The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #105855   Message #2183754
Posted By: PoppaGator
31-Oct-07 - 05:14 PM
Thread Name: Religious Songs That Speak To You
Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
Bobert's mention of "70s country-rock gospel" made me think of a couple of numbers in (or near) that category.

When I first heard it many years ago, I thought "Spirit in the Sky" was downright stupid. Now I feel more favorably towards it on the rare occasion when it pops up.

"Get Together" ["Love is but the song we sing, fear's the way we die..."], by Dino Valenti and most famously recorded by Jesse Colin Young and the Youngbloods, is such a great expression of flower-power-era faith and idealism. You never hear it anymore, probably because people can't sing it without a sense of irony, which is a shame. (I'm working on it, but can't quite pull it off yet...)

Another ostensibly secular psychelic-folk anthem that expresses a beautiful spirituality is "Ripple," lyrics by Robert Hunter and music by Jerry Garcia:

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung,
Would you hear my voice come thru the music,
Would you hold it near as it were your own?

Its a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken,
Perhaps they're better left unsung.
I don't know, don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air.

Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty,
If your cup is full may it be again,
Let it be known there is a fountain,
That was not made by the hands of men.

There is a road, no simple highway,
Between the dawn and the dark of night,
And if you go no one may follow,
That path is for your steps alone.

Ripple in still water,
When there is no pebble tossed,
Nor wind to blow.

You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone,
If you should stand then who's to guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home.

Grateful Dead