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CursedRedeemedCondemnedbyMCGridlocked andALajoux
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MC Gridlocked and Alexandra Lajoux collaborated on this song for Tookie.
country god jesus bluegrass addiction soldiers heartbreak recovery marriage adoption marital romance codependency
Discover the symphonies in your life through mine. Join me in giving glory to God as we cope with love/loss, addiction/recovery, codependency/freedom, abando
Alexandra Lajoux Welcome, Friends! This singer-songwriter and producer writes and recruits as the Spirit moves! For links to my most recent recordings, please visit my label's website, americanclassicrecordings.com (ACR), or look me up on places like itunes.com. ACR has released several albums over the past several years, alternating between original secular songs and classic hymns. Many of the tracks feature yours truly. The first project, My Country (2006), was a singer-songwriter album featuring yours truly. To its glory, it featured guest vocalists Doc McKinsey and Eric Townsend, as well as inspired instrumentals from Andrew Acosta, Jeff Severson, Christopher Sexton, Steve Magnusen, and others. See more details at AlexisMusicStudio.com, dedicated to veterans and active-duty military. Our song "We Thank You" is posted at americasupportsyou.mil. Please visit and express your appreciation for our brave men and women in uniform. The next album released under the ACR label was "Day of Praise," released in April 2007. Guest stars included Wesley Robinson, Noreen Freeman, Angel Sheppard and daughters, Jarvis Smith, Jonathan Hopkins, Kendra Miller, Aaron Bunche, and Emmanuel Jackson. The album features familiar hymns and two originals--"Break the Yoke" by Angela Sheppard and "Holy Spirit" by Alexandra Lajoux. For the rest of 2007 and 2008 your heroine returned to songwriting, releasing two maxi-singles: Texas/Liberty and I Relove You/Je Retaime, featuring songs about my two favorite subjects--my country and my husband! In early 2009, I recorded a rock version of "Danny Boy" as a tribute to a friend. Later in 2009, my direction returned to religious music, singing hymns with singers and musicians from several churches in the greater Washington, D.C. area. In early 2009, we released What a Friend We Have in Jesus (in a new arrangement by Joe Warfield)/He Is Great (original composition), featuring singers from Macedonia Baptist, Arlington, VA; First A.M.E., Alexandria; Woodstream, and Hunter Memorial A.M.E. Featured singers, arrangers, and songwriters included Joe Warfield, Dorothy Thomas, and many others. Next to come that same year was One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus, with vocals by Rayshun LaMarr, Robin Walker, and (leading track 1) yours truly. This album has been well received around the world. The title track, featuring Lajoux and LaMarr, has received more than 1,000 paid downloads and many more streams from all over the globe! In 2010, a sacred silence reigned. I stopped recording music to spend more time with my sweet mother Stella Swingle Reed, who was battling cancer and other ills with a grace that left me forever astonished at her courage and the goodness of God. In 2011, with my mother's encouragement, I returned to the studio and for the next year, thinking always of her, recorded hymns with the amazing tenor Chris Dennard working with gifted co-producers Jarvis Smith (keybord) and Jeff Severson (guitar). Please look for our 2012 Blessed Assurance tracks on any major music retailer on the web. A final word: Mes Amis, Meine Freunden, Miei Amici, Mis Amigos, if you have suggestions for future recordings, or comments on any here, please drop me a line. (I read French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and can decipher a number of other languages, so if you are too shy to write in English, go ahead and write your own language. I will write back.)
Song Info
Charts
#115,995 today Peak #855
#2,985 in subgenre Peak #25
Author
MCGridlockedandAlexandra Lajoux
Rights
Alexandra Lajoux
Uploaded
July 22, 2006
Track Files
MP3
MP3 1.7 MB 128 kbps 1:52
Story behind the song
I wrote an early version of this song after Stanley "Tookie" Williams went to his death December 13, 2005. Several months later, MC Gridlocked (then called Lyricalzzz) liked one of my songs on Soundclick (Magdalena). He suggested collaborating, so I sent him my initial words to the song, along with a Latin chant track I recorded (composing the melody). MC added a great verse and produced this song along with his awesome fellow rappers Timsta and Answer. We hope you like it. If you want to buy it, go to MC Gridlocked on Soundclick.com.
Lyrics
DEATH HAS NO DOMINION On the Execution of Tookie, Reformed Gang Leader A. R. Lajoux December 13, 2005 Opening chant: Ubi est mors victoria tua ubi est mors stimulus tuus? Oh grave where is thy victory Oh death where is thy sting? Verse 1 What would drive a man to kill A little family? How could he let young blood spill Just for a cocaine fee? How could he hear such silence when Those children cried their pleas. Or when the Lord himself Cried out, Tookie, Help me! Verse 2 Tookie begged for answers As he waited in his cell Oh Tookie asked for ransom. To stave off fires of hell Yes Tookie asked the Lord Within his heart to dwell. And God did come in fire and Word To a life that was too short. . Chorus 1 Cursed, Redeemed, And then condemned. Cursed, Redeemed, And then condemned. Oh God did come in fire and Word To a life that was too short. [ORIGINAL Verse 3 You changed your ways in prison, Took’ Against all odds you changed. Just like our Lord in the Good Book You helped dead live again. No more Crips and no more Bloods You said, we all must change. Change our ways and change our “hoods And break hate’s awful chains.] [New Verse 3 by MC Gridlocked: Verse 3 Stanley, a legend in his own ways, in his jail place. Fate from the 70's brought him here in this case. Took four shots on a man already face down; did it. A young mistake; let Tookie rest from that last hit. A determined black man to change the jail cells. Tookie did it, made it not look like a big hell. Final chorus Cursed, Redeemed, And then condemned, Oh Tookie, was your fate. But Tookie’s soul lives on for all, Who call for end to hate. On earth you got no mercy. In heaven you’ll wear a crown. For death has no dominion No death has no dominion No death has no dominion Over those who love the Lord. Closing chant: Oh grave where is thy victory Oh death where is thy sting? For all who ask for God’s good grace Live with their Lord and King.
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