KJLS-FM 103.3 10am Sundays
June 29, 2025
“What Should Be Done?”
Part 1
Good morning, Central Kansas and around the world. Thank you for joining us this weekend. I hope your Sunday is a good one so far, and that it will be a happy one for you; and especially today and the next couple days, that it will be a safe one for you. Welcome to “Message at the Top.” Get set for the top 10 songs of our area right now as determined by our research and the national research of Mediabase 24-7. We’ll add to them some songs of past top 10’s as well, including songs from the 2000’s and 1990’s and even some from the 80’s. I am Fr. Mike, and you have your dial set to Mix 103, the number one popular music station of Central Kansas. Our plea to you during our show is that you enjoy the music that we play, but at the same time listen to the message, and allow that message to shape our lives for the better.
We have three birthdays to celebrate today, and I thought I would choose one of them to lead us off this morning. Her song is a song about a breakup that left a lot to be desired, and that being the case, we can easily talk about what should have been done. Tate McRae sings about that breakup, and it’s a little vindictive. “You broke me first,” she sings, “Maybe you don’t like talking too much about yourself, but you shoulda told me that you were thinking ‘bout someone else. You’re drunk at a party or maybe it’s just that your car broke down. Your phone’s been off for a couple months, so you’re calling me now. I know you, you’re like this, when things don’t go your way, you needed me to fix it and like me, I did, but I ran out of every reason. Now suddenly, you’re asking for it back. But I don’t really care how bad it hurts. When you broke me first, you broke me first. Where’d you get the nerve.”
The thing that bothers me as a counselor is her statement that she doesn’t care how bad it hurts. I know that the original breakup of the man to the woman had to hurt. That’s in the make-up of any breakup. But that which causes the real problem is when it goes the other way after the first breakup, the woman to the man. To my mind, she should have just called it off, and let it go at that. But her comment is as she said, “I don’t really care how bad it hurts.” I am of the firm belief that such an attitude is only going to add more problems to her pain. Not only is her attitude non-Christian; I think it is non-human in the sense that in order to live well, every human being should treat another human being with a sense of decency. So, answering the question, “What should be done?”, the human way to behave would be to just realize what is happening, and move on in life without being too vindictive. My opinion, anyway.
And that’s a pretty good way to look at our songs this morning. Study the situation and then ask “What should be done?” or “What is the human way of acting.” Starting us off is Tate Rosner McRae, or simply Tate McRae from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She will be 22 years old on Tuesday and her song from 2020, “You Broke Me First” on MATT.
(double) YOU BROKE ME FIRST / Tate McRea
GREEDY / Tate McRae
Part 2
Double birthday person Tate McRae there, that last song called “Greedy” a song that MATT made number 3 of all the songs of meaning of 2024 from her album “Think Later,” on MATT. She is singing about a boyfriend who doesn’t understand her at all, but she does understand herself. “He says, ‘Are you serious,’” she begins her song speaking of the boyfriend in the relationship; “I’ve tried,” he continues, “but I can’t figure out; I’ve been next to you all night and still don’t know what you’re about.” But she says, “I would want myself. Please believe me. I’ll put you through hell just to know me, so sure of yourself, don’t get greedy—that stuff won’t end well.” I changed the words a little. She said of the song that it is about confidence and about female empowerment. In terms of our theme, what should be done? In order to have a good relationship, she should probably tell him exactly how she feels.
Let’s go back to the year 2006 and a great song in my opinion. He sings: "I said, son, for all I've told you, when you get right down to the reason for the world, who am I? There are secrets that we still have left to find, there have been mysteries from the beginning of time, there are answers we're not wise enough to see. He said, You looking for a clue: I love you free. I guess we're big and I guess we're small. If you think about it, man, you know we got it all, 'cause we're all we got on this bouncing ball. And I love you free, I love you freely. Here's a riddle for you: find the answer. There's a reason for the world, you and I.” The message of the song is the idea of love, and what should be done, our theme today? Well, to love everyone is a pretty good answer. From his album “Playlist: The Very Best of Five for Fighting,” this is Vladimir John Ondrasik III better known as Five for Fighting, his song “The Riddle” on MATT.
(triple) THE RIDDLE / Five for Fighting
TOO SWEET/ Hozier
10 STARGAZING / Myles Smith
Part 3
Beginning our countdown today at number 10, a former number 1, British singer Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing” on MATT. It is a song about a love commitment which has worked, it seems. “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, he is thinking that his love is a mature committed love, and such a thought will mean he and his fiancee have worked out the problems that naturally come when you put two together forever, and therefore in terms of our theme, what should be done is that they keep it that way—forever.
Before him, we heard 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 what should be done in this instance? Well, the two had better do some compromising and if they don’t, they should move on in life.
We are asking that question of what should be done with the situation of the song today, that thought having come from Tate McRae’s song “You Broke Me First.” Here is a thought to close out this portion of our show from Mr. or Mrs. Cynical Anonymous, “Without freedom of speech, we would never know who the idiots are.” Indeed, and there are a bunch of people that probably come to your mind as well as mine. Don’t judge them—just say a prayer for them. You’ve got today’s best music Mix 103 on your radio dial, and we implore you to keep it right there.
+++COMMERCIAL BREAK+++
Part 4
It is so good to have you back with us.- Thank you for joining us and we welcome you back to the top 10 songs of our area as of the week ending today, the last Sunday of June 2025, the beginning of our Independence Day week and the second Sunday in this great season of summer—happy birthday, America. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the only top 10 show of its kind, “Message at the Top.” During this segment, as usual, we have top 10 music from the present and the past. They are ingeniously fitting into the theme of asking and answering the question “What Should Be Done?” as we study the song.
And this next song needs no introduction because just about everyone in America recognizes it. I’m using it because it is Hugh Anthony Cregg III better known as Huey Lewis’s birthday on Saturday when he will be 75 years old. By way of introduction, let me just say this—1985, the movie Back to the Future I, love and power, what everyone of us should do. Listen to the words!
(double) THE POWER OF LOVE / Huey Lewis & the News bd
9 ESPRESSO / Sabrina Carpenter
Part 5
MATT presenting from her album “Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter and her song “Espresso” at number 9 this week. I’ve mentioned that she said of her song: “The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower, and embracing the confidence of being that lady.” I changed a word in that statement, and her song goes: “Now, he’s thinking ‘bout me every night, is it that sweet? I guess so. Say you can’t sleep; I know that’s me, espresso. I can’t relate to desperation. My ‘give a cares’ are on vacation, and I got this one boy and he won’t stop calling. When they act this way, I know I got ‘em. Too bad your ex don’t do it for ya. Walked in and dream came trued it for ya. Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya. I know I Mountain Dew it for ya. That morning coffee brewed it for ya. One touch and I brand newed it for ya. That’s me, espresso.” I changed some of the words. I think the song means that the lady in the relationship is the “Espresso” and she is totally in charge of the relationship, and therefore is speaking of her self-confidence. In terms of our theme, what should be done in our lives is learn self-confidence, but not hurting others in the process.
Next, another triple play to close out our first hour together. It begins with a song with an inspiring video, “Picture perfect,” they sing, “you don’t need no filter, gorgeous, make ‘em drop dead, you a killer. Shower you with all my attention--these are my only intentions. Shout out to your Mom and Dad for making you, standing ovation, they did a great job raising you. When I create, you’re my muse, that kind of smile that makes the news. Can’t nobody throw shade on your name in these streets. You make it easy to choose, you got a mean touch I can’t refuse.” Giving compliments to our love friends is such a great idea and it is one of those things that everyone of us should do, our theme today. MATT presenting here Canadian singer Justin Bieber and rapper Quavious Keyate Marshall better known as Quavo from Justin Bieber’s album “Changes” and their song from 2020 “Intentions” on MATT.
(triple) INTENTIONS / Justin Bieber f/ Quavo
EX’S AND OH’S / Elle King
8 ABRACADABRA / Lady Gaga
Part 6
Our theme last week when we spoke about what can make us thrive in life, coming from Lady Gaga, and her comment on the song. The song is from her new album “Mayhem,” and “Abracadabra” the name of it, number 8 on our countdown on MATT. And her comment: “In many ways,” she writes, “the song is about how to deal with the challenge to yourself. I wanted to explore the question ‘What does it feel like to thrive rather than just survive all the time. Life presents obstacles everyone must overcome. But sometimes the barriers are self-imposed.” And so, she sings: “Pay the toll to the angels, drawing circles in the clouds, keep your mind on the distance when the devil turns around. Hold me in your heart tonight in the magic of the dark moonlight; save me from this empty fight, like a poem said by the lady in red. Now you’re both in a dance. It’s time to cast your spell on the night.” She describes the lady in red as the opposition one feels within, the internal pressure. Often the external world mirrors the cynical demands of one’s internal dialogue. But she wants more than endurance. She wants to thrive. Great thoughts, centering in on working on our inner selves to make them better than they are. The video which everyone should watch on You-tube in my opinion, features two Gagas: one in white and another in red with really good dancing—two sides battle, pitting the good against the bad, the innocent vs. the wicked. Great song and video.
