is from his point of view. The lady in the relationship probably has her own version. Whatever the case, they will both have to get rid of their desire to blame the other before their relationship will work out. In fact, this relationship will never blossom into the happiness of love, our theme today, until they both move out of the blaming game. MATT presenting here Austin Richard Post, that is Post Malone from his album “F-1 Trillion”, along with Morgan Wallen and their song “I Had Some Help” number 7 right now on MATT.

(triple) 7 I HAD SOME HELP / Post Malone & Morgan Wallen

PERFECT / Ed Sheeran

9 TASTE / Sabrina Carpenter

Part 8

Also new to our top 10 songs is that one from Sabrina Carpenter—her song “Taste” at number 8 from her album “Short ‘n Sweet” on MATT. We’ll make it our theme next week. It has quite a video which I would not recommend for the faint-hearted. It is the story of an ex girlfriend and the present girlfriend, and it is one of strong jealousy. “Now I'm gone, but you're still layin' next to me, one degree of separation. I heard you're back together and if that's true, You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you. If you want forever, and I bet you do, Just know you'll taste me too. He's funny now, all his jokes hit different. Guess who he learned that from?” In her explanation of the song, she speaks of the unfortunate events of relationships, and there is no doubt that hanging on to past relationships and then having a difficult time with the person that takes one’s place in the relationship is quite a challenge. If one makes it a learning experience, it is a way of bringing about love, our theme today. But most of the time, it is not / as in the song and everyone gets hurt. Tough song.

Before her, we heard the number 1 song of 2018 and it is a great love song from Ed Sheeran, a hit from his album which is just a division sign, “Perfect” the name of the song. “I found a love for me,” he begins the song, “just dive right in and follow my lead. I found a girl, beautiful and sweet, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me ‘cause we were just kids when we fell in love, not knowing what it was. I will not give you up this time, your heart is all I own and in your eyes you’re holding mine. When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath, but you heard it, you look perfect tonight.” Looking at the words of the song and the video, there is little doubt that he has found the person of his dreams, and he is trying his best to be all he can be for her. And if every married couple had this type of marriage we would have a lot of happy people which just might be enough to make the whole world happy, happiness being our theme today.

Let’s continue our top 10 songs, and this time go to a song about a man in a relationship who has discovered a person that he really likes and he wants to keep it that way. “For a while there, it was rough,” he sings, “but lately I’ve been doing better than the last four Decembers I recall. And I see my family every month and I found a girl my parents love. She’ll come and stay the night, and I think I might have it all, and I thank God every day for the girl He sent my way. But I know the things He gives me, He can take away, and I hold you every night and that’s a feeling I wanna get used to. But there’s no man as terrified as the man who stands to lose you. I hope I don’t lose you. Please stay. I want you, I need you. God, don’t take these beautiful things that I’ve got.” I’ve mentioned before that it is evident that the person is tuned into God, and from my point of view anyway, that is something that we should be determined to have. It happens to be the way to be really happy, our theme today, at least, from my point of view. Number 5 right now from his album “Fireworks and Rollerblades,” his song “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone, former number 1 on MATT.

(triple) 5 BEAUTIFUL THINGS / Benson Boone

KINGS AND QUEENS / Ave Max

BANG! / AJR

Part 9

The song which is the topic of the meditation on my website today, www.frmikescully.com the group AJR’s song Bang! It came from the album “OK Orchestra.” It was on MATT’s top songs of 2021 at number 4. According to them, "We wrote 'BANG!' about the weird middle ground between being a kid and becoming an adult; a time when we're doing all the things adults are supposed to do, but we don't yet feel grown up. The fact is, adulthood is bound to hit us at some point, so the plan we made in the song is to 'go out with a bang.'" So, a song about the age just before adulthood. “I get up, I get down and I'm jumpin' around” they sing. “And the rumpus and ruckus are comfortable now. Been a heck of a ride but I'm thinkin' it's time to grow (bang! bang! bang!) So I got an apartment across from the park, put quinoa in my fridge, still I'm not feelin' grown. Been a heck of a ride but I'm thinkin' it's time to go (bang! bang! bang!) here we go!” I cleaned up the words a little. In terms of our theme, they are singing about being happy, but in an adolescent way, and the way to real happiness just might be the way of more mature thinking.

Before them, we heard from Amanda Ava Koci better known as Ava Max from the top songs of meaning of 2021, and her song “Kings and Queens” from her album “Heaven and Hell”. “If all of the kings had their queens on the throne” she sings, “we would pop champagne and raise a toast to all the queens who are fighting alone. You’re not dancin’ on your own. Can’t live without me, you wanna, but you can’t. Think it’s funny, but honey, can’t run this show on your own. I’ll show you how a real queen behaves. No damsel in distress, don’t need to save me. Once I start breathin’ fire, you can’t tame me. Disobey me, then, it’s off with your head, gonna change it and make it a world you won’t forget.” Right there is the phrase I’d like to take off on—she is going to change the world as a woman. It is a dancing song to be sure, but it’s all about the importance of women, a very good thought, I think. And there is no doubt that it is a thought that will make her happy, and extending the thought, make all women happy.

