Secular music - not always so secular

[BUCKFANDAN]

GOOD CHARLOTTE - THE RIVER

As I walk through the valley
of the shadow of LA
The footsteps that were next to me
have gone their separate ways
I've seen enough now
to know that beautiful things
don't always stay that way
I've done enough now
to know this beautiful place
isn't everything they say

I heard that evil comes disguised
Like a city of angels
I'm walking towards the light

Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong
But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son
I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered

(M. Shadows)
You're from a small town
you're gonna grow up fast
underneath these lights
Down in Hollywood on the boulevard
the dead come back to life
To the praying Mother
The worried Father

Let your children go
If they come back they'll come home stronger
and if they don't you'll know

They sing that evil comes disguised
Like a city of angels
I'm walking towards the light

Baptized in the river
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered
In the city was a sinner
I've done a lot of things wrong
But I swear I'm a believer
Like the prodigal son
I was out on my own
Now I'm trying to find my way back home
Baptized in the river
I'm delivered
I'm delivered

Baptized in the river (on my own)
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
(on my own)
(on my own)
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered
Baptized in the river (on my own)
I wanna be delivered

I confess I'm a sinner
I've seen a vision of my life
And I wanna be delivered

 

[Lukesta]

Plankeye- Break My Fall

this song always puts me in a peaceful mood with the lyrics


my coat is warm it shields me from the chill
empty swings and i see couples kissing
walk the path that leads back to the house
it's time for bed "goodnight my love" she said

break my fall today
i lack the strength it takes to be invincible
from this earthly toll so many falls to break
please show me what it takes to be immovable
when my spirit shakes

drive back home is this the same old road
i've seen those trees but never quite so clearly
circumstance will change the way we see
this won't last i'm not alone
break my fall today
i lack the strength it takes to be invincible
from this earthly toll so many falls to break
please show me what it takes to be immovable
when my spirit shakes

I know I don't deserve to let you break me, but you still shine down on me
I know I don't deserve to let you break me, but he still shines down on

 

[HELENz]

We Believe - Good Charlotte
There's a woman crying out tonight
Her world has changed
She asks God why
Her only son has died
And now her daughter cries
She can't sleep at night

Downtown another day for all the suits and ties
Another war to fight
There's no regard for life
How do they sleep at night
How can we make things right
Just wanna make this right

We believe(x6)
In this love

We are all the same
Human in all our ways and all our pains
(So let it be)
There's a love that could fall down like rain
(Let us see)
Let forgiveness wash away the pain
(What we need)
And no one really knows what they are searching for
(We believe)
This world is crying for so much more

We believe(x6)
In this love

We believe(x5)
In this love

So this world is too much for you to take
Just lay it down and follow me
I'll be everything you need
In everyway

We believe(x6)
In this love
In this love
We believe
In this love
We believe
In this love
We believe
In this love

To me, the part in bold is what Jesus is saying to every man, woman and child on this earth.

 

[Lessien]

Don Henley--"Dirty Laundry"

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry

Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I dont have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry

Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em all around

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
Its interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry

You dont really need to find out whats going on
You dont really want to know just how far its gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry

Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down

Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre stiff
Kick em all around

Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybodys pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When its said and done we havent told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry!

 

[Motor City Christian]

Hmm....even though I love "Dirty Laundry", I don't see a direct Christian reference in the song.

I love all the U2 references that have been made. I was shocked to see that Good Charlotte is so influenced by Christ, which is awesome even though I don't care for their brand of music.

I'll give my contribution courtesy of Toad the Wet Sprocket. It's rare that a secular song causes me to gain a deeper appreciation and leads me to look at a certain aspect of Christianity differently. However, the song "Fly From Heaven" does just that. I'll provide the lyrics, then discuss the song itself:

Paul is making me nervous
Paul is making me scared
Walk into this room and swaggers Like he's God's own messenger
Change the name of my brother
Change the things that he said
Says that he speaks to him
But he never even knew the man
But I'd give my life for him
Like water through my hands
You'd give him any ending


But if he's all you say
Would he fly from heaven
To this world again
To this world again
Take whatever you're needing
Take whatever you can
We are broken from within
Run to another land
Like water through my hands
Or is it just beginning
But if he's all you say
Would he fly from heaven
To this world again
To this world again

They took my brother
They ripped him from me
To twist his words as they did His body
Denied his family
Denied his beauty
To lay him down at the feet Of those he couldn't save

Will it be the end
Or is he still ascending
But if he's all you say
Would he fly from heaven
To this world again
To this world again

The beginning of this song immediately conjures up an image of all the disciples sitting around after Jesus' crucifixion. I can imagine them to be worried and scared. I also truly believe that some even thought about running away. Can you imagine if Jesus never rose again, and that what they had believed was all a lie?

I think it's amazing that the band was able to capture the emotion that Mary felt as Jesus died in addition to the disciples anguish. Is it possible for us to imagine the desolation she felt?

Then, you have the emotion that Jesus felt as he was on the cross. It's amazing to me that Jesus couldn't be angry with the soldiers. They did deny Him and his deity.

In addition, this song makes me think back to times when I am utterly humbled that Jesus died for us. I shake my head sometimes that He would die for the most sinful of sinners. There's no doubt that I find it so hard to come to terms with the fact that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for those who chose Him, even extending the opportunity to the most heinous of people that ever lived. I havoften questioned, "Would he do it again if he knew all that would happen after his death?" Of course, he would. It's just natural to question that idea.

This writer discusses more about the context of Toad the Wet Sprocket's "Fly From Heaven". I found it most interesting: http://www.thisisby.us/index.php/content/fly_from_heaven

 

[Lessien]

Hmm....even though I love "Dirty Laundry", I don't see a direct Christian reference in the song.

There isn't one. I put it up there because it seems to project a Christian-like worldview of the news--how it should be less salacious and more informative.

 

[white dove]

I'll give my contribution courtesy of Toad the Wet Sprocket.

Toad the Wet Sprocket... Ah, my heart just sings!


My fave, Bob Marley:



One Love




One Love, One Heart
Let's get together and feel all right
Hear the children crying (One Love)
Hear the children crying (One Heart)
Sayin' give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Sayin' let's get together and feel all right

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One Love)
There is one question I'd really like to ask (One Heart)
Is there a place for the hopeless sinner
Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?
Believe me

One Love, One Heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning (One Love)
So shall it be in the end (One Heart)
Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
One more thing

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon (One Love)
So when the Man comes there will be no no doom (One Song)
Have pity on those whose chances grove thinner
There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation

Sayin' One Love, One Heart
Let's get together and feel all right
I'm pleading to mankind (One Love)
Oh Lord (One Heart)

Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right
Let's get together and feel all right