Before her, we heard from Tanner Elle Schneider better known as Elle King, American singer/songwriter/actress and a song from her album “Love Stuff,” and the name of the song “Ex’s and Oh’s” from 2016. It is a song about self-confidence. Self-confidence is necessary, but being over-confident can have the opposite effect, especially if you speak about it to others. Such is the case here. The lady in the song sings of strong confidence in her own abilities to have lovers. “Well, I had me a boy, turned him into a man,” she sings. “I showed him all the things that he didn't understand. And then I let him go. Now, there's one in California who's been cursing my name ‘cause I found me a better lover in the UK until I made my getaway. One, two, three, they gonna run back to me 'cause I'm the best baby that they never gotta keep. They always wanna come, but they never wanna leave. Ex's and the Oh’s, they haunt me like ghosts; they want me to love 'em all. They won't let go.” In terms of our theme this week, this type of over self-confidence is not part of love, and therefore one of those virtues that we should not have. But I’m very quick to say that self-confidence is a virtue that we should develop without the “over” part.
Our theme today is that idea of what should we do in the circumstances of the songs we are playing. As always, the songs of our show can take that theme and work with it—with a little bit of help. Songs always seem to say a lot if we are looking for the messages. Up next, we will explore the artistry and meanings of songs by in order of appearance: Lady Gaga again with Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, Chappell Roan, Post Malone, the band Green Day and Docheii—another great line-up. As we head to break, here is a thought from author Rita Mae Brown: “One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.” You bet. I’m Fr. Mike, and this is “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. We’ll be right back.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Part 7
Welcome back. I am Fr. Mike, your host for “Message at the Top” which is the top 10 show of Mix 103 that gives you the songs of today along with their meanings and some great songs from the past with their meanings as well. We are featuring the top 10 songs of our area as we always do, and as always, we are playing other songs from past top 10’s. We play the music, hope you enjoy it, and we advise you to listen to the messages so that our lives may be able to take on a better quality. It’s great to have you with us again as we play the songs that make up the popular music of today and yesterday. We have taken our theme on this second Sunday of summer from Tate McRae and her song “You Broke Me First,” and theme is “What Should We do” as we study the circumstances of the songs.
Let’s begin our second hour this morning with three top 10 songs on our countdown, numbers 7, 6, and 5. At number 7 is a song of sincere commitment again. “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, as I say, 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, what should be done is that they continue this attitude since their love is forever. This is a former number 1, Lady Gaga again along with Bruno Mars this time, the best pop duo song of the year according to the Grammys and their song “Die With a Smile” at number 7 on MATT.
(triple) 7 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
6 AZIZAM / Ed Sheeran
5 PINK PONY CLUB / Chappell Roan
Part 8
The best new artist of the year according to the Grammys, Ms Kayleigh Rose Amstutz better known as Chappell Roan, and her song at number 5 this week “Pink Pony Club” on MATT. It speaks of a place, Los Angeles, and a special little place in LA, and an added nuance that her mother is not happy about it. “I know you wanted me to stay, “she sings to her mother, “But I can't ignore the crazy visions of me in LA. I heard that there's a special place. I'm having wicked dreams of leaving Tennessee. Oh, Santa Monica, I swear it's calling me. Won't make my mama proud. It's gonna cause a scene. She sees her baby girl, I know she's gonna scream--what have you done. You're a pink pony girl and you dance at the club. Oh mama, I'm just having fun on the stage in my heels. It's where I belong down at the Pink Pony Club.” I’ve mentioned with the song that it sounds as though she really isn’t interested in too many serious things yet in her life—she is having too much fun. And in terms of our theme, what should be done is that she should enjoy this little endeavor—nothing wrong with having fun, but she definitely should listen to her mother, and work on some serious behavior as well.
Let’s wish happy birthday to Post Malone. He will be 30 years old on Friday. He sings with Doja Cat here in the song. The words signify some type of friendship, a song of feeling good about someone else. “I like you, I do,” they begin the song, “I wanna be your friend, go shoppin’ in the Benz, I like you, I do. I’ll hit you when I land, can you fit me in your plans? I need a good girl, I need someone to ground me, so please be true, don’t mess around with me. I need someone to share this heart with me.” I cleaned up the words a little; it is a statement of feeling love toward another. In terms of our theme today, one of the things that we should do in life is to be as loving as we can to everyone even as we choose someone special for ourselves. Happy birthday, Post Malone; from Post Malone’s album, “Twelve Carat Toothache” singing along with Doja Cat, “I Like You” and in parenthesis (“A Happier Song”) on MATT.
(triple) I LIKE YOU / Post Malone & Doja Cat bd
TIME OF YOUR LIFE/ Green Day
4 ANXIETY / Docheii
Part 9
Using one my favorite sounds as a sample, that was Rapper/singer/songwriter Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon better known as Doechii from her album “Alligator Bites Never Heal” and her song “Anxiety”, number 4 in our countdown on MATT. Her refrain is: “Anxiety, keep on trying me. I feel it quietly tryna silence me. My anxiety, Can't shake it off of me, somebody's watching me and my anxiety.” And then the verses speak of the anxieties in her life, and very close to the anxieties that all of us feel. You easily see what is driving her. It is the mess of modern life. In modern living, things will not always go the way that we want, and when you worry about them, you suffer anxiety. And what should be done about it? Do your best to control it, perhaps with some counseling, or some talk with a good friend.
Before her, we heard from the band Green Day from their album “Nimrod”, and their song “Time of Your Life”. In the song, the group speaks of time helping to decide what direction a person is about to make. He/she is at a turning point, and no one can predict what the correct way is, but in the end, they sing, “It’s right. I hope you had the time of your life.” That is to say, I believe, that you are in the process of moving from one portion of your life to another. You don’t know what to expect, because the future is always unpredictable, but it’s right to make the decision. At least, that’s the way I would interpret it. In terms of our theme, we indeed should be looking for a good future, and we will often need some help as we pursue it.
Our topic this morning is revolving around that idea of what should we do in life. Before we leave this half-hour, here is a thought from an anonymous cynical author again: “I love my country / aside from most of the people in it.” Yes, indeed. Don’t even think of touching that dial—it is set for Mix 103 and MATT, and we implore you to keep it there.
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, and I remind you all the time that the messages contained in the songs can be understood in such a way as to help our lives. I’m your host, Fr. Mike, and we have taken off from an idea inspired by birthday person Tate McRae and that theme is “What Should We Do?” as we study the circumstances of the songs.
As we do from time to time, let’s go to the top 3 songs of an individual year. Today let’s choose 2014, and give us 3 songs of really good meaning. At number 3 is the group Bastille, and their clever song “Pompeii.” Bastille is an English rock group and their song takes its name from the early Roman empire. In the year 79 AD, the volcano Mt. Vesuvius erupted and buried the city of Pompeii. Calling that destruction to mind, Bastille cleverly sings about the destruction of something good: “And the walls kept tumbling down in the city that we love. Great clouds roll over the hills, bringing darkness from above. But if you close your eyes, does it almost feel like nothing changed at all? How am I gonna be an optimist about this?” And that which caused the destruction? They sing it: “We were caught up and lost in all of our vices,” and they want to do something about it: “Oh, where do we begin?” they sing, “the rubble or our sins?” What an interesting song, telling the story of what the evil that we have caused has done to our world. With our theme of “What Should Be Done”, maybe we should identify some evil that we have allowed to creep into our lives, and get rid of it. MATT presenting here from their album “Bad Blood,” the group Bastille and their song, “Pompeii” number 3 of the songs of meaning of 2014 on MATT.
(double) POMPEII / Bastille
HAPPY / Pharrell Williams
DARK HORSE / Katy Perry f/ Juicy J
Part 11
A super song at number 1 in 2014, Ms. Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson better known as Katy Perry singing along with Jordan Michael Houston better known as Juicy J, from Katy Perry’s album “Prism” and their song “Dark Horse”. The song spent a long time at number 1 and is a statement by the girl in the relationship that if the man wants a commitment from her, she will give it, but he’d better be sure of what he’s doing. “I knew you were gonna come to me,” the lady in the relationship sings, “and here you are, but you better choose carefully ‘cause I’m capable of anything and everything. So you wanna play with magic, boy, you should know what you’re falling for. I’m coming at you like a dark horse. Are you ready for a perfect storm ‘cause once you’re mine, there’s no going back.” One of the ways to overcome the darkness of life is to be totally sincere and honest in every relationship and if you say something, to do it. That is exactly what we should do, our theme today. Great song.
And before her, the number 2 song of 2014 was also a great song. It was from the soundtrack of the movie “Despicable Me, 2”. The only way to describe it is with its title “Happy,” and sung by Pharrell Williams better known simply as Pharrell. “Because I’m happy, clap along if you feel like a room without a roof. Because I’m happy, clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth. Because I’m happy, clap along if you know what happiness is to you. Because I’m happy, clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do. Can’t nothing bring me down.” One of the ways to work out a good plan in life is to adopt a basically happy attitude toward that life, and that is exactly what should be done in our lives, our theme today.