That is our thought today as we ask our songs what they have to say about “what it takes to make people happy.” Get ready for a final segment that will give you songs from our top 10 that we haven’t played yet, that is numbers 3, 2 and 1. We also have music from songs of three birthday people. Before we get there, here is an inspiring thought from American evangelist Billy Sunday who died in 1935: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” You bet. My name is Fr. Mike; this show is MATT; this station is Mix 103, and we’ll be right back!

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 10

Welcome back to the show that gives you the top 10 of today and yesterday along with their messages. We call it MATT. I’m your host, Fr. Mike, and we have taken off from an idea of Billie Eilish and the thought of what makes people happy. It’s great to have you with us as we are celebrating the third Sunday of the cool month of December together, almost Christmas. Happy shopping, everyone!

As we said, we have three birthdays to celebrate. First, let’s wish happy brthday to Christina Aguilera who will be 44 on Wednesday. One of my favorite songs of hers is this one. I think it is one of the most beautiful songs in our playlist. It has a great video also. It’s also a song with a very good message, and an important one, I believe. “Seems like it was yesterday,” the woman in the relationship sings, “you told me how proud you were but I walked away. If only I knew what I know today. I would hold you in my arms, I would take the pain away. I’m sorry for blaming you for everything I just couldn’t do, and I’ve hurt myself by hurting you. Some days I feel broken inside but I won’t admit; sometimes I just want to hide ‘cause it’s you I miss. You know it’s so hard to say goodbye when it comes to this.” The song is an apology for behavior which she should not have done. As I say, I think that that is an important idea—taking the time to say that we are sorry when we should be sorry for behavior. The video tells the story of a father and her daughter, and the fact that she is sorry for the things that she did. As we think of how to be happy, probably saying “I’m sorry” if you have hurt someone / is a prerequisite before we can really enjoy ourselves. This is from 2007 from Christina Aguilera, from her album “Back To Basics” and her song “Hurt” on MATT.

(triple) HURT / Christina Aguilera

UNSTOPPABLE / Sia

THE TIME OF MY LIFE / David Cook

Part 11

He will be 42 on Friday, so happy birthday to David Cook, American Idol number 7, crowned as such in 2008, a singer/songwriter who was raised in Blue Springs, Kansas City, Missouri from his album named after him, and his song “The Time of My Life”, on MATT. He sings: "I've been waiting for my dreams to turn into something I could believe in and looking for that magic rainbow on the horizon. Now, I’m coming alive, body and soul, and feeling my world start to turn. And I’ll taste every moment and live it out loud. I know this is the time, this is the time to be more than a name or a face in the crowd. I know this is the time of my life." And what has brought about this feeling? As he expresses it, it is a conversion experience: "I couldn’t see until I let go, gave into love and watched all the bitterness burn." For the person in the song, the idea of giving into love was the beginning of his happiness, our theme today.

Before him, we wished happy birthday to Australian singer Sia Kate Isobella Furler better known simply as Sia and a song from 2022 from her “This is Acting” album and her song “Unstoppable”. She will be 49 on Wednesday. It is a song about “hiding feelings.” “I smile,” she sings, “I know what it takes to fool this town. I’ll do it ‘til the sun goes down. And all through the night time, I’ll tell you what you want to hear, keep my sunglasses on while I shed a tear. I break down; only alone I will cry out loud. You’ll never see what’s hiding out deep down. I know I’ve heard that to let your feelings show is the only way to make friendships grow, but I’m too afraid.” And the refrain is her showing that she will not let her feelings out: “I’m unstoppable, I’m a Porsche with no brakes, I’m invincible. I win every single game, I’m so powerful I don’t need batteries to play. I’m so confident, I’m unstoppable today.” She may think that, but if she is going to help the love to be happy, our theme today, she will have to learn to communicate and share her feelings.

Let’s go to our top 3 right now according to your requests and the study of Mediabase 24/7. At number 3 falling from number 1 is a song about a man in a relationship talking of the lifestyle of each of the partners. His own is a late-night one along with a little too much relaxation / and the partner is an early bird with a cautious lifestyle. “It can’t be said I’m an early bird, it’s ten o’clock before I say a word. I can never tell how you sleep so well. You keep telling me to live right, to go to bed before the daylight, but then you wake up for the sunrise. But while in this world, I think I’ll take my whiskey neat, my coffee black and my bed at three. You’re too sweet for me.” We have mentioned before that opposites sometimes attract when people are discovering love, but not often, and people like this who find themselves attracted to one another in love, will have to make some decision to compromise so that their relationship will be a happy one, our theme today. This is Irish singer/songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, better known simply as Hozier, and his song “Too Sweet”, number 3 right now, on MATT.

