Mining Secular Music for Biblical Nuggets

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GWH

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Oct 19, 2024
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Crickets.... Okay, what about this one?

“Late Last Night”

Late last night a young girl dreamed
Her love would grow forever,
Then a wise man, who from ages long ago seemed
Took her to a state of never-never,
And he told her everything he’d learned,
Taught her how the silver cord to sever,
But they stumbled and fell into hell.

Every song has now been sung,
The last wedding bell has long since rung,
And the prisoners have all been hung.
There is nothing more to create,
The universe is man’s estate,
The name of it is hate.

There is no new game to try,
No new name to love or cry,
No reason to laugh or die.
No new dreams are born within,
And all that will ever be has been.
There’s no new way to sin.

Each of us is god and so
There is nothing more to know,
No new place to go,
Not even in your mind,
For that was left behind.

Late last night a madman died,
An obvious case of suicide
So they laughed at his graveside,
Saying, “What’s the use to be blue?
There’s nothing that we could do.
Thank God that he’s dead, too!

For the last rites have been said,
The prophets are now all dead,
And their gravestones have not changed to bread.”
But there was a young child,
And a sage with long gray beard,
Who knew Satan’s priest should tell them—warn them
That his spirit had reappeared.

Each of them had seen the light
Flashing far away in the night
To return when the time is right
Some day beyond the end
To start the world spinning again.

[Cf. Ecclesiastes 3:15, 2 Peter 3:3-4 and Hebrews 9:28, among others]
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
1,218
113
USA-TX
Crickets.... Okay, what about this one?

“Late Last Night”

Late last night a young girl dreamed
Her love would grow forever,
Then a wise man, who from ages long ago seemed
Took her to a state of never-never,
And he told her everything he’d learned,
Taught her how the silver cord to sever,
But they stumbled and fell into hell.

Every song has now been sung,
The last wedding bell has long since rung,
And the prisoners have all been hung.
There is nothing more to create,
The universe is man’s estate,
The name of it is hate.

There is no new game to try,
No new name to love or cry,
No reason to laugh or die.
No new dreams are born within,
And all that will ever be has been.
There’s no new way to sin.

Each of us is god and so
There is nothing more to know,
No new place to go,
Not even in your mind,
For that was left behind.

Late last night a madman died,
An obvious case of suicide
So they laughed at his graveside,
Saying, “What’s the use to be blue?
There’s nothing that we could do.
Thank God that he’s dead, too!

For the last rites have been said,
The prophets are now all dead,
And their gravestones have not changed to bread.”
But there was a young child,
And a sage with long gray beard,
Who knew Satan’s priest should tell them—warn them
That his spirit had reappeared.

Each of them had seen the light
Flashing far away in the night
To return when the time is right
Some day beyond the end
To start the world spinning again.

[Cf. Ecclesiastes 3:15, 2 Peter 3:3-4 and Hebrews 9:28, among others]
(I note that no one is requesting that I sing these :^)
 
Oct 1, 2024
23
3
3
Crickets.... Okay, what about this one?

“Late Last Night”

Late last night a young girl dreamed
Her love would grow forever,
Then a wise man, who from ages long ago seemed
Took her to a state of never-never,
And he told her everything he’d learned,
Taught her how the silver cord to sever,
But they stumbled and fell into hell.

Every song has now been sung,
The last wedding bell has long since rung,
And the prisoners have all been hung.
There is nothing more to create,
The universe is man’s estate,
The name of it is hate.

There is no new game to try,
No new name to love or cry,
No reason to laugh or die.
No new dreams are born within,
And all that will ever be has been.
There’s no new way to sin.

Each of us is god and so
There is nothing more to know,
No new place to go,
Not even in your mind,
For that was left behind.

Late last night a madman died,
An obvious case of suicide
So they laughed at his graveside,
Saying, “What’s the use to be blue?
There’s nothing that we could do.
Thank God that he’s dead, too!

For the last rites have been said,
The prophets are now all dead,
And their gravestones have not changed to bread.”
But there was a young child,
And a sage with long gray beard,
Who knew Satan’s priest should tell them—warn them
That his spirit had reappeared.

Each of them had seen the light
Flashing far away in the night
To return when the time is right
Some day beyond the end
To start the world spinning TD777 again.

[Cf. Ecclesiastes 3:15, 2 Peter 3:3-4 and Hebrews 9:28, among others]
Great
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
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Glad you think so. Would you want to say why you say so?
(Not sure how TD777 got in that last line.)
Also not sure what genre the song is with no hook or chorus.
Maybe Leonard Cohen.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
1,218
113
USA-TX
Guess I might as well share another one of mine
since we seem to have exhausted the supply of Biblical nuggets in other secular music:

“Wouldn’t It Be Fine?”

Wouldn’t it be fine if we made time
To sing a song for everyone.
But men are dif; its one big if.

