The Strawbs

[AmorRegis]

The Strawbs are folk/psychedelic/progressive rock band with very strong Christian influences in some of their songs. I will post a few of their "inspiring" songs. In my opinion, Dave Cousins' lyrical writing ability compares on many levels to Bob Dylan.

Warning: Some of these songs are what I would call psychedelic or "mood music." In parts of the songs where the listener should be appalled by the sins being portrayed, the music can be very "harsh". In parts of the songs that are meant to point listeners toward the Father, the music can be very beautiful. Genesis: Supper's Ready is another prime example of "mood music." You may not care for some of the music but the lyrics can be compared as "parables" in their own right.

This song is, what I believe to be, a "sermon" on the pride and vanity that invades the Judeo/Christian faith. "Fools must pretend to be wise..."

Heavy Disguise

[video=youtube;SkfkC2oioAs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkfkC2oioAs[/video]

Crowded afternoon and there's not enough room in the city today
The people assembled to hear what resembled evangelists say
Some came just to see them for a laugh
Others to be free
Fools must pretend to be wise
We've a faith that we use as a heavy disguise.

Tears from the crowd with men crying aloud or just ringing their hands
The love in their hearts at this joining of people from far away lands
I'd so many questions I could ask
I wanted to be free
Fools must pretend to be wise
We've a faith that we use as a heavy disguise.

Cheers from the crowd for a much-loved constituent lately arrived
Here's to the soul of the man who takes toll for just staying alive
Can't ignore the feeling in the air
Glad that I was there
Fools must pretend to be wise
We've a faith that we use as a heavy disguise.

Evening drew on with a change of opinion from left wing and right
And North accused South who were left little doubt that they needed to fight
I cannot begin to understand
The suffering tonight
Fools must pretend to be wise
We've a faith that we use as a heavy disguise.

 

[AmorRegis]

The Golden Salamander is, what I consider to be, an exceptional piece of Christian themed poetry.

[video=youtube;VL-BwGKty-I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL-BwGKty-I[/video]

The bird had silver wings, my friends,
And reached out for the sky;
It found its wings were broken,
It had lost the right to fly.
The pink-eyed salamander
Changed its colours for the day;
It changed from white to purest gold
And left the stag at bay.
Now I am but a poor man
In the apple blossom state,
I choose to fly where'er I please,
The stag must needs a mate.

My golden salamander,
You must take me as I am.
I cannot change my colours,
I am but a simple man.

The golden salamander
Had become the rite of spring;
The silver bird made promises
That scarcely meant a thing;
They told the wicked huntsman
Where the stag had run to rest.
Now the elderly survivor
Knew this was not for the best;
He opened up his heart
And prayed for peace for all mankind.
He asked a fortune teller
But found out that she was blind.

The clouds were passing over,
There was little sign of rain;
The sun was slowly rising
From its slumberdown again.
The stag had run to cover
In a copse beside the lake;
The huntsman broke the silence
And the birds began to wake.
The fortune teller smiled
As the survivor spoke of fate.
He thanked her for her interest
But knew it was too late.

 

[AmorRegis]

New World

[video=youtube;hhEwjCoGru8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhEwjCoGru8[/video]

There's blood in the dust
Where the city's heart beats
The children play games
That they take from the streets
How can you teach when you've so much to learn
May you turn
In your grave
New world.

There is hate in your eyes
I have seen it before
Planning destruction
Behind the locked door
Were you the coward who fired the last shot
May you rot
In your grave
New world.

There is death in the air
With the lights growing dim
As those who survive
Sing a desperate hymn
Pray that God grants you one final request
May you rest
In your grave
New world.

 

[AmorRegis]

This song is truly a "bitter pill." A song of a man forced to hang his own brother in the name of God.

A quote from Terry Jones of Monty Python comes to mind...“Ch

“Christ said all these wonderful things about loving thy neighbor, and Christians spent the next 2,000 years killing each other because they couldn’t agree on when he’d said it or how he’d said it.”

The Hangman and Papist

[video=youtube;icniZeb4sMU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icniZeb4sMU[/video]

The village square stands quiet with the curfew still in force
The streets are even clear of dogs and whores
Like some evil bird of prey the scaffold spreads its wings
The people build their fires and bolt their doors
The mayor is giving dinner to the officers and wives
His eldest son is learning how to fawn
The barrack block is hushed and tense, the soldiers drawing lots
Who will be the hangman in the dawn

The lot falls on a young man who has served for but a year
His home is in the village close nearby
He shivers at the thought of what he's forced to do next day
He wonders who it is that has to die
The full moon casts a cold light on the gloomy prison walls
The papist walk his cell, he cannot sleep
He hears the waiting gallows creaking just beyond the door
He prays for he has no more tears to weep

