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 THE
VIEW FROM HERE
About the Songs
THE VIEW FROM HERE
Written with Tom Prasada-Rao. Tom definitely gave the song its cool and gentle
groove. He came over one afternoon and I was in another whiney mood about how my
second-floor apartment really has this horrid view and how Southern California
has no night sky to speak of. I just started singing lines about it and we took
off from there. Even I was surprised at the "something" we built out of all the
"nothings" we kept stumbling over.
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DEFIANT LAMB
Originally written for the Moody radio program "Proclaim". They wanted a song
that somehow tied into four specific parables. These parables are (not all
references are listed): The Sower and the Seed (Luke 8:5-15), The Faithful
Shepherd (Luke 15:3-7), The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10), and The Prodigal Son (Luke
15:11-32). I managed to do that and write about my own conniving and ingratitude
as well.
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A LIFE THAT IS NOT MY OWN
Written mostly for my oldest son Paul upon his graduation from Marine Basic
Training in April 2001. But also triggered by the incredible plight of my
friends Steve & Sandy who almost lost their adoptive son due to the most inane
and unfair of legal technicalities. Actually now a landmark case of sorts in
California adoption law.
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STILL ROLLS THE STONE
For many years, my second least favorite of my songs. (The first was and still
is "Whistling In The Dark", but that's a whole other story.) I avoided this song
like the plague. Then I slowed it down, cut some repetition, played it with my
fingers instead of a flat pick and it felt new and better. So I resurrected it
... so to speak!
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THE KINGS OF SUMMER STREET
Written with songwriter extraordinaire Don Henry. We had so much fun with the
hang time; we barely got around to the work! A fictional story that seems,
nonetheless, wholly true.
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THE COMMUNION RAIL
For the Church. And for His beloved servants: my dear friend and pastor Fr.
Stephen Felkner and a new friend, Fr. Jamie Howison. Here my late-in-life
Anglican heritage makes its way into a song. I used to think the Lord's Supper
was "merely symbol", now I'm pretty sure it's more than that. But I don't always
know or understand the shape of that "more". Whether through remembrance or
elements or a combination of both, I cannot say. I am tempted to wonder if the
Eucharist is a little like gravity, operative whether fully understood or not. I
also appreciate the constant renewal and restoration that precedes my coming to
the communion rail.
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LORD OF THE PAST
A simple phrase uttered by my friend Michele led to the title of this song. If
God is not in the business of changing the past (at least not so far), maybe He
can change how I relate to what has gone before. Faith or belief does not render
me only a "new creature", I am also a person who is still reaping what I have
done and failed to do. I sing this song in the push and pull of these "competing
truths".
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WE WERE THE KINGS
As soon as Don and I had written the bulk of "Summer Street", I got this idea to
write a song about these same guys as old men. This was the hardest song to
write I've ever attempted. Part of it was dealing with the heartache of saying
goodbye. Part of it was that I drew from feelings and observations about my own
father and also my lifelong friendship with a very special fellow. And so I must
dedicate this song to my oldest and best friend Dan Rupple. Yes, the details are
made up, but the "him and me" is as true as it gets. Danny, may we live to be
the old men we used to laugh about when we were young!
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HEART OF HEARTS
Written by the late Mark Heard. Doubt always seems to move in right next door to
Faith. Mark never feared to write about that juxtaposition. And a lot of folks
in the church "neighborhood" just didn't want to hear a guy sing about a town
that wasn't Mayberry. My reaction when I heard him? Finally, a guy who
understands me! I hope I honor his memory with this version and, if he's
listening, I hope he likes it!
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MAN OF THE TOMBS
A biography that somehow managed to become autobiography as well. One day, if
things work out as I hope they will, I will meet this man. The italic
subheadings in a lot of Bibles call him "The Gadarene Demoniac". I want to know
his name, shake his hand and ask him to tell me the real story that I could only
imagine here. (Mark 5:1-17)
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ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS' NAME
A classic hymn that I have played in concert for quite some time. Although it
closes the album here, I often open with it when playing live. Even though that
goes again the "show-biz rules" in doing a down-tempo song first, it helps me
get focused and sets the stage for what follows. In this case I hope it provides
a fitting benediction for all the preceding songs that have painted my personal
picture of The View From Here.
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All text © 2002 Bright Avenue Songs |