Nation Of The Weak

"They have eyes, but they can't see. They're a part of the Nation of the weak". Throughout the song I wrote about how people think they are great and how they're greatness is compared to a mighty nation. But, the truth is that without Christ in their life they're only, or are part of, a nation of the weak. Written by Jerry Corelli

Jerry Corelli

Nation of the Weak
Written September 8, 1982
Words and Music by Jerry Corelli

Verse 1
They have eyes, but they don’t see.
They have ears, but they don’t here,
They have mouths, but they don’t speak,
They’re a part of the nation of the weak.

Verse 2
They have hands, but they won’t give,
They have hearts, but they’re cold and lonely,
They have minds, but they don’t think,
They’re apart of the nation of the weak.

Verse 3
They have their gods, but the they’re silver and gold,
They have their books, but wisdom from man gets old,
They have their buildings, that can reach the highest peak,
They’re a part of the nation of the weak.

Verse 4
They have free will, but the free will is from man,
They have feet, but their feet won’t learn to stand,
They have their strength, but what they should be is meek,
They’re a part of the nation of the weak.

Recorded 1982 by Jerry Corelli / Song #173
Copyright 1982 Corelli’s Music Box
Published 1982 Corelli’s Music Box, BMI / BMI Work ID: 004920600

Aren't You Ready

I was listening to one of my all time favorite Christian Artists the other day, Barry McGuire. The album was a live album "Barry McGuire and the Second Chapter of Acts". By the way I love Second Chapter of Acts too. Anyway, I hadn't heard the album in sometime and realized how much it was like going to church. I realized that my songwriting style is from the generation I grew up in. That is, my style of writing Christian songs, is meat and potatoes like what I was hearing from the Barry McGuire album. In other words Jesus loves you, he died on the cross for you, he rose again and defeated dead and your sins are forgiven. Therefore if you're not born again, if you haven't accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, then, you're going to hell. That's what I call meat and potatoes Christian music. That's what most of the songs are like on this album. "Aren't You Ready" says it loud and clear.

Jerry Corelli

Righteous Man

Do you see Jesus in the things you do and do you believe you're a righteous man? That was what I was thinking about when I wrote this song. I've met so many people who believed they were righteous in God's eyes. And caught myself thinking I was righteous in God's eyes too. I am a righteous man because of the blood of Christ and Jesus dieing on the cross for my sins. But, I'm not always a righteous man in my thoughts, words and deeds all the time or most of the time. So, this song it is a reminder for me to continue striving to be a righteous man in God's eyes. I don't strive to be a righteous man to go to heaven, that's work righteousness. I strive to be a righteous man because it's pleasing to God.

Words & Music by Jerry Corelli

Jerry Corelli

Jerry Corelli Vocal Style

My first vocal performance was at the age of 14 or 15. I had written a song that "Billy Master" of the "The Archers" had re-written with me and performed it with Billy at a Winter Camp in Colorado sponsored by the church I attended, Calvary Temple. This would been the Winter of 72 or 73. I must say the response I received was infectious and I was hooked. From there I began singing in "The Jazz Choir" at Byers Junior High. I was so blessed by learning from two teachers at Byers, Sonya Hall and Dorothy Winteringham. Sonya was the Jazz Choir teacher and allowed me to do solos of songs I'd written. Not sing them but do them during performances in the auditorium (pictured right) for the school. In the ninth grade Sonya had severe back problems and was out for many months. I wrote a song called, "Mrs. Hall" and was able to sing it during a special performance in which she was able to attend.

Then the day came when a friend, Jim Drake, introduced me to a singer's album who, Jim said, I sounded like. I'd never heard the singer before but was very attracted to the singer's voice and songwriting when I heard "Longfellow Serenade". I took the album home and when I returned it to Jim he gave me another album that hooked me as a forever fan of Neil Diamond. The album was the incomporable "Hot August Night" and from that moment on I would end up buying every Neil Diamond album there was and would come out to this day.

Neil Diamond's style of singing though was also the style of many other artists of the day. Singers like Barbara Streisand, Karen Carpenter, John Denver, Jim Croce and others had the same easy listening and smooth style in their vocals. At the time I listened those singers and others too like Frank Sinatra and my fav Bing Crosby. It didn't take long for just about everyone who listened to my voice to always ask me, "Do you know who you sound like?" After awhile my favorite come back would be, "Why yes, Barry Manilow." It was fun for me to look at the expression on their face when I would say that and then they would of course correct me by seriously say, "No, Neil Diamond." At first I felt forever cursed but after awhile I learned to live with it and accept that everyone has to sound like someone and took it as a complement.