(double) 3 TOO SWEET / Hozier

2 A BAR SONG / Shaboozey

Part 12

Former number 1, now at number 2, from Collins Obinna Chibueze, known as Shaboozey, American musician /singer/ songwriter/ filmmaker and producer, and his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” on MATT. He begins his song by telling us that he works hard and has problems that he won’t have when he’s gone. And then presumably, he wants to relax from his work and problems by drinking alcohol. “Someone, pour me up a double shot of whiskey. They know me and Jack Daniel's got a history. There's a party downtown, near 5th Street. Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy. I've been boozey since I left, I ain't changin' for a check. Woke up drunk at 10 am, we gon'[na] do this stuff again. Tell your girl to bring a friend.” I changed a word in the song. As we think of our theme with this song, there is happiness with sensible relaxation, our theme today which is just fine, but it sounds like there is too much in the song and that will lead to problems.

And moving back into the number 1 position, making it altogether three times at number 1 is British singer Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing”. “Time stood still,” he begins his song, “just like a photograph; you made me feel like this would last forever. Lookin' in your eyes, I see my whole life. They say you know it when you know it and I know. Promise that you'll hold me close, don't let me go. Take my heart, don't break it; love me to my bones. All this time I've wasted; you were right there all along, you and I stargazin', intertwinin' souls. We were never strangers; I lose my mind when I'm around you; how I come alive. When I'm without you I can't help but feel so lost. I wanna give you all I've got.” He says that when you know that you are in love, then you know, and / he knows. That is in terms of our theme, he will be very happy with the love relationship he has.

We have talked of that today—what will make us happy. And some pretty good insights from the songs that we have played beginning with our lead song from Billie Eilish and her song “What Was I Made For?” Let’s close with this thought from one of my favorite authors, Mr. Will Rogers: “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” And the person who learns that will be able to learn more about one’s own personal happiness. You bet. My thanks to our producers and our sponsors, in particular Holy Family Elementary School, Hays Car and Truck Alignment, and TMP-Marian High School in Hays. If you want to contact me by mail, I hope you do so at KJLS-FM, Hays, America, 67601 or my e-mail address here at the station is frmikescully@yahoo.com. My website is www.frmikescully.com. where you will find meditations on the Gospels, these songs and movies. Our meditation today is on the song “Bang!” which we heard earlier on the show. As you listen to the number 1 song in our country and area right now from Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing,” may I remind you to hold a good thought. Thank you for the privilege of your time today. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. From the beautiful state of West Virginia where I’m spending some time, my wish to you is to be safe; peace to you, and be good.

1 STARGAZING / Myles Smith

December 8, 2024

“Seeing the Other Side”

Part 1

Hello Central Kansas and around the world! Welcome to “Message at the Top” your top 10 show on Mix 103. This is the show that gives you the messages of the top 10 of today and yesterday, and, surprisingly enough, the songs often enable us to see exactly what can help our lives be a bit better than they are already. I’m your host, Fr. Mike; thanks for being part of our show this morning. We have the top 10 music of today and some from the past 44 years all warmed up on our computers. Some of those songs include music from Billie Eilish, and Justin Timberlake and a lot more. Our motto continues to be to enjoy the music which you are doing or else you wouldn’t listen to this great radio station, but at the same time—what our show adds—listen to the message, allowing that message to sink into our brains and actually guide us to better living.

You’ve heard the expression that there are always two sides to every story. I looked up the origin of that saying, and it came ultimately from the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras who died in 410 BC. It simply means that there are often two different versions of ostensibly the same event.

Take the event of something that just didn’t go right. The person in this song sings that because of it, he was not okay. In fact, he was barely getting by. He had lost track of days and he was losing sleep at night. He says he is fine, but as he says, he has learned to hide it well. He feels a little sorry for himself, says that he can’t be the only one who’s holding on for dear life. It sounds like utter despair, but he says what Pythagoras taught hundreds of years ago, “It’s gonna be all right, I know that one day we’ll see the other side, and the pain’ll wash away in a holy water tide, and we all gonna be all right.” Great attitude, and exactly what should happen—even though there is pain, “all gonna be all right.” The other side to it is the good side—all gonna be alright.

Translated into the language of the twenty-first century, there may be negatives in our living, and there are—no doubt about that—but the overall knowledge just may be the most important belief—the negative will not stay, and we can count on the other side always being true—all gonna be alright. This is Jason Bradley DeFord, that is Jelly Roll from his album “Beautifully Broken” and his song “I Am Not Okay”, number 10 this week on MATT.

