The Beautiful Letdown - Switchfoot

I can see that I am starting a chain of songs that have the same theme, or at least the same meaning to me. Maybe I will form several chains and show how the songs are related. All I know for sure is that this one will continue. This song is also linked to I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and Where Eye Meets Eye. It should be obvious that this is my favorite theme; searching for answers, for God, and feeling out of place in this imperfect world or longing for our true home. The beautiful letdown in this song is that we don't belong here, or at least that this isn't the world we were originally intended to live in - it has been corrupted by our own free will that God gave us. It is a beautiful letdown because there is a place where we belong, and we have that to look forward to.

The Beautiful Letdown - written by Jon Foreman on the album The Beautiful Letdown (2003)

It was a beautiful letdown
When I crashed and burned
When I found myself alone
Unknown and hurt
It was a beautiful letdown
The day I knew
That all the riches this world had to offer me
Would never do

In a world full of bitter pain
And bitter doubts
I was trying so hard to fit in
Fit in, until I found out

I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I will carry a cross and a song
Where I don't belong
I don't belong

It was a beautiful letdown
When You found me here
Yeah, for once in a rare blue moon
I see everything clear
I'll be a beautiful letdown
That's what I'll forever be
And though it may cost my soul
I'll sing for free

We're still chasing our tails
In the rising sun
In our dark water planet still spinning
In a direction no one wins
No one's won.

See, I don't belong here (I don't belong)
Well, I don't belong here, I don't belong
I will carry a cross
With a song where I don't belong
I don't belong
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
No, I don't belong here, I don't belong
I'm gonna set side
And set sail
For the kingdom come, kingdom come
Your kingdom come
Won't you let me down, yeah
Let my foolish pride forever let me down

Ah, Easy living, you're not much like the name
Easy dying, you look just about the same
Would you please take me off your list
Easy living please c'mon and let me down

We are a beautiful letdown
Painfully uncool
The church of the dropouts
The losers, the sinners, the failures, and the fools 
What a beautiful letdown
Are we salt in the wound
Hey, let us sing one true tune

I don't belong here (I don't belong)
It feels like I don't belong here, yeah
It goes like I don't belong here
I don't belong (I don't belong)
Won't you let me down (I don't belong)
C'mon and let me down (I don't belong)
You always let me down (I don't belong)
So glad that I'm let down (I don't belong)
C'mon and let me down (I don't belong)
'Cause I don't belong here
Won't you let me down!

Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart - Johnny Cash

I almost always play my iPod on shuffle and this song came on earlier today. It gets a smile out of me every time I hear it. There's not much to say about it, it's just a silly song.

I wasn't able to find writer credits but the album I have it on is At Folsom Prison (1968)

From the backdoor of your life you swept me out dear
In the bread line of your dreams I lost my place
At the table of your love I got the brush off
At the Indianapolis of your heart I lost the race

I’ve been washed down the sink of your conscience
In the theater of your love I lost my part
And now you say you’ve got me out of your conscience
I’ve been flushed from the bathroom of your heart

In the garbage disposal of you dreams I’ve been ground up dear
On the river of your plans I’m up the creek
Up the elevator of your future I’ve been shafted
On the calendar of your events I’m last week

I’ve been washed down the sink of your conscience
In the theater of your love I lost my part
And now you say you’ve got me out of your conscience
I’ve been flushed from the bathroom of your heart

Where Eye Meets Eye - Blindside

This song is along the same lines as I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, as far as meaning goes. It speaks of being aware of how amazing God is and how small we are compared to Him. It expresses a longing to understand and to align our attitude and our passion with God's. 

I am trying to pick out lines to discuss and I can't do it. There are too many. So, I will just sum it up. The first verse describes how we feel when we discover God. The chorus expresses an anxiety, almost a fear of what will happen, but still being willing to give our hearts to God because we have experienced Him on a personal level and cannot turn back. The next part is kind of out there, but the last line hit me hard - "I will never again praise You because of duty."

Pretty powerful, since that is what I have done at times, along with a lot of Christians, particularly in America.We feel that we have to go to church because Jesus saved us and now we owe it to Him. We should be very passionate about our worship, and constantly aware of how awesome He is - and I don't mean that He is cool (but He is); I mean that He inspires awe or wonder. And then the last statement - "I want my heart to break for the things that make Your heart break." - Self explanatory, but very inspiring. This song has convicted me many times.

Blindside is a Swedish band. They play loud, and fast. Because of their sound and appearance you might not ever know about their faith - but their lyrics leave no doubt. Far better than most mainstream christian artists. It is also interesting to see the improvement in writing songs in English from the first album to now. A Thought Crushed My Mind is their second album and my favorite. They have released five albums total.