From 2014, we advance 11 years to June 29, 2025 and the top 3 right now. At number 3 is a song about the struggle the author had of finding a balance in herself, she says. The words of the song addresses a person who is trying to explain how the singer should act: “'Cause I'm too messy, and then I'm too clean. You told me get a job, then you ask where I've been. And I'm too perfect till I open my big mouth. I want to be me, is that not allowed? And I'm too clever, and then I'm too dumb. And I'm too perfect till I show you that I'm not. A thousand people I could be for you, and you hate the lot.” I left out a word in the song. As I have mentioned, it sounds to me like she should be looking for a different friend who will accept her as she is. In terms of our theme this week, what should she do in this instance? Well, in my opinion, she should find someone who will accept her as she is, but who is willing to discuss with her some things that may need changing. Ms. Lola Young here, a British singer/songwriter from her album “This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway,” her song “Messy” at number 3 on MATT.
(double) 3 MESSY / Lola Young
2 SORRY I’M HERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE
Part 12
A song of a breakup, and the man in the relationship doesn’t seem to be going about it in a very good way at all. It comes from his album “American Heart,” and the song, “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else”, Benson Boone on MATT. I’ve said that it is a song whose story is told for all practical purposes by its title. He’s waiting for his current fiancee, meets an old flame, realizes that she, the old flame is the one that he currently likes, and promptly breaks up with the one he is waiting for. In terms of our theme this week, what he should do in this particular circumstance is to search around for a good partner, as he is, but not be so hateful to former people that he once liked.
And our number 1 song for two weeks in a row is one that makes a distinction between an ordinary love and a special ordinary love. He talks of an “ordinary” love relationship and says that what he has for a friend of his is not part of “the ordinary.” It comes from 25 year old Alexander Warren Hughes better known as Alex Warren from his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)” and his song “Ordinary”. He begins with the thought that everything is pretty much ordinary: “They say ‘The holy water’s watered down and this town’s lost its faith. Our colors will fade eventually.” But he has a solution; he continues: So, if our time is runnin’ out day after day, we’ll make the mundane our masterpiece.” There is the answer to today’s theme “What Should He Do.” We should do our best with the ordinary that we have. And in particular, with regard to his present love relationship. “I take one look at you” he says, “You’re takin’ me out of the ordinary. I want you layin’ me down ‘til we’re dead and buried. You got me kissin’ the ground of your sanctuary. At your altar, I will pray. You’re the sculptor, I’m the clay. You take me out of the ordinary.” So, it may be an ordinary existence, but with his friend, it’s a pretty special ordinary existence.
Today we have looked at the moral question of what should be done as we study the circumstances of the song. My prayer for you and for me is that we will take the time to study ourselves and choose to do what is right and what should be done. My thanks to the producers of “Message at the Top,” who put the show together, to the staff here at Mix 103, and to our sponsors, my friends at TMP-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays, Holy Family Elementary School in Hays, and Hays Car and Truck Alignment. If you have some song suggestions, or if you want to comment on anything I have said, feel free to write me here at KJLS-FM, Hays, KS 67601 or e-mail me at frmikescully@yahoo.com. My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find meditations on the Gospels, these songs and some great movies and a transcript of the show. Our meditation today is on the beginning part of the movie “Jumanji: The Next Level” and some thoughts on friendship. Remember that you can join us on the web every Sunday morning at 10 central daylight time by going to www.hayspost.com and choosing Mix 103. Let me close by quoting my dear friend Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous: “When I have a problem, I sing, then I realize that my voice is a lot worse than my problem.” No wonder I like to sing. Alex Warren leads us out with our number 1 song “Ordinary”, and as you listen, may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music Mix 103, and among other things we remind you to hold a good thought. My name is Fr. Mike Scully. Get ready for the fourth, stay safe, peace to you, and be good!
1 ORDINARY / Alex Warren
June 22, 2025-
“What Should Make Us Thrive?”
Part 1
Hello, Central Kansas and around the world! Thank you for joining us this Summer Sunday morning, and happy Summer to you as we began that hot season a couple days ago. And happy harvest to those of you who have been or are currently involved in that. We welcome you to “Message at the Top.” Get set for the top 10 songs of our area as determined by the research from your requests, as well as our own research here at Mix 103 and in particular from Mediabase 24-7. Our motto is to enjoy the music and listen to the message so that the message can help us be better than we are. I am Fr. Mike, and you have your dial set to Mix 103, the number one popular music station in Central Kansas. On our show today, we have music from Lola Young, the band OneRepublic, Chappell Roan and Lady Gaga among many others.
Speaking of Lady Gaga, we’ll have a number of songs from her today, and the first one is our lead song, her song “Abracadabra” and what a song this is. It is a song with a lot of meaning and a video that fits right in with the words. This is the way she explains it: “In many ways,” she writes, “the song is about how to deal with the challenge to yourself. I wanted to explore the question ‘What does it feel like to thrive rather than just survive all the time. Life presents obstacles everyone must overcome. But sometimes the barriers are self-imposed.” And so, she sings: “Pay the toll to the angels, drawing circles in the clouds, keep your mind on the distance when the devil turns around. Hold me in your heart tonight in the magic of the dark moonlight; save me from this empty fight, like a poem said by the lady in red. Now you’re both in a dance. It’s time to cast your spell on the night.” She describes the lady in red as the opposition one feels within, the internal pressure. Often the external world mirrors the cynical demands of one’s internal dialogue. But she wants more than endurance. She wants to thrive. Great thoughts, centering in on working on our inner selves to make them better than they are.
The video which everyone should watch on You-tube features two Gagas: one in white and another in red with really good dancing—two sides battle, pitting the good against the bad, the innocent vs. the wicked. She is desribing what she calls “resilience,” the ability to hang in there. Great song and video. We’ll use it as our theme today, which we will call “What Should Make Us Thrive?” Lady Gaga here answering that it should be our inner selves; from her new album “Mayhem,” and her song “Abracadabra” this is Lady Gaga, number 8 on MATT.
(double) 8 ABRACADABRA / Lady Gaga
7 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Part 2
Still in our top 10 and some weeks at number 1, Lady Gaga again along with Bruno Mars this time, and their song “Die With a Smile” at number 7 on MATT, the best pop duo song of the year according to the Grammys and a song of sincere commitment. “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, as I say, 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, both are committed to each other, and that must involve their inner feelings as well, making their relationship thrive, as Lady Gaga says.
Let’s continue in our top 10 as we listen to number 10 this morning. It comes from Myles Smith, a song about a love commitment which has worked, it seems. “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, he is thinking that his love is a mature committed love, and such a thought will mean he and his fiancee have worked out the problems that naturally come when you put two together forever, and that idea of working out the problems is something that should make lives thrive, our theme today. This is a former number 1, from British singer Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing”, number 10 this week on MATT.
(triple) 10 STARGAZING / Myles Smith
BREATHIN’/ Ariana Grande
BLANK SPACE / Taylor Swift
Part 3
From her album of the Year “1989”, and a Grammy nominated song, Taylor Swift on MATT and “Blank Space” from 2014. It is a song of a girl who is fooling around with love, and it hurts both her and her boyfriend every time she fools around. “So, it’s gonna be forever,” she sings, “or it’s gonna go down in flames. You can tell me when it’s over if the high was worth the pain. They’ll tell you I’m insane ‘cause you know I love the players and you love the game. ‘Cause we’re young and we’re reckless. We’ll take this way too far. Got a long list of ex-lovers.” And later she sings, “I get drunk on jealousy, but you’ll come back each time you leave, ‘cause I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream. I’ve got a blank space, and I’ll write your name.” As I say, she is fooling around with love and in the video especially, it is clear that she is hurting everyone involved including herself. In order to make us thrive, our theme today, if we are involved with someone, it must be real with no playing games.
Before her, we wished happy birthday to Ariana Grande as we remember her song “Breathin” from 2018. It is from her album “Sweetener”. It is an answer to the problems in our world, namely to just let them happen, and deal with them slowly. “Some days,” she sings, “things just take way too much of my energy. I look up and the whole room’s spinning. You take my cares away. I can so over complicate, people tell me to medicate, feel my blood runnin’, swear the sky’s fallin’. I know that all this stuff’s fabricated. Time goes by and I can’t control my mind, don’t know what else to try, but you tell me every time, just keep breathin’.” He is giving her great advice, I think. Just slow down and breathe deeply. In terms of our theme, it is one of the ways to make us thrive in life.