(double) 10 I AM NOT OKAY / Jelly Roll

NEED A FAVOR / Jelly Roll

Part 2

Jelly Roll again, and another high song of meaning, and his excellent song from his album “Whitsitt Chapel,” the song “Need a Favor”. Its topic is prayer. Speaking the truth of so many people, it says: “I only talk to God when I need a favor, and I only pray when I ain’t got a prayer. So, who the heck am I to expect a Savior if I only talk to God when I need a favor. But God I need a favor! I know Amazing Grace, but I ain’t been livin’ them words. Swear I spend most Sundays drunk than I have in church. Hard cover King James only been savin’ dust on the nightstand, and I don’t know what to say the time I fold my hands. I only talk to God when I need a favor.” I changed some of the words. The man in the song realizes his mistakes, and he is seeing the other side as he realizes that he’s not what he should be. You’d think that that would make a difference in his attitude.

It’s Taylor Swift’s birthday this Friday when she will be 35 years old, and I thought it would be fitting to dedicate a triple play to her. We’ll begin with a song of revenge against a boyfriend who has made the lady in the relationship turn against him. “I don’t like your little games,” she sings, “don’t like your tilted stage, the role you made me play. I don’t like your perfect crime, how you laugh when you lie. But I got smarter. I rose up from the dead, I’ve got a list of names and yours is in red, underlined. Look what you made me do. I’ll be the actress starring in your bad dreams.” She is not happy with him at all. And in terms of our theme, she will have to look at the other side, namely getting over him and moving on. From her album “Reputation,” Ms. Taylor Swift and her song, “Look What You Made Me Do” on MATT.

(triple) LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO / Taylor Swift

YOU BELONG TO ME / Taylor Swift

ANTI-HERO / Taylor Swift

Part 3

Happy birthday to her on Friday, closing off a triple play from her, her song from her album “Midnights,” and the song “Anti-Hero” on MATT. It is also the latest song of my top 6 songs since 1980 with the most meaning. It is a great teaching song because it talks about the negatives of a person’s life, and the desire to get rid of them. The video acts it out very well. There’s no better explanation than in Taylor Swift’s own words: “This song is a real guided tour throughout all of the things I tend to hate about myself. We all hate things about ourselves. It's all of those aspects of the things we dislike and like about ourselves that we have to come to terms with if we're going to be this person. So, I like "Anti-Hero" a lot because I think it’s really honest.” In the words of the song: “I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser. Midnights become my afternoons when my depression works the graveyard shift. All of the people I’ve ghosted stand there in the room. I should not be left to my own devices; they come with prices and vices, I end up in crisis, I wake up screaming from dreaming. One day I’ll watch as you’re leaving ‘cause you got tired of my scheming. It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.” And some great words in the song with the story of a life gone bad because of “the monster on the hill” as she calls her bad self, the self who is causing the problems. Without actually saying it, although it is clear from the song: she teaches us that we are the ones who are making bad choices, but we can reform if we want. And, in terms of our theme, she is speaking the other side, talking about the bad things and implying that she will do something about them in her life. Excellent song.

Before her, her again, Taylor Swift and her song “You Belong With Me” from her album “Fearless” from 2009. It is a song of wishing for the other side in terms of our theme. She wants a relationship with the man, but the relationship is with another. “You're on the phone with your girlfriend,” she sings, “She's upset, she's going off about something that you said 'cause she doesn't get your humor like I do. She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers, dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
that what you're looking for has been here the whole time. If you could see that I'm the one who understands you; why can't you see you belong with me.” The lady sees the other side, our theme, the things she should do, but it is not within her reach yet.

We have taken that theme of seeing the other side during our show this morning. We will continue to pursue it in just a couple of minutes with music from in order of appearance Imagine Dragons, Billie Eilish, Post Malone and Morgan Wallen together, Jax and Benson Boone. First, a thought from G. C. Lichtenberg, a scientist that lived in the 1700’s: “Nothing contributes more to a person's peace of mind than having no opinions at all.” Now, I don’t know whether we can do it, but it would certainly help us see the other side, the good side. I’m Fr. Mike, this show is “Message at the Top”, this radio station is today’s best music Mix 103, and we’ll be right back.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 4

We are back for “Message at the Top” and we welcome you back to the top 10 songs of today and yesterday as determined by our research and your requests. We call our show MATT because we take those top 10 songs and analyze their meanings in the light of how we can live better in this complicated world. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the top 10 show of today’s best music Mix 103, and we are pursuing a theme from Jelly Roll and his statement about always seeing the other side.