Where Eye Meets Eye - written by Christian Lindskog from the album A Thought Crushed My Mind (2000)

One glimpse of You and I shrink
The hand of shame squeezes my stomach
You don't really know me I allowed myself to think
One glimpse of You and I know it's not in your nature to turn your back
And I want to give You more than I have got
So tiny I'm almost disappearing in this world
You're holding in your hand
Still You know my name

This is my heart resting in the palm of my hand
This is more then I've planned from the start
Holding it up to the sky for You to see
I feel You but don't understand

The second You stepped through the door or was it the ceiling
I stood and beheld Your beauty
This worn-out skin is peeling
I will never again praise You because of duty

I want my heart to break for the things that make
Your heart break

The Little Willies - Lou Reed

I watched a Jim Jarmusch movie today and remembered that The Little Willies mention him in this song. He says music is a big influence on his film work. Tom Waits was in the one I watched tonight called Down By Law. He was also in Coffee and Cigarettes along with Iggy Pop, Jack and Meg White of the White Stripes, RZA and GZA of Wu Tang Clan, and several big name movie stars. But I guess all this is for another blog, so Phil, you are going to have to review some Jim Jarmusch films. And the rest of you can read his reviews using the link in my Suggested Links section.

The Little Willies is a side project of Norah Jones'. That wouldn't be my first choice for a band name. I wonder how excited the guys were about it?  They released one album that contains 9 classic country cover songs and 4 original songs, and it is one that I can listen to all the way through and sometimes repeat.

Lou Reed - written by Lee Alexander, Richard Julian  and Norah Jones from the album The Little Willies (2006)

We were driving through West Texas

The land of beef and pork

Where they tan the hides of leather

We wear back in New York

In a pasture, along a roadside

Behind a brokedown shack

On the dusky side of evening

We saw a figure dressed in black

And we don't mean to sound like we're trippin'

But we swear to God

We saw Lou Reed cow tippin'

Cow tippin'

Hey Lou, "Is that you?"

She said as we pulled to the shoulder

He just said, "Go screw."

And then he turned and tipped one over

Under a spitshine Western sky

The color of boot varnish

Hey it's like Fellini

Actually I'm thinking more like Jim Jarmusch

And we can't say how much we've been sippin'

But we swear to God

We saw Lou Reed cow tippin'

Cow tippin'

I got cops on the cell

I said I got a little story to tell

Lou Reed is in the cow pen

They said, Oh no! Not again!

And we hope our perception isn't slippin'

But we swear to God

We saw Lou Reed cow tippin'

Cow tippin'

Cow tippin'

Cow tippin'

Cow tippin'

You really think that was Lou Reed?

Cow tippin'

I'm sure it was, he was wearing black Levi's

Cow tippin'

I thought he was a vegetarian

Cow tippin'

He's just tipping them over, he wasn't eating them

Cow tippin'

Oh

Cow tippin'

To Write Love On Her Arms

Jennifer Gleason mentioned this organization on her blog, so I went to their site to check it out. 

Here is their mission statement: "To Write Love On Her Arms is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also invest directly into treatment and recovery." 

Their vision is described in great detail on their website which also includes the story of the first person they helped, info on the issues they help with, how you can help, and more. I put a link to their vision page in my Suggested Links section. Please take a minute to see what they are about. 

Thanks Jennifer for pointing them out!

Rancid - As Wicked

So here is a song from my second favorite punk band. I must admit there is not much I can relate to in their lyrics. Especially since I am no longer a teenager or into that scene overall. Even when this cd was released I couldn't relate to it but I thought it was cool - and the music is still good. I still listen to it often, and it probably doesn't belong on this page - but since I like it, I am going to post a few songs anyway. I always liked them more for their sound than lyrics but here is a song that maybe I can put a positive spin on. Actually, it is a positive song. It is about not taking for granted the good life that we have. I also like how he tells the girl who has no friends "hey girl, I'll be your friend but who's keeping score?" - that could be taken as encouragement not to place too much importance on popularity (or lack there of), or as I prefer to think of it, that he has no selfish motives for being her friend. He is not looking for acknowledgment of a good deed, he is just being a friend.

