Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums
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03.25.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.25.24New CD Mailed to Fans, BOGO Ends Soon
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03.22.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
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03.20.24Over 1650 Tracks for $100
03.18.24USBs Include New Single & Next CD
03.16.24Influential Albums: 1402-1408
03.16.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
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03.09.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
03.05.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.03.24New Single: '74 Solo Smashes
03.01.24A Serious Problem We're Trying to Address
02.29.24All About Our Next CD
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02.29.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.29.24Clues for 2024 Single #5
02.25.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.22.24Get Ready for Our Next CD
02.22.24Influential Albums: 1381-1387
02.22.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.22.24Wayne Is Retiring, What's Next for Him and Us?
02.22.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.19.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.19.24New Single: Billy & The Beach
02.16.24Influential Albums: 1374-1380
02.16.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.16.24Remembering ApX Friend Paul "Doc" Nigh (1956-2024)
02.16.24Clues for 2024 Single #4
02.10.24Influential Albums: 1367-1373
02.10.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.10.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.06.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.06.24New Single: '74 & '83
02.03.24ApX Lead Singer/Lyricist Shares His Testimony 36 Years Later
02.03.24Influential Albums: 1360-1366
02.03.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.03.24Latest CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
02.02.24Clues for 2024 Single #3
01.29.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.26.24Influential Albums: 1353-1359
01.26.24How to Get the ApX Library, USBs, Multiple Downloads
01.26.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
01.26.24Flashback: J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2014
01.26.24J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2024
01.26.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.24.24Checking in With ApX Alum Drummer Fred Behanna
01.22.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.22.24New Single: '70s #1 Hits That Remade '60s Top 10 Hits
01.19.24Influential Albums: 1346-1352
01.19.24Encouraging Message from Longtime Fan in Oklahoma
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01.15.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.12.24Influential Albums: 1339-1346
01.12.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.12.24Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
01.12.24New Testament Reading Started Wednesday
01.11.24New Worship Songs Available from ApX Alum Bill Rieger
01.08.24New Single: '81 & '83
01.08.24New CD BOGO Ends Sunday
01.08.24New USB Thumb Drives on the Way
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12.29.23Influential Albums: 1325-1331
12.29.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
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12.26.23New Single: 1974 & 2008
12.23.23Influential Albums: 1318-1324
12.23.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.23.23ApologetiX Updated Christmas Playlist
12.18.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.18.23New Samson CD Mailed to Fans, New Orders Sent as They Come In
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12.16.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.16.23New Story
12.16.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.11.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.11.23New Single: '83 & '84
12.11.23ApX Apparel: Order by Tuesday with Express Shipping
12.07.23New ApX Apparel and More: Order Soon for Christmas
12.07.23Influential Albums: 1304-1310
12.07.23Just Reword CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
12.07.23Clues for 2023 Single #25
12.04.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.02.23Influential Albums: 1297-1303
12.02.23This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible

The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
Thu., Apr. 20. 2023 12:20pm EDT

J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again.

Here are the stories behind the songs on our eighth single of 2023:

EASE YOUR BURDEN

Tom M. and Jimmy had been wanting to try "Beast of Burden" for years, but it had never been one of my favorite Stones songs, even though we spoofed a snippet of it in "Donkey Talked with Him" back in 1999. In January 2023, I finally felt like the time was right.

The title of this parody resembles one we released 10 years earlier, "Guard Your Candle," which was based on Jesus' words in Matthew 5:14-16. However, "Ease Your Burden" is based on what He said in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I originally planned to call this "East of Jordan" and have it be about the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who came to Moses in Numbers 32 and asked to settle on the eastern side of the Jordan River, in the land the Israelites had taken from Og, king of Bashan, and Sihon, king of the Amorites. I started working on it on January 17, 2023, but couldn't get the lyrics to flow, although I liked the title and topic.

Finally, on April 2, the inspiration hit me for "Ease Your Burden." That same day I got enough lines to let me know I had something substantial ... and that definitely eased my burden, because all of the instrumental tracks had already been recorded, and this was the last song needed for our next CD.

EVERYONE'S A SINNER

I never expected that we'd do one Hot Chocolate parody, let alone two, but life is full of surprises. I got the idea for this one in February 2020 while writing the clues to our upcoming single at the time, which included "You Fleshly Thing," a spoof of their biggest hit, "You Sexy Thing," a #3 gold single in 1976.

I liked the title but didn't know how many fans would know "Every 1's a Winner." It was actually a huge hit in '78, going to #6 and also selling a million copies. I mentioned it to Jimmy, and not only did he remember the original, he loved it (as did I). Tom Milnes and Rich Mannion, both a few years older than Jimmy, did not remember it, but they still did a great job on guitar and keyboards, respectively, as did George Elliott on bass. Rich also added all the backing vocals.

I wrote just about all of the lyrics on February 5, while driving to my brother-in-law Bob's funeral visitation in Arlington VA — the same trip where I got most of the lyrics to "Evidence." Bob was only 70 years old but had been suffering with leukemia for a couple of years, and bone-marrow transplants hadn't worked.

He was a big music fan, and I used to spend a good amount of time looking through his record collection as a teenager, especially albums by ELO, The Beatles, The Kinks, Slade, and his favorite group, The Moody Blues. Considering the fact that we've covered songs by every one of those groups, I think God giving me two parodies on that trip was a fitting tribute to Bob.