During our next segment, we will continue to listen to the music and messages of our songs to see what they say about how to thrive in life. As is my wont, may I lead you to break with a quote. All of our closing quotes today come from Albert Einstein who died in 1955. “There are two ways to live your life; one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle.” Interesting, indeed. “Message at the Top” will continue right after these important messages. I’m Fr. Mike inviting you to keep your radio dial set at Mix 103.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Welcome back, everyone. Thank you for making us part of your Sunday morning--welcome back to the top 10 songs of our area as of the week ending this second last Sunday in June, as we continue the warm weather in the Heartland of America. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the only top 10 show of Mix 103 that gives you music and message, “Message at the Top.” Get ready for songs during this segment that give us topics that are as varied as you can get. Our topic today is the question “What can make us thrive?”, a theme we took from Lady Gaga and her song “Abracadabra”.
We continue with our top 10 right now and go to a song whose refrain is: “Anxiety, keep on trying me. I feel it quietly tryna silence me. My anxiety, Can't shake it off of me, somebody's watching me and my anxiety.” And then the verses speak of the anxieties in her life, and very close to the anxieties that all of us feel. You easily see what is driving her. It is the mess of modern life. In modern living, things will not always go the way that we want, and then you worry about them, thus making one suffer anxiety. It leads one to the question of what can be done about it. And the answer may be able to help us thrive as a person if we truly want to help ourselves. This is Rapper/singer/songwriter Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon better known as Doechii from her album “Alligator Bites Never Heal” and her song “Anxiety”, number 4 in our top 10 on MATT.
(double) 4 ANXIETY / Docheii
TRUE COLORS / Cyndi Lauper
Part 5
From Queens in New York City from her album named after the song, from the year 1986, “True Colors” on MATT, and I believe a great song of meaning. It comes from Cyndi Lauper who is 72 years young today. So happy birthday to her. Her song is about what a person is really like. “Oh, I realize it’s hard to take courage in a world full of people,” she sings. “The darkness inside you can make you feel so small. Show me a smile, then. Don’t be unhappy. I can’t remember when I last saw you laughing. If this world makes you crazy, and you’ve taken all you can bear, you call me up, and I’ll see your true colors shining through. I see your true colors, and that’s why I love you. So, don’t be afraid to let them show. True colors are beautiful, like a rainbow.” In terms of our theme today, finding one’s true colors—their honest lives—is part of what makes a person thrive. Good song.
And another triple play is in store for us right now, and we’ll begin it with number 5 which speaks of a place, Los Angeles, and a special little place in LA, and an added nuance that her mother is not happy about it. “I know you wanted me to stay, “she sings to her mother, “But I can't ignore the crazy visions of me in LA. I heard that there's a special place. I'm having wicked dreams of leaving Tennessee. Oh, Santa Monica, I swear it's calling me. Won't make my mama proud. It's gonna cause a scene. She sees her baby girl, I know she's gonna scream--what have you done. You're a pink pony girl and you dance at the club. Oh mama, I'm just having fun on the stage in my heels. It's where I belong down at the Pink Pony Club.” I’ve mentioned with the song that it sounds as though she really isn’t interested in too many serious things yet in her life—she is having too much fun. And in terms of our theme, a little bit of fun will help us thrive as human beings, but we have to take the time to learn some serious things in order to thrive well. This is from the best new artist of the year according to the Grammys, Ms Kayleigh Rose Amstutz better known as Chappell Roan, and her song at number 5 this week “Pink Pony Club” on MATT.
(triple) 5 PINK PONY CLUB / Chappell Roan
YOU AND I BOTH / Jason Mraz
SEE YOU AGAIN / Wiz Khalifa f/ Charlie Puth
Part 6
Closing off another triple play, the number 1 song of 2015. It is from the “Furious 7” soundtrack and a tribute to actor Paul Walker who died before the movie was released. Great song there, from Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth. “It's been a long day without you, my friend,” they sing, “And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again. We've come a long way from where we began. Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again. Who knew? All the planes we flew, good things we've been through that I'll be standing right here talking to you about another path. I know we loved to hit the road and laugh, but something told me that it wouldn't last, had to switch up, look at things different, see the bigger picture. Those were the days; hard work forever pays. Now I see you in a better place.” I love it when popular music refers to faith in God and heaven, and the song is very clear in its statement about it. We will all be together again in our soul world. If we really understand that, it will be relatively easy to find things in life that will help us thrive in that life, our theme today. “S
Before them, we wished happy birthday to Jason Mraz who will be 48 tomorrow, and we did it by listening from his album named “Waiting For My Rocket To Come”, and his song “You and I Both” from 2003. It is a unique love song because the person in the song is giving his lover permission to love someone else even though he feels their love is strong: “You and I both loved,” he sings, “what you and I spoke of. What you and I spoke of, others only dream of the love that I love.” But a little later on, he sings, “It’s okay if you have to go away; if nothing else, I’ll think the bells inside have finally found you someone else and that’s okay, ‘cause I’ll remember everything you sang.” It is a love relationship that was engrossing at one time, but he has to let go of it, and allow her to do the same. Now, that is a great attitude about breakups, and with that type of thinking, he will easily find some things that will make one’s life thrive, our theme today.
Two triple plays are all set for our listening pleasure during the next half-hour of music and message show, MATT. We will continue with the thought generated by Lady Gaga’s excellent song “Abracadabra” and discover some ways to make us thrive in life. Get ready during this next segment for music from—in order of appearance, listen to this line-up—Sabrina Carpenter, the band One Republic, Twenty-one Pilots, Ed Sheeran, Lorde and Teddy Swims. May I take you to break with another quote from Albert Einstein: “It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.” Now, those are words that should direct our behavior and a way to make us thrive in life. I’m Fr. Mike for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. We’ll be right back.
Good morning, again, everyone. Thank you for joining us this second last Sunday of June morning, having just begun Summer. We are back for the second hour of “Message at the Top” which gives you the top 10 popular songs of our area as of this week ending today June 22, 2025. I am your host Fr. Mike and we continue to give you the songs of our show in their raw music—so to speak—but also with their messages, messages that can help our lives be better than they are. Our motto is to enjoy the music, and to listen to the message. And our theme this morning deals with finding things that will make us thrive, a theme that we took from Lady Gaga’s latest song “Abracadabra.”
As promised, let’s begin this half-hour with Sabrina Carpenter. I’ve mentioned that she said of her song: “The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower, and embracing the confidence of being that lady.” I changed a word in that statement, and her song goes: “Now, he’s thinking ‘bout me every night, is it that sweet? I guess so. Say you can’t sleep; I know that’s me, espresso. I can’t relate to desperation. My ‘give a cares’ are on vacation, and I got this one boy and he won’t stop calling. When they act this way, I know I got ‘em. Too bad your ex don’t do it for ya. Walked in and dream came trued it for ya. Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya. I know I Mountain Dew it for ya. That morning coffee brewed it for ya. One touch and I brand newed it for ya. That’s me, espresso.” I changed some of the words. I think the song means that the lady in the relationship is the “Espresso” and she is totally in charge of the relationship, and therefore is speaking of her self-confidence. In terms of our theme, one of the things that will make us thrive as good human beings is the virtue of self-confidence, and everything
it means. From her album “Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter and her song “Espresso” at number 9 this week on MATT.
(triple) 9 ESPRESSO / Sabrina Carpenter
FEEL AGAIN / OneRepublic
STRESSED OUT / Twenty-One Pilots
Part 8
The band Twenty-one Pilots, their song “Stressed Out” from 2016 and their album “Blurryface”. It is a song that speaks of longing for the time when we were young, and not appreciating the necessary maturity of older age. “I was told when I get older all my fears would shrink,” they sing, “but now I'm insecure and I care what people think. My name's 'Blurryface' and I care what you think. Wish we could turn back time, to the good ol' days when our momma sang us to sleep but now, we're stressed out. Out of student loans and treehouse homes, we all would take the latter. We used to play pretend, give each other different names; we would build a rocket ship and then we'd fly it far away. Used to dream of outer space but now they're laughing at our face, saying, ‘Wake up, you need to make money.’” Whether the subject is love or life, dwelling on the past too much is not a way to maturity because it usually is not facing the truth of what should be, and therefore, our theme, if you want to thrive in life, you have to face the moment and do your best.
Before them, we wished another birthday greeting to Ryan Tedder, founder and lead vocalist of the band OneRepublic. He will be 46 years old this Thursday. The song was from their album “Native” and their song “Feel Again”. It is a song of someone coming out of pain because the man in the song has met someone who is helping him. “It’s been a long time coming since I’ve seen your face,” they sing, “I’ve been everywhere and back trying to replace everything that I’ve had till my feet went numb, praying like a fool that’s been on the run, heart still beating but it’s not working. It’s like a million dollar phone that you just can’t ring. I reach out to love but I feel nothing. My heart is numb. But with you I feel again. I’m feeling better since you know me. I was a lonely soul but that’s the old me.” So, a positive song about someone making another feel better. One of the things that will make us thrive as human beings, our theme today, is the ability to make someone else feel good about their lives.