The day begins to break, the muffled drums begin to sound
A crowd begins to gather in the square
The presence of the hangman in his terrifying mask
Weighs heavy on the minds of all those there
The colonel reads the sentence which the papist knows by heart
He has failed to show allegiance to the King
His crime is thus with God himself, in His name he must hang
The papist, head held high, says not a thing

The jailer binds his hands and puts the blindfold to his eyes
He leads him through the door before the crowd
The hangman sees his victim and the blood drains from his face
He sees his younger brother standing proud
The hangman tries to protest but is ordered to proceed
His trembling hands begin to take the strain
His eyes are blind with streaming tears, he cries for all to hear
"Forgive me God, we hang him in they name"


1 Corinthians 1:10-17

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

[SUP]10 [/SUP]Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all [SUP][a][/SUP]agree and that there be no [SUP][b][/SUP]divisions among you, but that you be [SUP][c][/SUP]made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. [SUP]11 [/SUP]For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. [SUP]12 [/SUP]Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” [SUP]13 [/SUP][SUP][d][/SUP]Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized [SUP][e][/SUP]in the name of Paul? [SUP]14 [/SUP][SUP][f][/SUP]I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, [SUP]15 [/SUP]so that no one would say you were baptized [SUP][g][/SUP]in my name. [SUP]16 [/SUP]Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. [SUP]17 [/SUP]For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in [SUP][h][/SUP]cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

 

[AmorRegis]

Considering the "Signs Of The Times", I thought this song appropriate to include in the mix.

A Mind Of My Own

[video=youtube;4XA2YVOINlI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XA2YVOINlI[/video]

Politician's fighting hard to win,
Getting a good position
So he won't have to lose again.
The battle's always on,
Working against disgrace,
He has to win you over.
Well it's always the case,
Ends up saving face.

Delegations, flying in,
Happiest relations,
Smiling faces, shaking hands.
The battle's always on,
Working against displacement.
They have to win them over,
If it's only a case
Of saving space.

No don't bother telling me,
I can see it for myself.
I was born with a mind of my own,
And I intend to keep it free.

Still the seasons come and go,
Bad influences pile up,
Like the dirty driven snow.
Turn off the news,
I really don't want to know.
If there was anywhere left to go,
Well I think I'd want to go,
'Cause I really don't like the show.


Matthew 10:16-22

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

A Hard Road before Them

[SUP]16 [/SUP]“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so [SUP][a][/SUP]be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. [SUP]17 [/SUP]But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; [SUP]18 [/SUP]and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. [SUP]19 [/SUP]But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. [SUP]20 [/SUP]For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

[SUP]21 [/SUP]“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and [SUP][b][/SUP]cause them to be put to death. [SUP]22 [/SUP]You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

Matthew 16:1-4


Pharisees Test Jesus

16 The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a [SUP][a][/SUP]sign from heaven. [SUP]2 [/SUP]But He replied to them, “[SUP][b][/SUP]When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ [SUP]3 [/SUP]And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Do you know how to discern the [SUP][c][/SUP]appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? [SUP]4 [/SUP]An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a [SUP][d][/SUP]sign; and a [SUP][e][/SUP]sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.

 

[dyingeveryday]

I really like this. Thanx for sharing.

 

[AmorRegis]

Is It Today, Lord?

[video=youtube;TVXu7UVmhfc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVXu7UVmhfc[/video]

Half light appears
Shading in the weary days
Darkness draws near
Spreading chills in endless ways
Death holds no fear
For those who see clear
Is it today Lord
That I'll reach you.

Old minds gain will
Strengthened by their silent prayer
New seekers still
Searching for you everywhere
Some find the way
To reach you and say
Is it today Lord
That I'll see you
Is it today Lord
That I'll reach you.

 

[AmorRegis]

Benedictus

[video=youtube;8hFhFEeVgi8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hFhFEeVgi8[/video]

The wanderer has far to go
Humble must he constant be
Where the paths of wisdom lead
Distant is the shadow of the setting sun.

Bless the daytime
Bless the night
Bless the sun which gives us light
Bless the thunder
Bless the rain
Bless all those who cause us pain.

Yellow stars may guide the way
All diversions lead astray
While his resolution holds
Fortune and goodwill will surely follow him.

Bless the free man
Bless the slave
Bless the hero in his grave
Bless the soldier
Bless the saint
Bless all those whose hearts grow faint.

 

[AmorRegis]

Autumn

[video=youtube;PKkCKxWiwNM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKkCKxWiwNM[/video]

I sense Autumn coming on
The mist has hung low all day
Small birds gather on the wing
Preparing to make their way.

The trees begin to show
A trace of brown among the green
Bringing back the memories
That only you and I have seen.

I sense Autumn coming on
The sun sinking red and deep
The fires burning in the fields
As late Summer falls asleep.

