Category: Featured Video

I’m pleased to announce my new anthem “A Complicated Miracle,” which is both personal and universal – both intimate and grandiose. It tells the story of my wife’s miraculous transplants, but ones that revealed the aftermath of 46 years of diabetes once the fog of that chronic illness lifted.

The stunning landscape photos by my niece Diana Richards help the story along in brilliant fashion for this lyric video.

(c) 2021, Lyrics and music by Jason Didner

All vocals and instruments by Jason Didner: guitar, bass, keyboards, drums.

Music recorded and mixed by Jason Didner. Mastered with CloudBounce.

Video produced by Jason Didner with photos by Diana Richards.

Lyrics: 

Verse 1
We were in dire need of help
We couldn’t make it by ourselves 
So we put our faith in the brightest
And we counted on the best
As we lay down on their tables
And trusted we’d be blessed

Then we awoke
Safe and sound and somehow changed

Chorus:
It's a complicated miracle
That has come true
A complicated miracle
We're living through
But miracles don't come easy 
Miracles don't come free
This miracle’s been complicating you and me

Verse 2: 
Some days we spin out of control
We lose connection with our souls
And we barely sense our bodies
And we're swimming in our heads
Let's remember why we're in this
What we hoped for when we wed

From then to now
Safe and sound and somehow changed

Chorus

Bridge
We can take the complications
Of this ever twisting plot
Let this be our meditation
To rejoice in what we’ve got
We'll rejoice in what we’ve got

Chorus

The worst thing you can do for your depression and/or anxiety is to simply believe your distorted thinking or to argue with the distorted thoughts. Both escalate those thoughts and make you more depressed and anxious. You can’t just wish those thoughts out of existence. What you can do is learn to be mindful of those thoughts. In this song, I give examples of distorted thoughts and respond with “These thoughts are distorted.” That’s the life skill I want you to take away from this video.

If you’d like to download the song for offline listening or just support the work I’m doing, you can hop on over to the Bandcamp page for the new single:

Here’s your chance to see it before it’s released.

Distorted, negative thoughts tend to inflame stress and mental health issues, especially if you’re just going along with them or trying to fight them. Simply recognizing the distorted thoughts for what they are is a key form of mindfulness that can restore some balance.

It is my hope that by hearing this song today, you’ll get some peace of mind.

If you sign up below to receive my emails about my videos and streaming concerts, you’ll automatically receive a link to this new video “Distorted” before it’s released.

Featuring Leslie Masuzzo

This new song is inspired by the loving kindness meditation practice.

(c) 2021, Lyrics and music by Jason Didner (https://jasondidner.com)

Jason Didner – vocals, ukulele, acoustic guitar, bass, bongos, shaker, mixing, video production

Mastered with CloudBounce

Drone video clips by Bob Didner, available at https://iStockPhoto.com

Video clip from Great Falls National Park by Jason Didner

Song inspired by the practice of loving kindness meditation as taught on the Ten Percent Happier app (https://tenpercent.com).

Chords and Lyrics: 

Intro
F           C      Bb
F           C      Bb

Verse 1
F                  C       Bb
If the best way to learn a thing 
       F                  C       Bb 
is to teach it 

F                  C       Bb
Then I'll try to guide you, 
           F                  C       Bb
and I may reach it 


Gm                C
I may not get to enlightenment 
Gm                  C
But I can learn to lighten up yeah 
F                  C      Bb
And if it gets me practicing, 
        F                C          Bb
I will preach it 

Am                                     Bb          C
      So let's place a hand on our own hearts and sing... 

Chorus: 
                F
May I live with ease 
                    C
May I be free from suffering 
           Gm            Bb     C
May I be a blessing for someone today 

         F
May I be safe 
          C
May I be peaceful deep within 
                Gm         Bb            C
May I walk with comfort along the middle way 
Bb                             C
May this be a moment of loving kindness I give to myself 

F           C      Bb
F           C      Bb

Verse 2: 
If the best way to know a thing is to live it 
Then I'll try to take it in and to give it 
I may not get to the mountain top 
But I'll start again every time I stop 
And when I stumble, may I forgive it 
So let's place a hand on our own hearts And sing... 

Chorus: 
May you live with ease 
May you be free from suffering 
May you be a blessing for someone today 
May you be safe 
May you be peaceful deep within 
May you walk with comfort along the middle way 
May this be a moment of loving kindness you can give yourself 

Solo 

So let's place a hand on our own hearts And sing... 

Chorus: 
May we live with ease 
May we be free from suffering 
May we be a blessing for someone today 

May we be safe 
May we be peaceful deep within 
May we walk with comfort along the middle way 
May this be a moment of loving kindness we can give ourselves

I spotlight the legacy of Otis Redding for #BlackHistoryMonth with this acoustic version of his hit (Sittin’ on the) Dock of the Bay. Watch until the end for a cool musical surprise!

The laid-back vibe of the song thinly veils a deep longing for connection and belonging (as in the line “This loneliness won’t leave me alone”).

I will perform #DockOfTheBay tonight, 23-Feb on Sessions Live at 10PM Eastern-US.

This is the first song in American music history to go to #1 in the charts following the death of an artist. Otis Redding had co-written this with legendary Memphis guitarist Steve Cropper. He recorded two versions of it just days before his ill-fated final plane flight. The song was released shortly after his untimely death and shot to #1.

Other hits from Otis Redding include Try a Little Tenderness, Hard to Handle (If you’re a rock fan you may be more familiar with The Black Crowes’ version) and Mr. Pitiful.

I give live acoustic performances like this live, online about 3 times a week. Sign up below to receive emails of my new video releases and performance schedules and never miss a show!

I put everything I love about the Jersey Shore sound into this one. It world premiered at Big Man’s Bash – a celebration of the life and music of Clarence Clemons, beloved member of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

Lyrics: 
 
 Verse 1: 
 Windshield wipers are frozen and it's hard to see 
 If there's dangerous obstacles in front of me 
 It's a slippery turnpike and the left lane's out 
 These times can test your grip on what your life's about 
 

 In my engine the gremlins knock my self esteem 
 As they try to drive down the value of my dreams 
 As I struggle for traction up this icy hill 
 They make me think dark thoughts but they can't break my will 
 

 Chorus: 
 Let's move on forward, here's to making our way 
 To the dreams we work for coming into reach 
 Salt and sand on this icy highway 
 Will be salt and sand on a summer beach 
 Salt and sand on this icy highway 
 Will be salt and sand on a summer beach 
 

 Verse 2: 
 I can feel your frustration as you spin your wheels 
 I'm identifying big-time with the way you feel 
 You set your plan and watch it get pushed back 
 It takes a steady hand to get you back on track 
 

 Yeah the heat of anger may move us along 
 But it ain't no substitute for staying strong 
 Today we won't be quickly satisfied 
 But we've got dreams of a lifetime that won't be denied 
 

 Chorus 
 

 Bridge: 
 We can fade 
 Or we can shine 
 The way we choose to walk the line 
 

 Chorus 

Credits:

Lyrics and Music by Jason Didner (c) 2004, All Rights Reserved 
Vocals and all instruments: electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, alto sax and glockenspiel by Jason Didner 
Produced by Jason and Amy Didner