As promised, another triple right now beginning with a song in our top 10 about being a true lover as expressed with a Persian thought. I’ve quoted before that Ed Sheeran the songwriter and singer said of the song: "Even though it’s completely different to anything that I’ve ever done before, "Azizam" feels familiar to me. I wanted to create a party atmosphere in a song” and a Persian friend of his worked with him helping bring that to life. “He was so inspiring to work with,” Sheeran said. “I wrote ‘Azizam’ after he suggested trying out making music inspired by his Persian heritage and culture. It was like opening a door to a completely new and exciting world. It was showing to me music connects us all, and really is a universal language". The word "azizam" (عزیزم) originates from the Persian language and literally translates to "my dear" or "my beloved". And so he sings, “Azizam, meet me on the floor tonight. Show me how to move like the water in between the dancing lights. Be mine, Azizam.” In terms of our theme today, what can make our lives thrive is to fall in love that is real. This is British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran and his latest song “Azizam” from his eighth album “Play”, number 6 on MATT.
(triple) 6 AZIZAM / Ed Sheeran
ROYALS/ Lorde
THE DOOR / Teddy Swims
Part 9
A song about true love of self. From his album “I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy, part 1,” Teddy Swims and a song of the importance of being able to control false love, his song “The Door”, number 6 on MATT’s top songs of meaning from last year. He said of the song that it is a statement of how to save one’s own life and walk out of an abusive relationship. “I took a page out of your favorite book,” he begins his song. “You sold me lies just by the way you look, taught me a language that I’ve never speak. That ain’t for me. You took me higher that I ever flew, too many times, gave you a second chance. I’m just a man. No more thinkin’ about you late night, no more runnin’ around with your friends now, done pickin’ up pieces of my soul up off the floor. I said I would die for you, but I can’t take this pain no more. I thought I was willin’ but tonight I save my life when I showed you the door. I can’t play this game no more.” In terms of our theme, one of the things that should make us thrive in life is to get rid of all abusive relationships.
Before him, we heard the song featured on my website today www.frmikescully.com from the lady who calls herself Lorde, and her song “Royals” from 2013 from her album “Pure Heroin”. She is New Zealand singer, 28 year old Ella Yelich O’Connor. In the song, she says in effect that material goods are not as important as romantic love. "I’ve never seen a diamond in the flesh,” she sings. “I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies, and I’m not proud of my address in the torn-up town, no post code envy. But every song’s like gold teeth, grey goose, ball gowns, trashin’ the hotel room. Let me be your ruler, you can call me Queen Bee, and I'll rule. Let me live that fantasy.” That is, for the lady in the relationship, love is the "buzz" that she craves, more than the "diamonds in the flesh" that she has never seen. As we consider the theme of what makes us thrive in life, one of those things would be that as we grow we learn that material things are important, but not the most important.
And once again, we have played our way to a brief pause. In our next segment, get ready for a presentation of 3 more songs of meaning from Lady Gaga and our top three songs of our top 10 right now. Our quotation for this segment once again comes from Mr. Albert Einstein. It is an equation which he knew a lot about: “If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut." Sort of says it all. And a good thing to learn as we grow up. Don’t go way. I’m Fr. Mike, and this is the “Message at the Top” music network on Mix 103.
My name is Fr. Mike and this is “Message at the Top” on 100,000 watts of power, today’s best music Mix 103, our only top 10 show that gives you the top 10 as we speak as well as top 10 music of the 2000’s, and even 90’s and 80’s along with all of their messages. The title of our show this morning is the topic of some elements that will make us thrive in life. It comes from Lady Gaga and her song “Abracadabra.” We continue with the remaining songs of our show with that theme, and we continue to tell you to enjoy the music and listen to the message.
And let’s stay with Lady Gaga and give us three more of her songs. Lady Gaga is 39 year old singer/songwriter/dancer Stefani Joanne Angelina Germonatta from Manhattan, New York City. Here her song is partially a prayer to God asking that her relationship might be one that would work. “You’re giving me a million reasons to let you go. If I had a highway, I would run for the hills. I bow down to pray, Lord, show me the way to cut through all his worn out leather. I’ve got a hundred million reasons to walk away. Baby, I just need one good one to stay.” Clergyperson that I am, you might expect me to be very happy that she is involved in prayer, but she must always be honest with herself, our theme today, and face the fact that the relationship may be over. But, prayer works—I will say that. My opinion, of course. It is from her album “Joanne” from 2017, Lady Gaga, and her song “Million Reasons” on MATT.
(triple) MILLION REASONS / Lady Gaga
BORN THIS WAY / Lady Gaga
STUPID LOVE / Lady Gaga
Part 11
The one and only Lady Gaga, closing off a triple play from her, and her song “Stupid Love” on MATT from the year 2020 from her album “Chromatica”. It is a song of one crying for love. “You’re the one I’ve been waiting for, Gotta quit this crying. Nobody’s gonna heal me if I don’t open the door. Kinda hard to believe, gotta have faith in me. Freak out, get down, look at me now. ‘Cause all I ever wanted was love; I want your stupid love. Now, it’s time to free me from the shame. I gotta find that peace, is it too late? Or could this love protect me from the pain? I would battle for you even if I break in two.” The lady has it right, I believe, that having love will help her, but she certainly doesn’t sound very confident—she is begging him to be around, and that is not a way to thrive in our world, our theme today.
Before her, her again and her song “Born This Way” from her album named after the song, “Born This Way”, from the year 2011. This song is a high song of meaning for MATT, what I call a 10+ category of meaning because of its stress on the importance of the individual, and the fact that God makes no mistakes. “My mama told me when I was young that we are all born superstars: ‘there’s nothing wrong with loving who you are’ she said, ‘‘‘cause he made you perfect. I’m beautiful in my way ‘cause God makes no mistakes. I’m on the right track. I was born this way. Don’t hide yourself in regret. Just love yourself and you’re set. There ain’t no other way. I was born this way. I’m on the right track. Don’t be a drag, just be a queen.” The message is that we should love who we are. We can work on bettering who we are, but one of the ways to thrive in life as an individual, our theme today, is to be comfortable with who we are.
And what are the top 3 songs in this area on June 22, 2025—well, we have the answer to that question right now. At number 3 is a song about the struggle the author had of finding a balance in herself, she says. The words of the song addresses a person who is trying to explain how the singer should act: “'Cause I'm too messy, and then I'm too clean. You told me get a job, then you ask where I've been. And I'm too perfect till I open my big mouth. I want to be me, is that not allowed? And I'm too clever, and then I'm too dumb. And I'm too perfect till I show you that I'm not. A thousand people I could be for you, and you hate the lot.” I left out a word in the song. Sounds to me like she should be looking for a different friend who will accept her as she is. Whatever. In terms of our theme this week, one of the characteristics that will make us thrive in life is the ability to think for ourselves without always relying on what other people think of us. Ms. Lola Young here, a British singer/songwriter from her album “This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway,” her song “Messy” at number 3 on MATT.
(double) 3 MESSY / Lola Young
2 SORRY I’M HERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE / Benson Boone
Part 12
Happy birthday to him, Mr. Benson Boone who will be 23 on Wednesday. He has the number 2 song right now falling from number 1, a song of a breakup, and the man in the relationship doesn’t seem to be going about it in a very good way at all. It comes from his album “American Heart,” and the song, “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else”. I’ve said that it is a song whose story is told for all practical purposes by its title. He’s waiting for his current fiancee, meets an old flame, realizes that she, the old flame is the one that he currently likes, and promptly breaks up with the one he is waiting for. In terms of our theme this week, one of the things that will make us thrive as human beings is to be kind to all of our friends, no matter what the circumstances.
And our new number 1 song is one that makes a distinction between an ordinary love and a special ordinary love. He talks of an “ordinary” love relationship and says that what he has for a friend of his is not part of “the ordinary.” It comes from 25 year old Alexander Warren Hughes better known as Alex Warren from his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)” and his song “Ordinary”. He begins with the thought that everything is pretty much ordinary: “They say ‘The holy water’s watered down and this town’s lost its faith. Our colors will fade eventually.” But he has a solution; he continues: So, if our time is runnin’ out day after day, we’ll make the mundane our masterpiece.” That is, we will do our best with the ordinary that we have. And in particular, with regard to his present love relationship. “I take one look at you” he says, “You’re takin’ me out of the ordinary. I want you layin’ me down ‘til we’re dead and buried. You got me kissin’ the ground of your sanctuary. At your altar, I will pray. You’re the sculptor, I’m the clay. You take me out of the ordinary.” So, it may be an ordinary existence, but with his friend, it’s a pretty special ordinary existence. In terms of our theme this week, one of ways to thrive as human beings is to accept the ordinary things that we do, but try to make them better, or in his words, “make the mundane our masterpiece.”
Our thought today has revolved around that idea of what should we do in order to thrive in our lives. My prayer for you and me is that we will find out those things and want to live them. Thank you for the privilege of your time this Sunday. My thanks also to the producers of “Message at the Top,” to the staff here at Mix 103, and to our sponsors, Hays Car and Truck Alignment, my friends at TMP-Marian Junior and Senior High School in Hays, and at Holy Family Elementary School in Hays.
