Translation of the above sentence:
"Instead of filling out study guides for my History of Popular Music class, I was searching for bands with lyrics that probe slightly deeper than 'I love you/You, you/You love me, we're a happy family . . .', and I discovered mewithoutYou."
Actually, I discovered mewithoutYou a few months ago, but I hadn't really had the time to pay close attention to what their songs were saying; I was just intrigued by their sound. Once I started really listening to the words, I was even more intrigued.
[So, naturally, I decided to blog about it. Because, apparently, I have nothing better to do . . .]
My favorite song of theirs, so far, is "A Stick, A Carrot, and A String". I don't understand why, if there are songs like this out there, Christian radio stations are still playing the same Michael W. Smith songs that they were playing when I was 4.
A Stick, a Carrot, and a String
The horse's hay beneath his head
Our Lord was born to a manger bed
That all whose wells run dry
Could drink of his supply.
To keep him warm, the sheep drew near
So grateful for His coming here
Come with news of grace
Come to take my place.
The donkey whispered in his ear
"Child, in 30-some-odd years
You'll ride someone who looks like me,
Untriumphantly."
The cardinals warbled a joyful song
He'll make right what man made wrong
Bringing low the hills
That the valleys might be filled.
Then "Child", asked the birds
"Well, aren't they lovely words we sing?"
The tiny baby layed there
Without saying anything.
At a distance stood a mangy goat
With the crooked teeth and a matted coat
Weary eyes and worn
Chipped and twisted horns.
Thinking "Maybe I'll make friends someday
With the cows and the hens and the rambouillet
But for now, I'll keep away
I've got nothing smart to say."
But there's a sign on the barn in the cabbage town
"When the rain picks up
And the sun goes down
Sinners, come inside
With no money, come and buy.
No clever talk, nor a gift to bring,
Requires our lowly, lovely king
Come now empty handed,
You don't need anything."
And the night was cool
And clear as glass
With the sneaking snake in the garden grass
Deep cried out to deep
The disciples fast asleep.
And the snake perked up
When he heard You ask
"If You're willing that this cup might pass
We could find our way back home,
Maybe start a family all our own.
But does not the Father guide the Son?
Not my will, but Yours be done.
What else here to do?
What else me, but You?"
And the snake who'd held the world
A stick, a carrot and a string
Was crushed beneath the foot
Of your not wanting anything.
Did you read the lyrics? I mean really read them. More than once. And think about them.
I know the more times I read them, the more I discovered.
For example ~
The reference to our inability to do anything to deserve or impress Christ:
Then "Child", asked the birds
"Well, aren't they lovely words we sing?"
The tiny baby lay there
Without saying anything.
The goat who thinks he has nothing to offer and so cannot come to the child, and yet:
But there's a sign on the barn in the cabbage town
"When the rain picks up
And the sun goes down
Sinners, come inside
With no money, come and buy.
No clever talk, nor a gift to bring,
Requires our lowly, lovely king
Come now empty handed,
"When the rain picks up
And the sun goes down
Sinners, come inside
With no money, come and buy.
No clever talk, nor a gift to bring,
Requires our lowly, lovely king
Come now empty handed,
You don't need anything."
My favorite line is definitely the very last stanza:
And the snake who'd held the world
A stick, a carrot and a string
Was crushed beneath the foot
Of your not wanting anything.
Was crushed beneath the foot
Of your not wanting anything.
Satan (the snake) is holding "a stick, a carrot, and a string". I think it could refer to both a) the fact that Satan 'rules' over the fallen world by enticing and tempting us, and Christ crushed his power so that we could resist the temptation, and b) that Satan tempted Christ with earthly power and escape from the cross, yet Christ came that His Father's will might be done, above all else, and refused to be enticed by any earthly desires.
Obviously, there was a great deal of thought and care put into the writing of these lyrics.
(A writer far better than I can ever dream of being was clearly involved.) It's songs like this that save me from complete despair. I don't know about you, but I dream of a brighter future, where musical/lyrical excellence and Christian music are not so far removed from one another.
Postscript:
Ironically, while mewithoutYou has managed to create the above song, full of so much truth, they are also incredibly theologically confused.
Just as a warning, if you look up their album, like I did, don't be surprised to find a song entitled "Allah, Allah, Allah" listed.
. . . they are definitely confused. On so many levels . . .