And we are ready to hear a song that says to all of us to “never give up on your dreams,” which is part of the words of the song. The person in the song sets the stage of not being just another person: “I was dreaming of bigger things, not a follower, I was lightning before the thunder.” Other kids were making fun of him, but now he sings, “I’m smiling from the stage while you were clapping in the nosebleeds.” It is a great leadership song—follow your dreams, be what you can be. With our theme being “Seeing the Other Side” there is some adversity in following our dreams all the time, but if we can always see the other side, the side that says to keep trying, life will turn out well. MATT presenting here from their album “Evolve,” the group Imagine Dragons from 2017, and their song “Thunder” on MATT.

(double) THUNDER / Imagine Dragons

4 BIRDS OF A FEATHER / Billie Eilish

Part 5

Billie Eilish’s latest from her album “Hit Me Hard and Soft”, and her song “Birds of a Feather”, former number 1, now at number 4 on MATT. It is a song about falling in love with a person that she wants to "stick together" with. The love to her significant other brings her to tears and begs the lover to never end their relationship. “I want you to stay 'til I'm in the grave”, she begins, “'til I rot away, dead and buried, ‘til I'm in the casket you carry. If you go, I'm goin' too / 'cause it was always you and if I'm turnin' blue, please don't save me. Nothin' left to lose without my baby. Birds of a feather we should stick together. And I don't know what I'm cryin' for; I don't think I could love you more. It might not be long, but I'll love you 'til the day that I die, ‘til the light leaves my eyes, ‘til the day that I die.” So, the lady in the relationship is truly committed to the other and presuming that the other in the relationship feels the same way, that commitment will stay there, and there will not be an other side to the relationship because it is already pretty great the way it is.

Yet another triple play is in store for us now, and we begin it with a song from the- artistry of Post Malone & Morgan Wallen and the first song about blame on our show today. “I had some help,” they sing, “It ain’t like I can make this kind of mess all by myself. Don’t act like you ain’t help[ing] me pull that bottle off the shelf. Been deep in every weekend if you couldn’t tell. They say teamwork makes the dream work. You think that you’re so innocent. After all the stuff you did, I ain’t an angel; you ain’t heaven-sent, can’t wash our hands off this. It takes two to break a heart in two, you blame me, and I blame you.” Of course, as I have said, that is what it is from his point of view. The lady in the relationship probably has her own version. Whatever the case, they will both have to get rid of their desire to blame the other before their relationship will work out. In fact, the other side to this whole scenario, our theme today, is to admit what they are doing and make amends for it. MATT presenting Austin Richard Post, that is Post Malone here from his album “F-1 Trillion”, along with Morgan Wallen and their song “I Had Some Help” number 8 right now on MATT.

(triple) 8 I HAD SOME HELP / Post Malone & Morgan Wallen

VICTORIA’S SECRET / Jax

5 BEAUTIFUL THINGS / Benson Boone

Part 6

Number 5 right now from his album “Fireworks and Rollerblades,” his song “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone, former number 1 on MATT. It is a song about a man in a relationship who has discovered a person that he really likes and he wants to keep it that way. “For a while there, it was rough,” he sings, “but lately I’ve been doing better than the last four Decembers I recall. And I see my family every month and I found a girl my parents love. She’ll come and stay the night, and I think I might have it all, and I thank God every day for the girl He sent my way. But I know the things He gives me, He can take away, and I hold you every night and that’s a feeling I wanna get used to. But there’s no man as terrified as the man who stands to lose you. I hope I don’t lose you. Please stay. I want you, I need you. God, don’t take these beautiful things that I’ve got.” I’ve mentioned before that it is evident that the person is tuned into God, and from my point of view anyway, that is something that we should be determined to have. It happens to be what the other side is all about—always doing the best we can, “the other side” being our theme today.

Before him, we heard a great teaching song from this time last year that was to go on to become number 1 for a number of weeks. It was from Jackie Miskanic better known as Jax of American Idol fame and her song “Victoria’s Secret”. The lady who sings the song gave the reason why she wrote the song. She was watching a young girl for a family and she took her to the store Victoria’s Secret. This is her quote: “Yesterday, I picked her up from the mall, because she was going to her first boy-girl pool party. Her and her friends went bikini shopping at Victoria's Secret. She literally got in the car, hysterically crying to me, because this one little brat said something to her that made me cringe. So, I wrote a song for her, because when I was her age, I had a lot of eating problems, and I wish someone would have said these things to me.^” Those things, she sings: “All bodies aren’t the same, photoshop itty-bitty models on magazine covers, told me I was overweight. I stopped eating, what a bummer, can’t have carbs and a hot girl summer. I’d say: I know Victoria’s secret and girl, you wouldn’t believe she’s an old man who lives in Ohio making money off of girls like me, cashing in on body issues, selling skin and bones. She was made up by a dude, Victoria was made up by a dude.” Actually Victoria’s Secret was founded by a man from Connecticut, but that’s not important—she is speaking to girls the important message that they don’t have to follow some advertising technique to be loved in this world. She is speaking the other side of a young girl growing up and saying the right thing. Great song.