One of those sponsors asked me to say a word about how important the idea of being a minister is in today’s world which I do from time to time. Let me say this: if you feel that you can give yourself to the service of God and people as a minister, you are making a choice that will help our world, and that’s a pretty good thing.
If you have any suggestions for me, or if you want to comment on anything I have said, feel free to write me here at KJLS-FM, Hays, KS 67601 or e-mail me at frmikescully@yahoo.com. My website is www.frmikescully.com where you will find a transcript of this show along with meditations on Gospels, songs and movies. As I mentioned, the meditation today is on Lorde’s song “Royals.” If you are away from your radio, you may want to join us on the web every Sunday morning at 10 am by going to www.hayspost.com and choosing Mix 103. One final thought before we go, again from Mr. Albert Einstein: “Where there is love there is no question." That is one super thought, Mr. Einstein. As you listen to the number 1 song in our land, “Ordinary” by Alex Warren, may I remind you that you are listening to today’s best music Mix 103, and our advice to you among the other things we have said, is to hold a good thought. From the warm state of Kansas, and Lawrence in particular, my name is Fr. Mike Scully. Be safe, peace to you, and be good!
1 ORDINARY / Alex Warren
June 15, 2025
“What Should Be Taught to Kids”
Part 1
Good morning, Central Kansas and around the world! Welcome to “Message at the Top” your top 10 show on today’s best music Mix 103, and I hope this Sunday of the beautiful month of June is a good one for you. Happy harvest whenever that comes to those of you involved in that line of work. And happy Summer since Summer begins this Friday. It is also Father’s Day today, and so happy Father’s Day for those of you who qualify, and our show will remember Fathers and Mothers in a special way today. You have on your dial this morning a show that gives you the messages of the top 10 of today and yesterday, and, surprisingly enough, with a little bit of help, the songs enable us to see exactly what can help our lives be a bit better than they are already. In fact, that is our intent. I’m Fr. Mike; it’s great to have you with us today. Last week Benson Boone had the number 1 song in our land. Let’s see if he stays there this morning.
Today is Father’s Day, of course, and we celebrated Mother’s Day a couple Sundays ago. Parents are so important in our world. They bring about what children learn and why they learn it, and I’d like to call it to our minds today by using as our theme the idea of what should be taught to kids. And let’s start with a prose statement from a lady by the name of Dorothy Law Nolte as found in her book: Children Learn What They Live: Parenting To Inspire Values. I’ve used it before, but it is well worth repeating. Here is her analysis which is the foundation of her book:
If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
Now, that is one great reading and so very true. I shortened it, and you can find the complete reading in her book. It ought to be on the wall of every family dwelling in the world.
There are no songs with “Mother” in its title, and only a couple with “Father” in its title. Here is one of them. “Were you really so far away,” the son sings. Addressing the song to his father whom the son did not know, he seems to want his father’s influence, and in some sense, feels he has it. “He was here with me,” he sings, “I’d looked into my father’s eyes.” His song brings up the topic of how important a father, and mother for that matter, are to a family. One of our principal problems in America, it seems to me, is that too many fathers and sometimes mothers are not around the people they have generated. As we talk of what should be taught to kids, one of the them should be that Dad and Mom were around a lot. Excellent song, great artist—Eric Clapton and his song dedicated to his father whom he never met, as well as his own son who died tragically when he was four years old, this is “My Father’s Eyes” from 1998 from his album “Pilgrim” on MATT.
(double) MY FATHER’S EYES / Eric Clapton
Daughters / John Mayer
Part 2
A 10+ song of meaning from his album “Heavier Things” from the year 2004, John Mayer and his song “Daughters,” “Song of the Year” in the 2005 Grammys on MATT. John Mayer’s song says the same thing as Dorothy Law Nolte’s reading which we heard at the beginning of the show. “I know a girl,” he begins his song, “she puts the color inside of my world, but she’s just like a maze,” he says. “Now I’m starting to see, maybe it’s got nothing to do with me.” He then goes into a directive to parents: “Fathers, be good to your daughters, daughters will love like you do. Girls become lovers who turn into mothers, so mothers, be good to your daughters too. You see that skin? It’s the same she’s been standing in. Since the day she saw him walking away, now she’s left cleaning up the mess he made.” Her father left, and that has affected her forever. Indeed there are so many examples of bad things happening when either Father or Mother leave their families. The song is what I would call an “important” song to listen to.
Let’s go to a song that speaks of the Greek God of desire, namely Cupid, and the girl in the song is blaming the boy for not allowing love to be part of their lives. “A hopeless romantic all my life,” they sing, “surrounded by couples all the time. I guess I should take it as a sign. Why? I’m feeling lonely. Oh, I wish I’d find a lover that could hold me. Now I’m crying in my room, so skeptical of love, but still, I want it more. I gave a second chance to Cupid, but now, I’m left here feeling stupid. Oh, the way he makes me feel that love isn’t real. Cupid is so dumb.” In terms of our theme, what should be taught to kids, well, one of them is perhaps the major reason for things not working out is themselves. This is the South Korean girl group “Fifty-Fifty” from 2023 from their album”The Beginning” and their song “Cupid” on MATT.
(triple) Cupid / Fifty-fifty
10 AZIZAM / Ed Sheeran
9 ABRACADABRA / Lady Gaga
Part 3
New to our countdown this morning, a song with a lot of meaning and a video that fits right in with the words. Lady Gaga from her new album “Mayhem,” and her song “Abracadabra” number 9 on MATT. We’ll let her explain it together with the video: “In many ways,” she writes, “the song is about how to deal with the challenge to yourself. I wanted to explore the question ‘What does it feel like to thrive rather than just survive all the time. Life presents obstacles everyone must overcome. But sometimes the barriers are self-imposed.” “Pay the toll to the angels,” she sings, “drawing circles in the clouds, keep your mind on the distance when the devil turns around. Hold me in your heart tonight in the magic of the dark moonlight; save me from this empty fight, like a poem said by the lady in red. Now you’re both in a dance. It’s time to cast your spell on the night.” She describes the lady in red as the opposition one feels within, the internal pressure. Often the external world mirrors the cynical demands of one’s internal dialogue. But Lady Gaga wants more than endurance. She wants to thrive. / And I have to say something about the video which you should watch on You-tube. It features two Gagas: one in white and another in red—two sides battle, pitting the good against the bad, the innocent vs. the wicked.” She is desribing what she calls “resilience,” the ability to hang in there. Great song and video. In terms of our theme this week, the ability to withstand the negativity of life is something that should be taught to our young people. We’ll make it our theme next week.
Before her, we began our countdown on this Father’s Day 2025 with a song from British singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran and his latest song “Azizam” from his eighth album “Play”. I’ve quoted before that he said of the song: "Even though it’s completely different to anything that I’ve ever done before, "Azizam" feels familiar to me. I wanted to create a party atmosphere in a song” and a Persian friend of his worked with him helping bring that to life. “He was so inspiring to work with,” Sheeran said. “I wrote ‘Azizam’ after he suggested trying out making music inspired by his Persian heritage and culture. It was like opening a door to a completely new and exciting world. It was showing to me music connects us all, and really is a universal language". The word "azizam" (عزیزم) originates from the Persian language and literally translates to "my dear" or "my beloved". And so he sings, “Azizam, meet me on the floor tonight. Show me how to move like the water in between the dancing lights. Be mine, Azizam.” In terms of our theme today, one of the things that should be taught to the young is that we should treat with respect the people that we love.
During our next segment, we will hear messages that continue the thought of Father’s Day with the theme of what should be taught to kids from people like Chappell Roan and the duo Twenty-One Pilots. Before we get there, here’s a thought from author Everett M. Dirksen: “Life is not a static thing. The only people who do not change their minds are those in asylums who can't change, and those in cemeteries.” We have to recognize the need to change in life and that is one of the things that should be taught to kids. “Message at the Top” will continue right after these important messages. I’m Fr. Mike inviting you to keep that dial set at Mix 103.
It is great to have you back with us. Thank you for joining us this middle Sunday of June 2025, and happy Father’s Day to the fathers in our audience, and most of all, happy Summer on Friday! We welcome you back to the top 10 songs of our area as of the week ending today. I am Fr. Mike, your host for the only top 10 show of Mix 103, “Message at the Top.” Our format involves the top 10 songs of today and the top 10 songs of the past 45 years since 1980. Our motto is to enjoy the music that we play, and to listen to the message because often the message really does help our lives. Our theme today discusses what should be taught to kids as we celebrate Father’s Day.
