Strange Cup Of Tea 🎶 Sister Hazel (acoustic version)
So I thought I would stick with Sister Hazel a while longer and give you a chance to get to know them.. this song “Strange Cup Of Tea” is another Hidden Gem from them.. it was released in 2000.. honestly.. they have so many great unpopular or kind of unknown songs.. I could stay with them for a long time.. I learned something about them last night.. their loyal fans are known as “Hazelnuts” haha.. I didn’t know that 😁.. and on this song.. Drew Copeland sings lead.. not Ken Block.. they switched it up.. I included a few other videos from them.. also.. I found out Ken Block founded a charity called “Lyrics For Life” to help children with pediatric cancer.. I thought that was cool.. I hope you enjoy…
So music means so much to me.. as you’re probably starting to see.. so I heard this song earlier.. and it brought back memories.. i once walked in on my mother.. she was alone and crying.. listening to this song.. turns out this one is special to her.. because it reminds her of me.. it’s the one song she has attached to me.. and I just noticed today.. that it was released the year I was born.. 1973.. something I’ve never noticed… all these years…
Two times in my life.. I’ve caught my mother crying to music.. here are both those songs…
When I was fourteen.. my best friend was killed in a dirt-bike accident.. I can’t begin to tell you what it did to me… Crushed is the only word I have right now.. and even that feels too small..
We were closer than brothers..
After the funeral.. I fell into my bedroom. That room became my world — my home inside my home.. I shut down.. Closed myself off.. No access allowed..
Everyone was worried about me..
It felt like I was on a camping trip in the wilderness alone.. And I stayed there for a whole year..
I needed something… but I didn’t know what..
I started borrowing CDs and cassette tapes from my uncle..
I found an old tape in a forgotten box in the attic — Bob Dylan’s Another Side of Bob Dylan… and I disappeared into it.
rock… country… blues… folk… old… new…
Hank Williams Jr… And the only Christian song I even knew back then.. Amazing Grace..
I didn’t just listen — I drank it.. And the more I drank.. the thirstier I got.. So I went swimming in it.. Something I still do..
Meanwhile.. God was walking the edges of me…
One night.. I awoke from a dream that wouldn’t let go… and there in the corner of my room was a silhouette.. shaped like a guitar..
my mother was so worried about me she didn’t know what else to do.. So she bought me an acoustic guitar.. And one night.. while I was sleeping… she placed it right where I would see it.. the moment I opened my eyes..
and so I took it
I played it… and I played it… and I played it…
until my fingers bled
until it started playing me..
I learned it — taught myself — until it learned me back..
Song after song.. Day after day.. night after night… Month after month.. From the fall of 1988 into the winter of 1989..
I played it…..
until it became my heartbeat..
And finally…
after a year in the wilderness…
I emerged from my room..
ready to face my giants…
…
of the 90’s…
…
…
…
First song i ever learned on guitar 👇
I had many songs embedded in this story.. but it was causing it to load super slow.. so I deleted most of them…
My Friend Joey’Me`
Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted.. and saves those who are crushed in spirit…”
For most of my life.. I’ve been strong and healthy.. Then about a year and a half ago.. my health crashed hard.. This past year has been rough… sickness.. weakness.. doctors searching for answers — but lately I’ve been getting stronger day by day..
Six months ago.. things hit the worst point..
I was deathly sick and went to the ER.. They ran tests.. Two doctors walked in with that look on their faces — the look that says everything before a word is spoken..
“We think it’s cancer.”
They told me there were spots on my pancreas… liver… kidneys… and when something shows up on multiple organs.. red flags go up immediately.. doctors assume the worst.. To them.. it looked like cancer that had already spread..
But me? I was calm..
Not because I’m fearless — but because I had a promise from above that I’d live a long life.. I knew it wasn’t my time.. And I also knew they can’t call anything “cancer” until a biopsy confirms it.. honestly.. even if it were cancer.. I’d still react calmly.. because I’m ready to go home whenever…
I was admitted to the hospital.. and while I waited for results.. everyone — doctors.. nurses.. all treated me like it was cancer.. even my patient chart said it’s cancer.. cancer.. cancer.. cancer… everywhere cancer… One nurse introduced me to another by saying….
“This is Bryan… he has pancreatic cancer.”
I looked up and said.. “No ma’am.. I don’t have cancer.. And the tests results aren’t even back yet…”
Everybody around me braced for the worst.. I held on to faith… I wasn’t signing my name on something that didn’t belong to me…
Not today. Not ever.
“Don’t put that evil on me.. Ricky Bobby..” I joked……….. (They tried to curse me — I wasn’t having it 😄…)
And then the results came in..
Everything was benign… No cancer… Doctors scratching their heads because they were almost certain… Me smiling.. because I already knew..
God kept His word to me. And I’m still here — living.. growing.. healing.. getting stronger every day..
If you’re facing something scary.. remember this.. Doctors have knowledge.. God has the final say……
And He’s not done with me yet.
Also… if you’re reading this….. He’s not done with you either…..
…….__↓[ ]~→| |→†↑’…….()~()~()→| |→*’Psalm 138:3…. …….○[↘]•^↘°↘/~∞~· · ·→†→↑’ When I called.. you answered me… you greatly emboldened me………….→→~→—/⛘……._晴~…~†→↯→’ ……._~…~†→/→^!^’…….|M|~(b)~…→≠→?’`
This is my first faith song post.. I’ve already changed my mind like 5 times this week on what to start off with… I decided to go easy starting out..
Shane & Shane are just incredible.. there music is among my favorites.. they are special.. they’ve been around for like 25 years.. the songs and the lyrics are top shelf.. and not so mainstream…
This first video is a beautiful short instrumental interlude.. followed by the featured song “Holiday” from the album “Pages” 2007… this album is on my all-time best list.. every song on it is awesome…
Also.. a side note.. the way these two guys harmonize together… is magical.. Shane Barnard & Shane Everett are their names.. Barnard is the front man and plays guitar and sings lead.. and Everett.. aka E.. he sings back up.. and he is maybe my favorite singer.. you should hear him hit the highs.. it’s just special..
Reflection
A pause. A song. A feeling.
You decide the rest.
Psalm 98:1 💯💥🎶☝️ “Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things.”
Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 