As Wicked - written by Tim Armstrong from the album ... And Out Come The Wolves (1995)

I saw an old man on the street
he was in a dumpster lookin' for somethin' to eat
he moved so slow like a dyin' dream
like a machinist who got caught in the machine 

I saw this lady and she was cryin'
she said it's hard when someone you love is dyin'
I saw this kid who was about 5 years old
he was in the park all alone he was cold 

there's something coming around
as wicked as it may seem
as wicked as anything could be 

I know this girl she's barely alive
she's all haggard she's only twenty-five
she said she never had a friend before
I said "hey girl I'll be your friend but who's keepin' score"
I saw this other little girl on the phone
her mother comforts her from far from home
the little girl was very hesitant
her best friend lie dead on the pavement

I always end up back on the hill
lookin' down at the landfill
I always go there when I can
my friend Marty said Tim you're a lucky man

Kris Kristofferson - The Last Thing To Go

One of my favorite memories as a child is watching country music programs with my grandfather. I remember a few times watching the Highwaymen (Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny  Cash). They were the coolest. I saw a lot of country artists that I liked, and just as much that I didn't, but the four of them, together or separate, were always good to me. Since then I have learned a lot of music from the other three and I need to learn more of Kris's.

This song is a dedication I assume to Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. It is about a friend that he wrote songs with who has passed on. The last verse is about God's love for us. It is why we were created, and it paid for our sins so we can be with Him in heaven. "Love is the reason we happened at all and it paid for the damage we've done and it bought us the freedom to fall into grace on our way to our place in the sun". The album This Old Road to me is a lot like Johnny Cash's American recordings. 

The Last Thing To Go - written by Kris Kristofferson from the album This Old Road (2006)

The angels were singing a sad country song
It sounded like something of yours
With a conscience as clear as the tear in your eye
And a heart beating golden and pure 

And I felt all the feelings we set down in song
Torn from the body and soul
And the fortunes that faded like stars into daylight
And tear drops we turned into gold 

Chorus
Every hard rocking wreck on the highway
Every heartbroken rule of the road
Every true thing we wrote on the wind is still singing
Love is the last thing to go 

Love is the reason we happened at all
And it paid for the damage we done
And it bought us the freedom to fall into grace
On our way to our place in the sun 

Repeat Chorus 

Derek Webb - T-shirts (What We Should Be Known For)

I really like Derek Webb! He writes about what he believes, and he is not afraid to say things that may offend. He is honest about himself and the Church as well. His songs are biblically sound even though some of them are not what we are used to hearing in church. There are a lot of writers who have influenced me greatly - C.S. Lewis, Rob Bell, Louie Giglio, Michael Yaconelli to name a few, but they all wrote books. No other songwriter has helped me shape my faith as much as Derek Webb.

Some of his songs are theologically deep and filled with biblical references. Some are almost like a mini bible study when you listen to them and give time and thought to what he is singing about. I  will definitely be adding many of his songs in the future. 

The song I am adding today is not as complex or deep. It is a call to the Church to change the way we treat others and they way people perceive us based on the t shirts, bumper stickers, billboards, etc. that we display. For years I have been frustrated by the same things he writes about in this song. We deserve the criticism we receive from people outside our faith, because we don't use the correct method for sharing our faith. We try to take the easy way by just wearing a "christian" t shirt or putting a "christian" bumper sticker on our car. But that doesn't work. We can't let our shirt do our talking for us. People see these things and assume that we are judging them for not being like us - and we don't get a chance to prove otherwise as we pass by them on the interstate. Or worse, they see us with this "christian" apparel and then they see or hear us doing some awful stuff. And we all do awful stuff. We get, usually correctly, labeled as a hypocrite. This nullifies our message in their opinion. And since there is no direct communication between us, we don't get the opportunity to explain that we do not claim to be better than them. Instead we should act as an extension of God's love toward them. We need to do this on a personal level, not in passing.

Ok, if you are still with me after that sermon, here is the song.

see also this unofficial video on youtube. I don't know who made it, but it is pretty good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53mhPoTO-xk

I couldn't get it to copy and paste, so I had to type it. Hopefully you can copy and paste it and it will work.

T-shirts (What We Should Be Known For) - written by Derek Webb from the album I See Things Upside Down (2004)

They'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they'll know us by the way we point and stare
at anyone whose sin looks worse than ours
who cannot hide the scars of this curse that we all bare

they’ll know us by our picket lines and signs
they’ll know us by the pride we hide behind
like anyone on earth is living right
and isn’t that why Jesus died
not to make us think we’re right

chorus
when love, love, love
is what we should be known for
love, love, love
it’s the how and it’s the why 
we live and breathe and we die

they’ll know us by reasons we divide
and how we can’t seem to unify
because we’ve gotta sing songs a certain style
or we’ll walk right down that aisle
and just leave ‘em all behind 

they’ll know us by the billboards that we make
just turning God’s words to cheap clichés
says “what part of murder don’t you understand?”
but we hate our fellow man
and point a finger at his grave

chorus

they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
they'll know us by the way we point and stare
telling ‘em their sins are worse than ours
thinking we can hide our scars
beneath these t-shirts that we wear

Update - added YouTube player at the bottom of the page!

