more thoughts on music and faith

Glad others liked Gilkyson's "Requiem." I played it for SOF last night and we both cried. What an amazing song. It reminds me a little of Patty Griffin's "Mary." As a protestant, I never understood (and often mistrusted) the role that Mary plays in the Catholic tradition. Listening to both of those songs, I am struck by how powerful the image is of reaching out to Mary. This Is Texas Music | Featured artist: Eliza Gilkyson

Mother Mary, full of grace, awaken
All our homes are gone, our loved ones taken
Taken by the sea
Mother Mary, calm our fears, have mercy
Drowning in a sea of tears, have mercy
Hear our mournful plea
Our world has been shaken
We wander our homelands forsaken
In the dark night of the soul
Bring some comfort to us all
Oh mother Mary come and carry us in your embrace
That our sorrows may be faced
(From "Requiem" by Eliza Gilkyson)

Another line that just about does me in is this: "illuminate the path where we are going, have mercy on us all." I think we all want that.

The album has a lot of spiritual content. I have no idea where she is faith-wise, but she, like so many of us, can see the contradictions with the current admin and the idea of faith. Zalm mentioned another song from the Eliza Gilkyson album. "Man of God" does a great job of highlighting those problems.

The cowboy came from out of the west
With his snakeskin boots and his bulletproof vest
Gang of goons and his big war chest
Fortunate son he was doubly blessed
Corporate cronies and the chiefs of staff
Bowing to the image of the golden calf
Startin' up wars in the name of God's son
Gonna blow us all the way to kingdom come
Man of God, man of God
That ain't the teachings of a man of God

(From 'Man of God' by Eliza Gilkyson)

Adding to that, this: "jesus said, blessed are the meek, jesus said, i turn the other cheek." Some key principles that seem to be lacking in Bush and his religious right cronies.

Lest you think this is just a downer album, there are several very good tracks. I have only listened to the entire thing a couple of times, but I like a real nice duet with Shawn Colvin called "Calm before the Storm." Colvin harmonizes almost as well as Emmylou. (She sings on other songs here too. BTW, her harmony on Robert Earl Keen's cover of James McMurtry's "Out here in the middle" is also amazing. Great song--"out here in the middle, where the center is on the right, and the ghost of William Jennings Bryan preaches every night. Saving lonely souls by the dashboard light.")

Music is good.