The leaves begin to scatter
As the North wind calls their name
Folding gently back into
The silent earth from which they came.

The Winter Long

Still waters flow
Sea breezes blow
Wild flowers grow
Abundant at your feet.

Soft falling snow
Warm candle glow
Flushed faces show
The pleasure when we meet.

Hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
The winter long I will always be with you.
Hold on to me, I'll hold on to you
I will be the one who will always see you through.


John 15

[SUP]9 [/SUP]Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

 

[AmorRegis]

The Promised Land

[video=youtube;jSOsxrBRYkw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSOsxrBRYkw[/video]

It was early in the morning
And our ship was still at sea,
With a lifetime far behind us we were free.
We had strong hearts and a faith
In our good Lord's guiding hands;
The mist before us cleared, and we saw the promised land.

With our brothers and our sisters
We soon forged into the land,
Building towns and cities far beyond our dreams.
As the tree which reaches to the sky,
The child who learns to stand,
So we had men of vision to create the promised land.

But the vision soon became
One man's view of wealth and fame,
And the gun became what wisdom used to be.
So the struggle had begun
Which has never yet been won,
Hear the people, hear them saying, "Are we free?"

So God bless you, my promised land,
Let nothing you dismay,
For the hand that guides our fortunes has strange ways.
And when the fight is over
And the judgment is at hand,
Please don't forget your brothers,
Far beyond the promised land.

 

[AmorRegis]

Hanging In The Gallery

[video=youtube;bWyDx-eE7Bs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWyDx-eE7Bs[/video]

Is it the painter or the picture
Hanging in the gallery?
Admired by countless thousands
Who attempt to read the secrets
Of his vision of his very soul.
Is it the painter or the picture
Hanging in the gallery?
Or is it but a still life
Of his own interpretation
Of the way that God had made us
In the image of His eye?

Is it the sculptor or the sculpture
Standing in the gallery?
Touched by fleeting strangers
Who desire to feel the strength of hands
That realised a form of life.
Is it the sculptor or the sculpture
Standing in the gallery?
Or is it but the tenderness
With which his hands were guided
To discard the unessentials
And reveal the perfect truth?

Is it the actor or the drama
Playing to the gallery?
Heard in every corner
Of the theatre of cruelty
That masks the humour in his speech.
Is it the actor or the drama
Playing to the gallery?
Or is it but the character
Of any single member of the audience
That forms the plot
Of each and every play?

Is it the singer or his likeness
Hanging in the gallery?
Tongue black, still and swollen,
His eyes staring from their sockets,
He is silent now, will sing no more.
Is it the singer or his likeness
Hanging in the gallery?
Or is it but his conscience,
Insecurity, and loneliness,
When destiny becomes at last
The cause of his demise?


Jeremiah 18:1-4


The Potter and the Clay

18 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, [SUP]2 [/SUP]“Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will announce My words to you.” [SUP]3 [/SUP]Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something on the [SUP][a][/SUP]wheel. [SUP]4 [/SUP]But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

John 17:22-25


Their Future Glory

[SUP]22 [/SUP]The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; [SUP]23 [/SUP]I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected [SUP][a][/SUP]in unity, so that the world may [SUP][b][/SUP]know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. [SUP]24 [/SUP]Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

[SUP]25 [/SUP]“O righteous Father, [SUP][c][/SUP]although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me;

 

[AmorRegis]

So Shall Our Love Die?

[video=youtube;q45r_QL2BEk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q45r_QL2BEk[/video]

The rose buds are hard and firm;
Erect and proud they stand
On slender stems,
Wrapped in silk
And tied with a velvet ribbon.

"Tie the ribbon in my hair,"
She says,
"Your gentle touch upon my brow
Can make me close my eyes
In sleepy pleasure."

Low the candle burns
And flickers shadows on the wall;
It's crimson lips are closing
Round the flame.
As the flame dies
So shall our live die?

The roses stoop lower
As their petals fall.
So shall our love die?

"What is it,"
She says.
"Nothing,"
Say I,
"Nothing but the west wind,
The wind of change."

 

[AmorRegis]

From The Witchwood (Full Album)

[video=youtube;488gvtAdeLg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=488gvtAdeLg[/video]

00:00 01 - A Glimpse of Heaven
03:51 02 - Witchwood
07:17 03 - Thirty Days
10:12 04 - Flight
14:37 05 - The Hangman and the Papist
18:50 06 - Sheep
23:07 07 - Canon Dale
26:54 08 - The Shepherd's Song
31:29 09 - In Amongst the Roses
35:19 10 - I'll Carry On Beside You
38:30 11 - Keep the Devil Outside

 

[AmorRegis]

Grave New World (Movie)

[video=youtube;vK9BHsyW7-U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK9BHsyW7-U[/video]