Ronnie Blanchet

An Evening Like This

I went through a pretty rough patch in my early twenties. I was having a hard time because I just got out of a sinful relationship and by Gods providence, (hard providence) he used that sin to show me how sinful I was. Through the encouragement of this and a film called,”Walk The Line”, (a biopic about Johnny Cash) I was encouraged to turn to The Lord and to His scripture again; I figured if The Lord actually wanted him (in spite of sex, drugs, rock n’ roll & all), He might actually want me too. ‘Round this same time, I heard The Gospel from an ex-Franciscan Catholic Priest named, “Brennan Manning” (who consequently affected Rich Mullins, who in turn had a great affect on me to do what I’m doing today; songwriting to The Glory of God); he said, “God loves you as you are, not as you should be, because no one is as they should be”.

In the church I grew up in I felt as if I was the only black sheep within a flock of white, so, I couldn’t be wanted by God…I wasn’t clean, sparkly white and grinning already. I did not understand Grace then (grace: unmerited favor; a gift, GIFT from The One True and Living God). I did not understand the Gospel then. Fast forward a bit, I remember I was workin’ as a ripper in a grocery store, compacting cardboard (graveyard shift-singing while I worked in the early hours of the morning in a big room as loud as my heart was delighted). I don’t remember how exactly, but I was asked by a friend to be her dance partner-her swing dance partner at that (my band played her sweet sixteen-where I also met my soon to be dance instructor). We did dips n’ things; it was a lot of fun, but eventually I wanted to start coming and learning for myself too. The community welcomed me (with tears in my eyes at times-slightly). I had a home. I danced as much as I could; taking lessons at night and going to dances once or twice a week. It got to the point where I had volunteered to help so much, my teacher let me have dance lessons in exchange of my volunteer services at her swing dance club. I was part of “the posse” and it was a much appreciated grace to me (and good exercise at that for sure). It was there at my teachers club I met another friend. She wore a blue dress when I saw her and I never saw her again-come to find out I didn’t because she bought a pink dress she changed into that night (due to vendor in the back of the venue at the time of the dance). At the end of the night I asked a girl in a pink dress if she’d like to dance with me; it was her. After the dance was through, I found out she was a film student (and I was a street level film nerd watching TCM in the wee hours of the morning) so we hit it off swell. We started hangin’ out, watchin’ old movies and ones she thought I’d be into and she shared her film student insights with me. I don’t remember how I heard about it (like I say most frequently), but I remember inviting her to “Old Town Music Hall” (a silent movie theatre in El, Segundo, CA that has a whirlitzer organ which is referenced in this song and used on the track-Praise God! That’s a story in itself). She agreed and we went. It was a Laurel and Hardy film-I forget which one, but it was enjoyable, especially with the new (for me), but old experience of a silent film with organ playing in the place of speech and music. At the intermission I asked her if she wanted to stay or if she’d like to go dancing at an event that was hosted by my old promoter (my rockabilly God-Mom) “The Reverend Martini” at a military hangar base that held aircraft and such (forget where it was)-she liked the sound of that, so we headed out on our way there. When we got to the parking lot, she asked me a very curious question. She asked me,” Ron, what do you think love is?”. At the time, I really didn’t know. My view of love was distorted by sinful relationships I’d been in and I didn’t have any answer till I understood The Lord-He was the one that gave me it that evening. He was the one who gave me community, dancing, music, joy-God is love, and love cannot be understood without that premise. It’d just be a word we attach whatever meaning we want to (like I did in the beginning of the lyrics in my song). If it wasn’t for the giving of life of the very Son of God for our sins, we could not know what it was and even those who hate Him still experience that love everyday; because we are all living, breathing, sometimes dancing or singing. Every moment is from God (even the sinful ones that lead us too Him. Especially those). This is His spoken world and it is real (N.D.Wilson). We are real characters living in the story He is telling-not just on Sundays while we worship-every day. Our LIFE is worship. I hope that this track helps you see this too-that it helps you find the answer; what love is. I know it took me a long time to get it. I pray it takes you less. God bless you. I pray you listen & enjoy.

Soli Deo Gloria

-Ronnie

(INTRO)

(VERSE)

You ask me what I think of love?

I answer, what is true

I thought I knew, once before

for now I’d love to dance

(REFRAIN)

with you

(BRIDGE)

The whirlitzers or the cinema

may suit you

Singin’ words to songs that we still don’t know

(wha-ah-oh)

and I’d try my best

to help you

,but your smile is stealing the

show

(wha-a-oh) 

a matter of fact

I have learned

never to take a moment like a kiss

So as we dance I’ll

take the chance 

to

thank The LORD for

(REFRAIN)

An Evening 
Like This

(SOLO)

(BRIDGE)

Oh the whirlitzers at the cinema may suit you

Singin’ words to songs that we

still don’t know

and I’d try

my best 

to help you

,but your smile is, stealing the

show

A matter of fact

I have learned never to take

a moment like a kiss

so as we dance I’ll 

take the chance to thank The LORD 

for an evening

give thanks and praise for an evenin’

for my answer and this dance

(REFRAIN)

with you

with you

(OUTRO)

PLAY ALONG

An Evening Like This.  Ronnie Blanchet

Inspiration/Regulater & Allower of all things: The One True Living God (revealed in The Person of The Father, of The Son and of The Holy Ghost)

Produced/Mixed&Mastered by: Larson Ghormley

Drums: Rajiv Lal

Bass Fiddle: Gavin ____

Piano/Old Town Music Hall Organ: Robert York

Saxophone: Josh Childress

Singer-Songwriter/Guitarist/Harmonies: Ronnie Blanchet

special thanks to Old Town Music Hall for letting us use your organ (and for taking the wonderful and most talented Robert York on your team-totally providential!). Special thanks as well to all of you who worked with me on this song, who made it possible and especially to my lovely wife who has been patient with me staying up nights working on these kind of materials-most of all, all Glory and thanks be to God for allowing this work to take place. I pray it makes an impact on those in the church (helping them to see there is no divide between secular and sacred-that all is worship including Sundays, rather than just Sundays, the rest of the week being secular) and those who are not, may you see how magical every day is because it is spoken, you are spoken (Gen.1, Psalm 33, Col. 2) this is real; you are created and you can have certainty of reality-actual truth. Wether you like it or not, you have purpose in His-Story. Without starting from these premises (and The Christian Worldview proper)you cannot know anything (account for anything-Dr.Gregg Bahnsan). I pray you come to that knowledge, repent of your sins and turn to The LORD Jesus Christ as the savior from your sins; the savior from yourself-to truly have peace with God & Joy-reaaaaal Joy that is lasting (your Kingdom Come thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven Mathew 6:9-13)! If you don’t want that, at least have a listen to what it sounds like (Joy). God bless y’all!

Soli Deo Gloria

-Ronnie