You can watch 4 videos that are randomly posted (I pick the channel from YouTube, but I can't pick the specific videos). The current videos are from the Wilco channel and posted on YouTube by the band. They are very high quality videos, so check them out! I will change the channel every week or so.

Wilco = Hate It Here

A lot of Wilco songs are hard to comment on with lyrics like "the door screams I hate you, hate you hanging around my blue jeans...". I like them all but the lyrics of Hate It Here could have been a hit in the 60's sung by George Jones. Great classic broken heart song.

Wilco - Hate It Here, written by Jeff Tweedy and Wilco on the Sky Blue Sky album (2007)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D15BBKfXPgc

I try to stay busy

I do the dishes, I mow the lawn

I try to keep myself occupied

Even though I know you’re not coming home

I try to keep the house nice and neat

I make my bed I change the sheets

I even learned how to use the washing machine

But keeping things clean doesn’t change anything

What am I gonna do when I run out of shirts to fold?

What am I gonna do when I run out of lawn to mow?

What am I gonna do if you never come home?

Tell me, what am I gonna do?

I hate it

I hate it here

When you’re gone

I caught myself thinking

I caught myself thinking once again

Have to try to keep my mind out of this

Try not to pretend

I’ll check the phone

I’ll check the mail

I’ll check the phone again and I call your mom

She says you’re not there and I should take care

I hate it here

When you’re gone

I hate it

I hate it here

When you’re gone

I try to stay busy

I take out the trash, I sweep the floor

Try to keep myself occupied

Cause I know you don’t live here anymore 

Social Distortion - Ball and Chain

I think that Social Distortion is the best band to emerge from the punk scene of any era. I hold this opinion mainly because of how strongly they are influenced by Johnny Cash. It is a matter of personal preferences. Mike Ness writes about hard working people, prison inmates, and others who have fallen on hard times just like Johnny did. The influence is obvious both in lyrics and in musical style. If there is anyone who can take his place as the man in black it is Mike Ness. I like to think if this song as a prayer. I don't know if that is the intention though.

Ball and Chain written by Mike Ness, from the album Social Distortion (1990)

Well it's been ten years, and a thousand tears

And look at the mess I'm in-

A broken nose and a broken heart,

An empty bottle of gin

Well I sit and I pray

In my broken down Chevrolet-

While I'm singin' to myself

There's got to be another way

Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain

I'm lonely and I'm tired

And I can't take any more pain

Take away, take away

Never to return again

Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain

Well I've searched and I've searched

To find the perfect life-

A brand new car and a brand new suit

I even got me a little wife-

But wherever I have gone

I was sure to find myself there-

You can run all your life

But not go anywhere

Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain

I'm lonely and I'm tired

And I can't take any more pain

Take away, take away

Never to return again

Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain

Well I'll pass the bar on the way

To my dingy hotel room-

I spent all my money

Been drinkin' since a half past noon-

I'll wake there in the mornin'

Or maybe in the county jail-

Times are hard getting harder

I'm born to lose and destined to fail-

Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain

I'm lonely and I'm tired

And I can't take any more pain

Take away, take away

Never to return again

Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain 

U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

This song defines my spiritual experience and hopefully yours too. It may sound negative on the surface, but it is not. It describes how we long to know God and seek Him everywhere. Everyone does whether they realize it or not. And until we meet Him in heaven, we will not fully find what we are looking for. The writer did not say "I still haven't found what I'm looking for, so I am giving up", but simply "I still haven't found what I am looking for", implying that he is still searching, seeking to know God, as we all should do. It is what we were created for.

I also recommend these three excellent books on the subject:

Searching For God Knows What - Donald Miller

i am not but i know I AM - Louie Giglio

Soul Cravings - Erwin McManus

U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For from the Joshua Tree album (1987)

I have climbed highest mountain

I have run through the fields

Only to be with you

Only to be with you

I have run

I have crawled

I have scaled these city walls

These city walls

Only to be with you

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I have kissed honey lips

Felt the healing in her fingertips

It burned like fire

This burning desire

I have spoke with the tongue of angels

I have held the hand of a devil

It was warm in the night

I was cold as a stone

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

I believe in the kingdom come

Then all the colors will bleed into one

Bleed into one

Well yes I'm still running

You broke the bonds and you

Loosed the chains

Carried the cross

Of my shame

Of my shame

You know I believed it

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for...

 

Intro

Music is a very powerful influence on everyone, and I am going  to share the lyrics to my favorite songs with comments on them, and hopefully you will read them and comment or post your own favorites as well. Some will be serious and some will be just for fun. Hopefully you will know which is which.