Important things as usual are being said here as a result of the theme of our show today which is simply the thought of discovering the other side of situations, what we have called the better side. We will continue with that thought generated by a song from Jelly Roll in just a few moments. Before we go to break, let me give you this thought from the wisdom of Japanese culture: “In baiting a mousetrap with cheese, always leave room for the mouse”. That is, always remember what you are supposed to be doing. If you don’t, you’ll discover no beauty in your invention and besides that it won’t work very well. I’m Fr. Mike for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. Why not stay right where you are as you enjoy your December Sunday morning with us. We’ll be right back.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 7

Your dial is set to Mix 103, today’s best music in Central Kansas, 100,000 watts of sheer power. My name is Fr. Mike, and the show you have on that station right now is MATT, a show that takes the top 10 of today and yesterday, and not only plays the songs, but studies their meanings in the hopes that we can all be just a little bit better than we are right now. Our motto and guiding thought during this show is to enjoy the music, and to listen to the message and let it inspire us. This morning, we are following the lead of a song from Jelly Roll and his song “I Am Not Okay.” The song is leading us to think about the other side in situations, a side that is good.

This next triple begins with the song at number 9 in our playlist today. It is a song about justifiable anger. The lady in the relationship sings: “We had a plan, move out of this town, West to the sand, it's all we talked about lately. I'd pack the car, bring your guitar, first thing at dawn, you'd queue the songs and we'd get goin'. But you weren't home, waited on the porch for ya, sat there alone, all throughout the morn' 'til I got a hunch down in my gut and snuck around the back. Empty cans and I'll be damned, your stuff was never packed. Did your boots stop workin'? Did you burn through money? Was the whiskey flowin'? Were you in a fight?” And consequently, she sings, “I made my way back to LA, and that's where you'll be forgotten. In forty years, you'll still be here, drunk, washed up in Austin.” In terms of our theme this week, she knows what the other side should be and it does not include him anymore. Ms. Anna Dasha Novotny here, better known simply as Dasha from her debut album “Dirty Blonde,” at number 9 this morning and “Austin” on MATT.

(triple) 9 AUSTIN / Dasha

CAN’T STOP THE FEELING / Justin Timberlake

EASY ON ME / Adele

Part 8

The beautiful voice of Adele Laurie Blue Adkins or simply Adele, from her album “30”, a song inspired according to her by her divorce, “Easy on Me,” from 2022 on MATT. It is a song after a breakup again. She sings, “There ain’t no gold in this river that I’ve been washing my hands in forever. I know there is hope in these waters, but I can’t bring myself to swim. When I am drowning in this silence, let me in. Go easy on me, I was still a child, didn’t get the chance to feel the world around me. I had no time to choose what I chose to do, so, go easy on me. There ain’t no room for things to change when we are both so deeply stuck in our ways. You can’t deny how hard I have tried. I changed who I was to put you first, but now I give up, go easy on me.” It is an excellent song for anyone who is thinking of marriage because it shows how difficult marriage can be if we have not given ourselves completely to each other. When one is looking at the other side, our theme today, the other side which is the better side, it is always good to know the difficulties.

Before her, we heard from Justin Timberlake from 2016 and his song ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling” from the album “Trolls Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.” It is a song about good feelings. “I got this feeling inside my bones,” he sings; “It goes electric, wavey when I turn it on. All through my city, all through my home, we're flying up, no ceiling, when we are in our zone. I got that sunshine in my pocket, got that good song in my feet. I can't take my eyes off it, moving so phenomenally. You gonna like the way we rock it, so don't stop. I can't stop the feeling, so just dance.” So, a song about good feelings and in particular dancing. Feeling good is always part of the other side, our theme today, and something to always remember even when we are feeling not so good.

Let’s got back to our top 10 playlist and give us number 7 right now. It is from Teddy Swims and the story of what happens when a person is lonely. He sings “Something’s got a hold of me lately. No, I don’t know myself anymore, feels like the walls are all closing in and the devil’s knocking at my door. Outta my mind, how many times did I tell you I’m no good at being alone? It’s taking a toll on me, trying my best to keep from tearing the skin off my bones. Don’t you know I lose control when you’re not next to me. I’m falling apart right in front of you. You’re breaking my heart. You make a mess of me.” So it is loneliness, but it is loneliness because one special person is no longer there for him. One of the problems of early relationships and sometimes with later ones, is that we get too serious too soon and fail to try to make the relationship stronger because we are too caught up with feelings. The other side, our theme today, always includes feelings of course, but they are feelings that lead one to do what is the better thing. This is from his album “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, part 1”, Jaten Collin Dimsdale better known as Teddy Swims, and his song “Lose Control”, number 7 on MATT.

