Play It Loud

If you took a listen to my IPOD today, you’d find an eclectic mix of Christian music with artists like SCC, Michael W. Smith, Derek Webb, Avalon, Jaci Velasquez, Jeremy Camp, Brooklyn Tab, Lincoln Brewster, Mark Schultz, Matthew West, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe, Michael Card, Steve Camp, NewSong, Passion, Petra, Steve Green (only time you’ll see the last two in the same sentence!), “Voice” (thank you, John Piper) and Wayne Watson. There’s even a smattering of Josh Groban (one song) and Mandy Moore (one song). I suppose the most heady music I have is some downloaded songs off U2’s “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.”

Yeah, that kinda baffles me, too.

I have to say, however, that I can really worship to some of the stuff on this album, especially “Yaweh.” Just peruse these lyrics and tell me there’s not solid Truth in them. Yeah, Bono and The Edge are ‘out there’ and their lyrics can be artsy, methaphorical and layered with meaning, but I believe I have picked up on a not-as-subtle surrender ballad here. Think of it as a “Take My Life And Let It Be” for the postmodern generation.

Take these shoes
Click-clacking down some dead end street
Take these shoes and make them fit.

Take this shirt
Polyester white-trash, made in nowhere
Take this shirt and make it clean.

Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul and make it sing.

Yaweh, Yaweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yaweh, Yaweh, still I’m waiting for the dawn.

Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands, don’t make a fist.

Take this mouth
So quick to criticize
Take this mouth, give it a kiss.

Yaweh, Yaweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yaweh, Yaweh, still I’m waiting for the dawn.

Still waiting for the dawn…sun is coming up
Sun is coming up on the ocean
This Love is like a drop in the ocean
This Love is like a drop in the ocean.

Yaweh, Yaweh
Always pain before a child is born
Yaweh, Yaweh, tell me now
Why the dark before the dawn?

Take this city
A city should be shining on a hill
Take this city if it be Your will.

What no man can own, no man can take
Take this heart
Take this heart
Take this heart
And make it break

I know it’s a style, a method of communicating, but I like it a whole lot better when I don’t have to read between the lyrics to find out where someone’s faith lies. Gleaming cities on hills are pretty evident to everyone, not at all vague or opaque. They’re loud, too. Lives lived in the key of heaven tend to be noticed and the residents of such a city like to rock the house and wake the neighbors.

A city should be shining on a hill, indeed.