Let’s go to a double play right now and begin it with a song that speaks of life, I believe—that is, trying to live it as best we can, but life is difficult at times. The person in the song is enjoying the ride, taking his/her time living, but it often feels like he/she is falling, that is without direction. During the life, the person thinks about what it means to be a friend of someone, whether he/she would die for the other or not. Then it seems the person in the song feels like he/she is thinking too much, saying “Help me” either to a friend or perhaps even to God. It is a very interesting song, and one that you can spend a lot of time analyzing along with the video. In terms of our theme, it seems that the person in the song is a little lonely, and is reaching out to someone for help which is exactly what the person should do and something that kids ought to learn. One of the duo, Josh Dun celebrates a birthday on Wednesday—37 years old!Here he is with his partner Tyler Joseph, Twenty One Pilots from their album “Blurryface”, and their song “Ride” from 2016 on MATT.
(double) RIDE / Twenty One Pilots
8 ESPRESSO / Sabrina Carpenter
Part 5
From her album “Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter and her song “Espresso” at number 8 this week on MATT. I’ve mentioned that Sabrina Carpenter said of her song: “The song is kind of about seeing femininity as your superpower, and embracing the confidence of being that lady.” I changed a word in that statement, and her song goes: “Now, he’s thinking ‘bout me every night, is it that sweet? I guess so. Say you can’t sleep; I know that’s me, espresso. I can’t relate to desperation. My ‘give a cares’ are on vacation, and I got this one boy and he won’t stop calling. When they act this way, I know I got ‘em. Too bad your ex don’t do it for ya. Walked in and dream came trued it for ya. Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya. I know I Mountain Dew it for ya. That morning coffee brewed it for ya. One touch and I brand newed it for ya. That’s me, espresso.” I changed some of the words. I think the song means that the lady in the relationship is the “Espresso” and she is totally in charge of the relationship, and therefore is speaking of her self-confidence. In terms of our theme, one of the things that should be taught to kids is the virtue of self-confidence, and what it means.
Continuing our countdown right now, let’s give us a triple of current top 10’s beginning with number 7 which speaks of a place, Los Angeles, and a special little place in LA, and an added nuance that her mother is not happy about it. “I know you wanted me to stay, “she sings to her mother, “But I can't ignore the crazy visions of me in LA. I heard that there's a special place. I'm having wicked dreams of leaving Tennessee. Oh, Santa Monica, I swear it's calling me. Won't make my mama proud. It's gonna cause a scene. She sees her baby girl, I know she's gonna scream--what have you done. You're a pink pony girl and you dance at the club. Oh mama, I'm just having fun on the stage in my heels. It's where I belong down at the Pink Pony Club.” It sounds as though she really isn’t interested in too many serious things yet in her life—she is having too much fun. And in terms of our theme, certainly, kids should be taught to have fun, but also the necessity of learning serious things as well. This is from the best new artist of the year according to the Grammys, Ms Kayleigh Rose Amstutz better known as Chappell Roan, and her song at number 7 this week “Pink Pony Club” on MATT.
(triple) 7 PINK PONY CLUB / Chappell Roan
6 STARGAZING / Myles Smith
5 ANXIETY / Docheii
Part 6
Rapper/singer/songwriter Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon better known as Doechii from her album “Alligator Bites Never Heal” and her song “Anxiety”, number 5 on our countdown on MATT this middle Sunday in June. The refrain is: “Anxiety, keep on trying me. I feel it quietly tryna silence me. My anxiety, Can't shake it off of me, somebody's watching me and my anxiety.” And then the verses speak of the anxieties in her life, and very close to the anxieties that all of us feel. You easily see what is driving her. It is the mess of modern life. In modern living, things will not always go the way that we want, and then you worry about them, thus making her suffer anxiety. It leads one to the question of what can be done about it. It is a question that we must learn to work with as we grow, and that is something that should be taught to our kids, our theme today.
Before her, we heard a former number 1, from British singer Myles Smith and his song “Stargazing”, number 6 this week on MATT. It is a song about a love commitment which has worked, it seems. “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, he is thinking that his love is a mature committed love, and such a thought will mean he and his fiancee have worked out the problems that naturally come when you put two together forever, and that idea of working out the problems is something that should be taught to our kids, our theme today.
We will continue with the thought generated by Eric Clapton and his song “My Father’s Eyes” as we celebrate Father’s Day together. To close off our first hour today, here is a thought from Marcus Aurelius, about 2000 years ago: “The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.” Now think about that—an untroubled spirit and knowing things for what they are. Those two thoughts are really important and good principles to be lived, and certainly among the things that kids should be taught. That man knew what he was talking about / even back then. I’m Fr. Mike for “Message at the Top” on Mix 103. Hey, why not stay right where you are. We’ll be right back.
Thank you for joining us this morning. We are back for the second hour of “Message at the Top” on today’s best music, Mix 103 which gives you the top 10 pop songs of our area as of this week ending today, Father’s Day and five days before the first day of summer. We take the top 10’s of today and the past 45 years, put them all together with a theme, and then call our show MATT. Our theme this week came from the thought of Father’s Day and Mother’s Day as well, that theme, “what should be taught to kids”.
We begin our second hour together with yet another triple play, and beginning that triple is a very interesting song. I have gone on record to say although I am trained to teach math that the most important subject in any leadership curriculum is history. The name of the song is “We Didn’t Start the Fire” and it is an update of Billy Joel’s 1989 song of the same name. History may be the most important course you can take because every event of this world is a type of those that follow and you can learn most of all what NOT to do. The band Fall Out Boy continues the history lesson from 1989 till 2023, and they tell us in effect that history is shaping us whether we like it or not. But it is more than a history lesson. Following the original by Billy Joel, they sing about what has happened by mentioning names or events and that the history we have witnessed is in many instances, an evil one that could possibly be bearing fruit in the present time. Consequently, the song becomes an appeal to stop the evil that has grown out of the past: “We didn’t start the fire,” they sing, “it was always burning since the world’s been turning. We didn’t start the fire’ no, we didn’t light it, but we’re trying to fight it.” We may not have started the problems but we see the messes that so much evil has caused in our world. Their conclusion as was Billy Joel’s was pessimistic, because they sing that it will go on and on and on and on. Their words come very quickly, but they mention among many other events and persons the Oklahoma City bombing, Harry Potter, Nuclear bombs, and the war on terror. Not all of what they mention are evil, but so many things led to evil, and so their refrain is that we didn’t start the problems, but here we are trying to fight them. In terms of our theme, history and the results of history should be taught to our kids. This is from their album “So Much for Stardust,” the band Fall Out Boy and their song from 2023, “We Didn’t Start the Fire” on MATT.
(triple) WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE / Fall Out Boy
HOW DO I SAY GOODBYE / Dean Lewis
I WANNA KNOW WHAT LOVE IS / Foreigner
Part 8
The first of the six songs since 1980 that I say is a song with the most meaning of all the songs that we have played on MATT. I really like the fact that the group there, namely Foreigner employed a college choir group to help them with the refrain to that song since they wanted young people singing “I Want to Know What Love Is” the name of the song. You can see it on the video to the song, and a great one it is. I used to use it all the time on youth retreats. It is from 1984 from their album “Agent Provocateur”. I consider it to be a “should be theme song” for young America, speaking the desire of every one of us to know what love really is, including love of others, love of self and love of God. In terms of our theme, it is perhaps the most important idea that should be taught to kids.
Before them, we heard from Dean Lewis Grant Loaney better known simply as Dean Lewis. The song is from his album “The Hardest Love”, and the name of the song, “How Do I Say Goodbye” from 2022. The song was written for his father suffering from cancer and a beautiful tribute to his Dad. His Dad’s disease later went into remission. “Early morning,” he sings, “There’s a message on my phone. It’s my mother saying, ‘please come home’. I fear the worst, how could you leave us all behind? There’s so much to say but there’s so little time. So how do I say goodbye to someone who’s been with me for my whole life? You gave me my name and the color of your eyes. I see your face when I look at mine. When I couldn’t, you always saw the best in me. So, how do I say goodbye.” And he adds a comment about his mother: “And I saw the way she looked into your eyes, and I promise if you go, I will make sure she’s alright.” In terms of our theme, the song is sincere communication with his Dad, a tremendous lesson for all of us. The video is well done, by the way. In terms of our theme, the love of parents is something that should be taught to all young people.
Yet another triple play right now beginning with a song of total infatuation with a boyfriend. “Something must’ve gone wrong in my brain,” she sings, “Got your chemical all in my veins, feeling all the highs, feeling all the pain. Now I’m seeing red, not thinking straight, blurring all the lines, you intoxicate me, just like nicotine, heroin, morphine. Suddenly, I’m a fiend and you’re all I need. Just one hit of you. I’ll never be the same.” The lady in the relationship is overwhelmed with her feeling of the man, and she is thankful for it. In terms of our theme today, one of the things that should be taught to our young people is the ability to discern feelings for another. This is Camila Cabello from 2017 and her album “Camila” and her song “Never Be the Same,”on MATT.