Wouldn’t it be good if someone would
Make one world from every word.
A book so nice would be worth reading twice.

If I chose the perfect dance,
Would you walk with me for long
Or long for some new way to move?

Wouldn’t it be fine if passing near
The king of chaos were to hear
The sound from earth of one good time?

If the world went simply round
With purring sound, I think we could
See good from wrong and sing one song.

A trio rhymes in harmony
Like rivers flowing to the sea.
If love is such a happy tune
Everyone should soon sing along
But what’s wrong with you and me?

(Cf. 1 Timothy 2:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, Romans 7:21-24)
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
1,218
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USA-TX
I found this statement by a kindred soul online:

"I am not big on popular Christian music, so I wanted popular rock, folk, alt, classics, etc. that had a Christ-like message, without being over-the-top or obvious. Even if the song is entirely secular, I still would like to listen and make it my own. For example, "Whatta You Want From Me" by Adam Lambert, "So Damn Lucky" by DMB, "Some Nights" by fun., and "Today" by The Smashing Pumpkins are perfect Christian songs if the lyrics get swapped a bit. Also the purposeful by subtle ones like "Return To Innocence", "Bring Me To Life" by Evanescence, "Three Little Birds", "One Day" Matisyahu, and "Morning Has Broken" work just the same. Please share some songs that you may enjoy."

One of the replies was "Dust in the Wind", a favorite of mine that I have overlooked:

I close my eyes
Only for a moment and the moment's gone
All my dreams
Pass before my eyes with curiosity
Dust in the wind
All they are is dust in the wind

Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind

Oh, oh, Now don't hang on
Nothin' lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away
And all your money won't another minute buy
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind

(All we are is dust in the wind)
Dust in the wind
(Everything is dust in the wind)
Everything is dust in the wind
(In the wind)

[cf. Eccl. 3:20]
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
1,218
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This song by the Beach Boys needs to be updated:

Starting out with Berkeley Free Speech
And later on at People's Park
The winds of change fanned into flames
Student demonstrations spark
Down to Isla Vista where police felt so harassed
They called the special riot squad of the L. A. County Sheriff


Well there's a riot going on, There's a riot going on
There's a riot going on, Student demonstration time

The violence spread down South to where Jackson State brothers
Learned not to say nasty things about Southern policemen's mothers

Nothing much was said about it and really next to nothing done
The pen is mightier than the sword, but no match for a gun

Well there's a riot going on...

America was stunned on May 4, 1970
When rally turned to riot up at Kent State University
They said the students scared the Guard
Though the troops were battle dressed
Four martyrs earned a new degree
The Bachelor of Bullets

I know we're all fed up with useless wars and racial strife
But next time there's a riot, well, you best stay out of sight
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
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I just saw the news that my music hero Brian Wilson passed away
so I am posting the lyrics of his song "Love and Mercy" by way of tribute:

I was sittin' in a crummy movie
With my hands on my chin
All the violence that occurs
Seems like we never win

Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was lying in my room
And the news came on TV
A lotta people out there hurtin'
And it really scares me

Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was standing in a bar
And watching all the people there
Oh, the loneliness in this world
Well, it's just not fair

Hey, love and mercy, that's what we need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight
Love and mercy, that's what you need tonight
Love and mercy tonight
Love and mercy tonight

:cry:
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
1,218
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USA-TX
An article by Owen Gleiberman I read this morning indicates that I am not the only one who has felt inspired
by Brian Wilson's music, whose harmonies seem angelic. He called BW "the high priest of pop music as the incarnation
of religious feelings" (love and joy) and cited "Song for Children" on Smile as encouraging him to have children when he was hesitant.

Many people have cited "Love and Mercy" as being "Gospel-adjacent", and "God Only Knows" is an obvious example of theism,
but I point to "In My Room" ("lie awake and pray") as the earliest example of a song that gives me hope to see BW in heaven
(based on Mark 9:40 and Luke 10:50, although Luke 11:23 has me worried).
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
1,218
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USA-TX
I can't believe no one has cited the Byrds' "Turn, Turn, Turn" based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep

To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together

To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing

To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
1,218
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USA-TX
Happy 4th!

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
 
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
1,218
113
USA-TX
Does "Creep" by Radiohead remind you of Scripture?

When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
I wish I was special
You're so very special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here

I don't care if it hurts
I wanna have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so very special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here, oh, oh

She's running out the door
She's running out
She run, run, run, run
Run

Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so very special
I wish I was special

But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here

What about 1Cor. 1:18, Hebrews 13:14 and Philippians 3:20?
 
Oct 19, 2024
6,134
1,218
113
USA-TX
I just saw Chris Tomlin perform "Help My Unbelief" on Fox and Friends,
but although Genius lists 520 of his songs, I pooped out before finding the lyrics to this one,
perhaps because it just came out? [I realize he is not primarily a secular artist.]