Tuesday, February 5, 2008

But if all that's left is duty, I'm falling on my sword



This song breaks my heart...mostly because it seems to be true. I would love some comments before I talk about my reactions to it.

Edit*
In light of Dave telling to post the lyrics, I am doing so. These are from the Justin McRoberts version. And for the record, it is the version I prefer as well.

"I could hear the church bells ringing
They pealed aloud Your praise
The member's faces were smiling
With their hands outstretched to shake
It's true they did not move me
My heart was hard and tired
Their perfect fire annoyed me
I could not find You anywhere

Could someone please tell me the story
Of sinners ransomed from the fall?
I still have never seen You, and some days
I don't love you at all

The devoted were wearing bracelets
To remind them why they came
Some concrete motivation
When the abstract could not do the same
But if all that's left is duty, I'm falling on my sword
At least then, I would not serve an unseen, distant Lord

Could someone please tell me the story
Of sinners ransomed from the fall
I still have never seen you, and some days
I don't love you at all

If this only a test
I hope that I'm passing, because I'm losing steam
but I still want to trust You"


I've also probably used this before. But what the heck, I'll use it again.

3 comments:

David said...

have you heard Justin McRoberts' version of this song? i like it better, i think.

i think what i like best about McRoberts' version of it is that the song is set within the context of the entire album, and his album is phenomenal. The song has a decidedly depressed tone to it, which is very valid when reflecting on organized (evangelical) religion, but it is important to balance this whole song (put ALL the lyrics up!) with the facts that grace is real, the gospel is meaningful, the person of Jesus is more powerful than the despair that leads to death (i think Kierkegaard could have written parts of this Pedro song)

so, post all the lyrics
give them a proper context
then reflect away :-)

ben said...

wow.

this song sums up a lot of stuff I've begun becoming aware of lately. sometimes i wonder how people are able to exude such beauty and truth, (whether it be songwriting/writing/any other creative act)it tends to give me high hopes for humanity...i don't really feel like getting to the religious aspect of this song, because this response would go on for days. Regardless, thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Justin said...

I commented on this finally at my blog! sorry, it's too long to paste here!

www.camelbo.blogspot.com