(triple) 7 LOSE CONTROL / Teddy Swims

CLOSE TO ME / Ellie Goulding f/ Diplo

6 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

Part 9

An extremely talented duo each in their own way--Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga and Peter Gene Hernandez, better known as Bruno Mars and their song, “Die with a Smile”, number 6 on MATT. It is a love song and strong commitment to each other. “I just woke up from a dream,” they sing, “Where you and I had to say goodbye; and I don't know what it all means, but since I survived, I realized wherever you go, that's where I'll follow. Nobody's promised tomorrow, so I'ma love you every night like it's the last night. If the world was ending, I'd wanna be next to you. If the party was over and our time on Earth was through, I'd wanna hold you just for a while and die with a smile.” So, words of strong commitment, but there had been struggles, it seems. They sing, “Lost in the words that we scream, I don't even wanna do this anymore 'cause you already know what you mean to me. And our love's the only war worth fighting for.” Fitting into our theme, this week, they were screaming at one another at one time, and were at war with one another, but it finally worked out, that is, they found what the other side in their relationship was all about, our theme today.

Before them, we heard from Diplo who produces the song and Ellie Goulding and Swae Lee who sing it and their song “Close to Me” from 2019. It is a song of really wanting someone special to be close to someone, and not accepting anyone else. “We know that we’ll be alright,” they sing, “So don’t let me down, keep me in trouble, born to be wild out in the jungle, And I don’t want to be somebody without your body close to me, and if it wasn’t you, I wouldn’t want anybody close to me. ‘Cause I’m an animal, an animal like you.” It sounds as though they need a little maturity—IMHO, of course, and if they really want to be alright, which they say they are, they are going to have to work on maturity. And in terms of our theme, that is the other side to what they are singing. Yes, important to feel close to the one you love, but the reason is not only the good feeling, but to work on a mature love.

We will continue to look at the remainder of the top 10 of this week along with some extras in just a few moments. Let me take you to break with a quote about having fun from Kahlil Gibran: “If you cannot work with fun but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work.” Think about that, but before you leave, you might want to spend some time in deep thought. I’m Fr. Mike, this show is “Message at the Top” and your dial is set at Mix 103.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Part 10

We are back for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103 and we do welcome you back to the top 10 songs of today and yesterday as determined by our research and your requests. We call our show MATT because we take those top 10 songs and analyze their meanings in the light of how we can live better in this complicated world—and it IS complicated these days. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the only top 10 show that gives you the meanings of the songs that we play here on today’s best music, Mix 103, and we are pursuing a theme from Jelly Roll and his song “I Am Not Okay.”

Let’s go to a triple play during this segment 10 presentation of songs from a singer whose real name is Adam Richard Wiles, a Scottish DJ, record producer and singer. He has received 23 Brit award nominations, winning British Producer of the Year as well as five Grammy nominations. His name, Calvin Harris. In this first song, he sings along with Rihanna and is an emotional song that extols the fact that both of the couple in the relationship are ready for the relationship to continue, to allow “the lightning” as she sings, to strike again and again. He is completely satisfied because everybody’s watching her, and she’s only looking at him. They say, she sings, nothing more than what they need, and presumably emotion takes over. As we think about the other side in relationships, the other side, the better side in this song is that love is more than emotion. Their song from Calvin Harris’ album “Ready for the Weekend” singing along with Rihanna from 2019, their song “This is What You Came For” on MATT.

(triple) THIS IS WHAT YOU CAME FOR / Calvin Harris f/ Rihanna

OUTSIDE / Calvin Harris f/ Ellie Goulding

BLAME / Calvin Harris f/ John Legend

Part 11

The song featured on my website www.frmikescully.com today, another song about blame, Calvin Harris and singing along with him is English singer/musician John William Peter Newman or simply John Newman from Calvin Harris’ album “Motion,” their song simply called “Blame” on MATT. The song is the story of how we act in our lives when we have done something that is not right. We often blame it on others. “Guilt is burning,” the man in the relationship sings, “Inside I’m hurting. This ain’t a feeling I can keep. So blame it on the night; don’t blame it on me. Can you see it: I was manipulated. I had to let her through the door; I had no choice in this. I’m so sorry, I promise I will be better this time. Don’t blame it on me.” The truth is that it was his fault—he didn’t have to let the other lady-friend into his life, but he did. And so, he tries to shift the blame—putting it on the night or the other person, claiming that that is the reason. It would never be him in his mind, and he deserves another chance. It is the acting out of the definition of blame: we want to feel superior in every situation and that means that even if we did it, we don’t want to admit it because we still want to look good. The other side to this whole scenario is to admit what he is doing and make amends for it. Maybe it would save a couple of his future relationships.

