Author: John
To: Steve and Bob
Well, here it is a new year. One of my resolutions is to try and bring together (more often, at least) my spiritual and musical pursuits. In other words, I want to create some music that reflects my spiritual beliefs.
As a first step, I've decided to post a couple more of my original tunes here and, after considering advice from Steve, I'm including the lyrics. (Don't worry Bob, it's lyrics, not poetry).
The reason I am moved to do this is the startling, I think, contrast between two songs I've created, both of which are quite spiritual (perhaps better to say "religious") in nature. It sort of amazes me that both of these tunes came out of me, but in a way I guess it has to do with the contrast between the religion (or denomination) I grew up in (southern Baptist) and the one I now find myself in (Unitarian Universalism). I think I could even argue (but I will let you rule on this) that the first song is (in Bob's terminology) a View Two piece and the second is a View Three.
The first tune is called Like the River, and was actually recorded about 10 years ago. It was meant to be a traditional gospel/folk tune, and meant to be upbeat and hopefully joyous. As you will see from the lyrics, its "view" is to some degree one of Biblical literacy, faith, a "born again" perspective, and personal interest in the ministry of Jesus:
Like the River
There was a man
down by the river.
They said he could heal you
with his hands.
So I went on down
to the water.
I took all my troubles.
I knew he'd understand.
And there were all my brothers
and my sisters,
gathered by the water
hand in hand.
We opened up our hearts
and let this man come in,
we let this man come in,
and our love flowed like the river.
Didn't it roll like the river.
Our love flowed like the River Jordon.
"Follow me," this man said to me,
"and I will make you a fisher of men."
So I left my old life
behind me.
Yes, I left my old life
and felt a new one begin.
Yes, there were all my brothers
and my siters.
We were gathered by the water
hand in hand.
We opened up our hearts
and let this man come in,
we let this man come in,
and our love flowed like the river.
Didn't it roll like the river.
Our love flowed like the River Jordon.
There was a man
walking on the water....
The second song, Carol for Easter, is my most recent composition and, in stark contrast to the previous tune, expresses serious reservations about Jesus but also, I hope, a sincere interest in those aspects of the Jesus story that I believe to be true:
Carol for Easter
I try
to understand why
you came.
For me,
it's like trying to walk
on water.
I try
to understand
your love.
But they say
your love
is like no other.
The say you called yourself
the only way.
Something deep inside me knows
you never talked that way.
And many are they
who say they
speak in your name
They speak of
punishment
and salvation.
Behind their words,
their passwords,
to heaven.
I seem to hear
only self-
congratulation.
Must I believe
every word the good book says?
That's what they preach to me.
But surely the Father
prefers honest doubt
to false piety.
Still in all
your story
touches me.
Even if
only some of it
is true.
It haunts my heart
across
2000 years.
And makes me wish
I could have been there --
could have been there -- with you.
Does it make you
sad to see
the doubt and the fear?
Those were
the very things
you came to make clear.
I may seem slow
but I'd like you know
I'm not ungrateful.
It's just that no one
ever died
for me before.