(triple) NEVER BE THE SAME/ Camila Cabello
MARRY ME / Train
4 DIE WITH A SMILE / Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
Part 9
The best pop duo song of the year according to the Grammys and yet another song of sincere commitment. It is from Stefanie Joanne Angelina Germanotta or Lady Gaga, the second time today and both in our top 10—quite a feat—and Peter Gene Hernandez or Bruno Mars and their song “Die with a Smile”, number 4 this morning, former number 1. “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, as I say, 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, both are committed to each other, and one of the things that should be taught to our kids is that there are people who really live a forever commitment, and they should be one of them.
Before them, we heard from the band Train and a song about marriage from their album “Save Me San Francisco,” and their song “Marry Me” from 2010. It is the only song that has the word “marry” in its title in the songs of the top 10 over the past 45 years—a little trivia there. It is a song of proposing marriage. “Forever can never be long enough for me,” the man in the relationship sings, “Feel like I’ve had long enough with you, forget the world now, we won’t let them see. But there’s one thing left to do: now that the weight has lifted, love has surely shifted my way. Marry me, today and every day. Marry me. If I ever get the nerve to say ‘hello’ in this café, say you will.” As I say, a marriage proposal. The problem with it is that it is all in his mind: he hasn’t got up enough nerve to propose yet. In terms of our theme today, one of the things that should be taught to kids is that we can dream, but we have to follow through if we want to carry through with what we want.
And we have played our way to another brief hiatus. Our final segment will begin in just a few minutes when we will celebrate a couple more birthdays and then finish off our countdown. Before we go to break, may I quote Thomas Merton, a Catholic mystic: “The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own im-age. Otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.” Let me say that again. Great insight there; one great principle for kids and everyone of us should learn. Don’t go way. I’m Fr. Mike, and this is the “Message at the Top” music network.
Hi again, everybody. I am Fr. Mike, and this is “Message at the Top” on Mix 103, your top 10 show giving you not only the current top 10 but the top 10 of the 2000’s, and even 90’s and 80’s as well. During our show, our plea to you is to enjoy the music and at the same time listen to the message of the songs so that perhaps the message can help you in your life right now. We are celebrating the fact that summer begins on Friday and wishing happy Father’s Day and Mother’s Day a couple weeks ago by looking at the things that should be taught to kids.
As promised let’s finish our birthday wishes. We remember Benjamin Hammond Hagerty or Maacklemore who will be 42 this Thursday. The song, of all things, is about shopping in a thrift shop. I don’t agree with all the descriptive words that are in the song, but be that as it may, the song is very good in thought and sound, I believe, in that it is making fun of the “stuff” that we in America have and we don’t need. “I’m gonna pop some tags,” they sing in their refrain, “only got twenty dollars in my pocket, I’m hunting, looking for a come-up: this is awesome.” That idea of a “come-up” is exactly what we want in life—we always want more than we have, and a thrift shop will help us get it. What contribution does it make to our theme of what should be taught to kids, well, they should be taught the fact that we always want more, and maybe we should control that a little more in the present so that our future will be a little better than it could be. This is birthday person Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring the talents of Michael Wanzley better known as Wanz, and their song “Thrift Shop” on MATT.
(triple) THRIFT SHOP / Maklemore f/ Ryan Lewis
COLD-HEARTED / Paula Abdul
GIVE IT 2 U / Robin Thicke f/ Kendrick Lamar
Part 11
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth or simply Kendrick Lamar who will be 38 on Tuesday singing with Robin Thicke and their song “Give It 2 U” from 2013 from Robin Thicke’s album “Blurred Lines” on MATT. If we ignore the sexual overtones in the song, it is a song about giving, a song of two people giving completely to one another, and that is why it is the song of married people because completely giving only makes sense when the two people involved are totally committed forever. “Girl, give it to me,” they sing, “I got a gift for ya, I know you wanna get fancy, I know you wanna start dancin’. I wanna give it to you tonight, and make everything you fantasize come true. I’ll make you so amazing, I’ll give it to you.” I said that if you ignore the sexual overtones, one can pay attention to the giving that they are singing about. The problem is in our society that we do not overlook the sexual overtones, and we miss the deeper meaning. Giving is essential to love and marriage, and the thought of giving to another is something that should be taught to kids, our theme today.
Before them, we wished happy birthday to Paula Julie Abdul who will be 63 years old Thursday. The song was from the year 1989, and the name of it is “Cold-Hearted” from her album “Forever Your Girl”. Permit me a little commentary. The reputation of the snake was set a long time ago. The snake is the author of falsehood, the master of deception, the liar. But because of what the snake pretended to give, the one who listened / wanted to believe. Such was the real reason the snake was so devious. It sounded so good, but in reality was no good at all. I’m referring, of course, to the story in the book of Genesis in the Bible, and the fall of woman and man. As a result, when we address someone as a “snake,” we are saying that such a person may sound good, but reality does not match their words. She begins with the words, “He’s a cold-hearted snake, look into his eyes. You’re the one giving up the love anytime he needs it, but you turn your back and then he’s up and running with the crowd.” That is to say, it looks like “love” on the outside, but it is “lies” on the inside—only a “lover-boy at play.” There is only one way to treat such a person, and Paula Abdul sings it: speaking to herself, she says “You deserve somebody better. Stay away from him!” In terms of our theme, young people should be taught that there are difficult people in our lives and we ought to stay away from them.
And we have made it to the top 3 on this Sunday before Summer begins. At number 3 is a song about the struggle the author had of finding a balance in herself. The words of the song addresses a person who is trying to explain how she should act: “'Cause I'm too messy, and then I'm too clean. You told me get a job, then you ask where I've been. And I'm too perfect till I open my big mouth. I want to be me, is that not allowed? And I'm too clever, and then I'm too dumb. And I'm too perfect till I show you that I'm not. A thousand people I could be for you, and you hate the lot.” I left out a word in the song. Sounds to me like she should be looking for a different friend who will accept her as she is. Whatever. In terms of our theme this week, kids should be taught that there will be many critics in our lives and they need to be taught the most important ones to listen to. Ms. Lola Young here, a British singer/songwriter from her album “This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway,” her song “Messy”, moving into the top 3 this week at number 3 on MATT.
(double) 3 MESSY / Lola Young
2 ORDINARY / Alex Warrem
Part 12
A singer who brings up an interesting thought in his song. He talks of an “ordinary” love relationship and says that what he has for a friend of his is not part of “the ordinary.” That was 25 year old Alexander Warren Hughes better known as Alex Warren from his album “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)” and his song “Ordinary”, number 2 right now on MATT. He begins with the thought that everything is pretty much ordinary: “They say ‘The holy water’s watered down and this town’s lost its faith,” he begins his song, “Our colors will fade eventually.” But he has a solution; he continues: So, if our time is runnin’ out day after day, we’ll make the mundane our masterpiece.” That is, we will do our best with the ordinary that we have. And in particular, with regard to his present love relationship. “I take one look at you” he says, “You’re takin’ me out of the ordinary. I want you layin’ me down ‘til we’re dead and buried. You got me kissin’ the ground of your sanctuary. At your altar, I will pray. You’re the sculptor, I’m the clay. You take me out of the ordinary.” So, it may be an ordinary existence, but with his friend, it’s a pretty special ordinary existence. In terms of our theme this week, one of the things that should be taught to our kids is that there are some things and people in their lives who are more than ordinary.
And our number 1 song for two weeks in a row is a song of a breakup, and the man in the relationship doesn’t seem to be doing it in a very good way. It comes from Benson Boone’s album “American Heart,” and the song, “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else”. I’ve said that it is a song whose story is told for all practical purposes by its title. He’s waiting for his current fiancee, meets an old flame, realizes that she is the one that he currently likes, and promptly breaks up with the one he is waiting for. In terms of our theme this week, certainly one of the things that should be taught to kids is how to deal well with the love break-ups that they will have as they date.
We have spoken about that thought of what kids should be taught, that thought coming from the fact that Father’s Day is today. My prayer for you and me is that if we do beome parents, we try to teach our kids what should be taught them. My thanks to our producers here in the studio, especially Jeff, and a special thanks to our sponsors some of whom are Hays Car and Truck Alignment, Holy Family Elementary School and Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior and Senior High School. If you want to talk to me for any reason whatsoever, my email address is frmikescully@yahoo.com. The address right here is KJLS-FM, Hays, America KS 67601. I invite you to look at my website www.frmikescully.com where you will find a transcript of the show and some meditations on the Gospels, these songs and some really good movies. The meditation for today concerns the closing of the movie “Hugo.” You can get us on the web every Sunday morning at www.hayspost.com and clicking on Mix 103 at 10 CDT. One final thought before we go. It comes from a friend of mine: “People are less likely to sink your boat if they’re in it with you.” That is, work on being friends with people and knowing how they feel—and be grateful for them. As we listen to the number 1 song from Benson Boone and his song “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” may I wish peace to you. Thank you for your time today. From beautiful downtown Lawrence, KS, my name is Fr. Mike Scully. Stay safe, and be good!
1 SORRY I’M HERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE / Benson Boone