The second song in that triple dedicated to him was from him and featuring English singer Ellie Goulding. It was from his album “Motion” and their song, “Outside,” from 2015. It is a song sung after a breakup. “Look at what you've done,” she sings, “Stand still, falling away from me. When it takes so long, fire's out, what do you want to be? Now I'm holding on, myself was never enough for me. Gotta be so strong; there's a power in what you do. Now every other day I'll be watching you. I'll show you what it feels like; now I'm on the outside. We did everything right. Now I'm on the outside. So, you give me no reason for me to stay close to you. Tell me what lovers do. How are we still breathing? It's never for us to choose; I'll be the strength in you.” It sounds as though even though the break up has occurred, they are both still hanging on. The other side to this relationship, our theme today, is to admit what has happened and spend some important time communicating with each other completely.

Now, let’s close off our top 10 beginning with number 3 from your requests and the study of Mediabase 24-7. At number 3 is a song about drinking. He begins his song by telling us that he works hard and has problems that he won’t have when he’s gone. And then presumably, he wants to relax from his work and problems by drinking alcohol. “Someone, pour me up a double shot of whiskey. They know me and Jack Daniel's got a history. There's a party downtown, near 5th Street. Everybody at the bar gettin' tipsy. I've been boozey since I left, I ain't changin' for a check. Woke up drunk at 10 am, we gon'[na] do this stuff again. Tell your girl to bring a friend.” I changed a word in the song. As we think of our theme with this song, two things. The other side, our theme today, that is, the good side of relationships does include enjoying ourselves, but, two, not too much. This is former number 1 now at number 3, from Collins Obinna Chibueze, known as Shaboozey, American musician /singer/ songwriter/ filmmaker and producer, and his song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” on MATT.

(double) 3 A BAR SONG / Shaboozey

2 STARGAZING / Myles Smith

Part 12

At number 2, today, British singer Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing” on MATT. “Time stood still,” he begins his song, “just like a photograph; you made me feel like this would last forever. Lookin' in your eyes, I see my whole life. They say you know it when you know it and I know. Promise that you'll hold me close, don't let me go. Take my heart, don't break it; love me to my bones. All this time I've wasted; you were right there all along, you and I stargazin', intertwinin' souls. We were never strangers; I lose my mind when I'm around you; how I come alive. When I'm without you I can't help but feel so lost. I wanna give you all I've got.” He says that when you know that you are in love, then you know, and / he knows. That is in terms of our theme, he knows the other side, the good side, and is working toward it.

And the number 1 song is a former number 1 song, now at number one for a total of 5 weeks from Irish singer/songwriter Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, better known simply as Hozier, and his song “Too Sweet”. It is a song about a man in a relationship talking of the lifestyle of each of the partners. His own is a late-night one along with a little too much relaxation / and the partner is an early bird with a cautious lifestyle. “It can’t be said I’m an early bird, it’s ten o’clock before I say a word. I can never tell how you sleep so well. You keep telling me to live right, to go to bed before the daylight, but then you wake up for the sunrise. But while in this world, I think I’ll take my whiskey neat, my coffee black and my bed at three. You’re too sweet for me.” We have mentioned before that opposites sometimes attract when people are discovering love, but not often, and people like this who find themselves attracted to one another in love, will have to make some decision to compromise so that the other side of their relationship, our theme today, that is living happily together will happen.

Today we have spoken of the other side or the better side in any relationship. We took the idea from Jelly Roll’s song “I Am Not Okay.” My prayer for you and me is that we will always look for the other side, that is the better side in any relationship in which we find ourselves. If you would like to get a hold of me, my e-mail address is: frmikescully@yahoo.com or the address at the radio station: KJLS-FM, Hays, America, KS 67601. My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find a transcript of this show and lots of meditations on music and movies. The meditation today as I mentioned is on Calvin Harris and John Legend’s song “Blame”. My thanks to the producers of our show and to our sponsors, especially, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays, Hays Car and Truck Alignment, and Holy Family Elementary School in Hays. My closing thought for you comes from the Mahatma Gandhi, perhaps the very best advice that you will hear about revenge: “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” No wonder they called him Mahatma, meaning the Great. Thank you for the privilege of your time today. As you listen to the number 1 song in our land, once again from Hozier and his song “Too Sweet” may I remind you, as I always do to think good thoughts. I am in beautiful West Virginia these days, my name is Fr. Mike Scully. Be safe. peace to you, and be good!

1 TOO SWEET / Hozier