This being the month of Easter and Passover, I’m releasing a collection that I have been toying with off and on since I was 14 years old.
I was interested in finding songs that called out to God, that we not necessarliy propper hymns, or used in a musical. I’ve been keeping lists here and there for over 20 years and this past Lent the list re-appeard to me. I’ve made some updates, and left a lot up to Divine Inspiration. The songs on this mix also come from an increasing study of the music of George Harrison and the philosophy that God’s house has many doors.
I was born a Catholic, and continue to draw a deep connection to God from my parrish. But that does not mean I am closed off to other ideas and faiths. With the world population so great, it makes sense that the Divine needs to reach us in very many ways. So, let these songs be a guide of allowing a little Divinity into your life, God the Father, Mother or Higher Power… whatever opens your heart.
These are all at their core, songs of love, songs of faith in something greater and songs to inspire. Sure, there is dissent and questioning age old foundations. But if you really go back to the intent of the original Messages: Torah, Quran, New Testament, Teachings, Scrolls and Chants – it is all Love, Goodness and Light.
Maybe we ought to not get caught up in so much finger wagging and judgements. Seek Light and Love in all things. There will be sacrifices and that’s where Hope and Faith come in. Amen.
Track List:
1. Presence of The Lord – Blind Faith: Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood’s opening track to their only album is powerful. A great headphone track, while sitting in a room lit by a single candle. Feel the warmth surround you.
2. Hymn #43 – Jethro Tull: A great tune about how we can corrupt the message and get in the way. It does beg a question: have we hurt the Teachers who taught us?
3. God’s Gonna Cut You Down – Johnny Cash: Some may see this a fire and brimstone sermon from the final Cash album. It’s very simple… live a good life. If anyone knows about repenting and changing your life… it’s the Man In Black.
4. John Saw That Number – Neko Case: Sacrifice, hunger and a deep desire to spread the word. I do love a good revival song once in a while. Neko’s haunting voice is uplifting.
5. Kyrie – New Dominions: A Mr. Mister cover by an old friend’s sister college acapella group. Latin text with 80’s hope, all with just a cadre of voices. This a great song to play while walking down the street smiling at people.
6. Letter To God – Sheryl Crow: Written during the height of the WTF GWB period, Sheryl looks at the world and asks some heavy questions. Remember #43 believed he had to invade because God told him.
7. Wreck Of The Day – Anna Nalick: Somedays, you need a little help. What I really get out of this song is to not give up on Love. We have been there before, falling in Love and relaize you are losing yourself.
8. Fire And Rain – James Taylor: This was the first song I added to the list, back in the late 80’s. What is most interesting is that I would meet a namesake in the song and plead the same lines 15 years later. To parahase a dear friend, “We all have a fire and rain.”
9. Awaiting On You All – George Harrison: This was the second song I added to the original list. When All Things Must Pass was re-released in 2000, George left out my favorite line from the published lyrics and the digital version was called “Awaiting On The Wall.” Listen to the “General Motors” line, and see how scary it is in 2009.
10. Prayer of St. Francis – Sarah McLachlan: A simple recording, of a simple, yet powerful prayer.
11. Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel: I almost used their version of “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” but this always resonated to me more. As much as I understand the subtext of “The Graduate,” I never made the connection of this song. The character in the film was so different than the song’s Mrs. Robinson. This Mrs. Robinson always reminded me of the strict Catholic mothers I met growing up (For the record, my mom is a Protestant). I imagined the musical Mrs. Robinson with the picture of Jesus, JFK and the Pope below her crucifix.
12. Hey Jesus – Indigo Girls: We have all had those one sided conversations with God and made our deals. The lesson here is to sometimes let things go and trust that it all works out somehow, with the right attitude. I also believe that it’s ok to have these conversations with God. If you cannot be honest with your feelings, what kind of life is that?
13. Holy – Love As Laughter: A modern revival without the collection plate or finder wagging!
14. Rejoice – U2: 95% of all U2 songs would fit in a collection such as this. Bono Vox uses the Bible for inspiration more than Tim Rice and Andrew Llyod Webber did in the 60’s. Rejoice, is the only actual published lyric for this song – the rest is all Bono being open and guided in front of the mic.
15. Divine Intervention – Matthew Sweet: I came upon this song and album when I was going through some deep personal shit. I remember playing this when I was a college DJ on the air and for hours, off air. Prayer through music. What a powerful message.
16. Gotta Serve Somebody – Bob Dylan: It doesn’t matter that he had more conversions than Sammy Davis Jr., some consider Dylan a prophet. He is really a brilliant poet with keen insight. No, he doen’t have all the answers – he does have a few. I read recently, that John Lennon had issue with this song. At the time Lennon wanted to serve no one and belived that there was nothing else but us. Religious or not, this song sums up life pretty neatly.
17. Jesus Is Just Alright – The Doobie Brothers: Song #3 from the orginal list. Faith through rock. Kinda dopey in the bridge, but it all works.
18. No More My Lord – Pentangle: Much thanks to my high school English teacher for introducing me to this group. I love the late 60’s take on olde English folk songs. Keep you head up!
19. Down To The River To Pray – Alison Krauss: More olde tyme music, this from O Brother Where Art Though. Simple, pure. Heavenly.
20. We Bid You Goodnight – The Grateful Dead: I actually saw them perform this version, at the Meadowlands. I was a follower of The Dead but had not committed their whole repitoire to memory at that point. It’s rough, but so beautiful!
Cover
The front cover is a picture of a praying hands statue that was in the front window of my Great Grandparents home in Bethlehem, PA. After my Great Aunt passed, this was left to me. As a child, I would sit and stare for hours at this statue. My Great Grandfather saw me doing this one time and laid my hands over it, so that I could learn to position mine the same way. Every time I walked into that house, I felt like God was also at the table with us.
The back cover is a picture of the Rose Window at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Hoboken, NJ. I’ve been a parishioner there for over ten years and draw much inspiration and comfort from that building.
