I'm not sure if it seemed this way or not, but last week's post on Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags was quite the mental workout for me! I decided to go a little easier this week and post a song that was sent in by a student.
Analysis Method: "MALL"
Key -
M = What is the meaning of the lyrics?
A = The lyrics are clearly against Biblical teaching.
L = I don't know what the Bible says about these lyrics.
L = I can glorify God when I listen to these lyrics.
Some of my thoughts are included in gray.
Lyrics
Verse 1
It's been so long since I have met you here
Since I have said these words or cried these tears
And like a child would come I run into our secret place
And as the music fades the tears are rolling down my face
It's been so long since I have met you here
Since I have said these words or cried these tears
And like a child would come I run into our secret place
And as the music fades the tears are rolling down my face
Chorus
I am alive in this moment
In this moment I am found
I am alive in this moment
In this moment I belong - who of us doesn't want to feel included? This makes me think of Psalm 139.
It's been so long since I have met you here
Since I have heard you speak or let you near
And like a wayward son I've come with nothing left to hide - Luke 15:11-32
I am alive in this moment
In this moment I am found
I am alive in this moment
In this moment I belong - who of us doesn't want to feel included? This makes me think of Psalm 139.
It's been so long since I have met you here
Since I have heard you speak or let you near
And like a wayward son I've come with nothing left to hide - Luke 15:11-32
Here in this moment I have come to offer up my life
(Chorus)
Bridge
Here only one fire burns
Here only one melody is heard - in 3rd grade music we have talked about polyphony, the layering of melodies without necessarily assigning a greater value on any of them. Sometimes that can be done to amazing effect; other times it can make music seem "muddy" sounding or jumbled (the issue of whether or not polyphony was acceptable in church was actually discussed in the Council of Trent, the Catholic church's counter to the Protestant Reformation). In terms of metaphor, I think I would liken the beauty of polyphony to the working of the church (1 Corinthians 12) whereas the thematic material for the whole work comes from God himself - Psalm 32:7, 40:3, 42:8, and Zephaniah 3:17 come to mind.
Here only one fire burns
Here only one melody is heard - in 3rd grade music we have talked about polyphony, the layering of melodies without necessarily assigning a greater value on any of them. Sometimes that can be done to amazing effect; other times it can make music seem "muddy" sounding or jumbled (the issue of whether or not polyphony was acceptable in church was actually discussed in the Council of Trent, the Catholic church's counter to the Protestant Reformation). In terms of metaphor, I think I would liken the beauty of polyphony to the working of the church (1 Corinthians 12) whereas the thematic material for the whole work comes from God himself - Psalm 32:7, 40:3, 42:8, and Zephaniah 3:17 come to mind.
Once again for the very first time
My eyes are opening
My eyes are opening
(Chorus)
I would call this an overall simple and straightforward sort of song. Musically speaking, I'm not sure there is much to write about; I think it goes pretty well as we could expect it to go. While the song itself never gives any specifics, the information I have read about the band fuels my initial interpretation, which is that this song is about a very relational encounter with God. There is definitely an emotional aspect to the encounter, but I don't see it as over-emotionalism. I appreciate the balance that this song strikes between back-and-forth communication from an attitude that is ultimately surrendered.
No comments:
Post a Comment