Unsung Heroes.

I think back to the music that shaped me when I was younger…

The Twist by The Swirling Eddies

hang on, believe
there’s nothing up my sleeve
i’ve got no magic tricks to save the day
put down the gun
you’re not helping anyone
and i’m not about to run or back away

don’t walk the fence
then come to my defense
i don’t need fair weather kinds of friends around
so watch and pray
as a traitor’s kiss betrays
and rest your feet of clay on shaky ground

chorus
and look me in the face, at least what’s left of it
tell me you still love me just a little bit
or nail me down, break the skin
hard enough to do me in
but don’t leave me hanging
dying and dangling
twisting in the wind

here, touch my side
let doubt be crucified
nailed with your wounded pride
to love’s grim altar
here, taste my flesh
my bloody humanness
i am no phantom guest
no skinless martyr

so taste and feel
there’s nothing to conceal
you always knew the deal
was sacrifice
stand up, be strong
when all you’ve got is gone
i left the light turned on in paradise

and when the walls cave in
and the curtain’s torn asunder
you’ll know we’re near the end
you’ll hear me in the thunder
and when the sun grows dim
this will be your sign and wonder
that soon we’ll meet again
just like we did last summer
______________________________________

Back in the late eighties and early nineties, I wasn’t listening to popular music.  And, it was years later before I knew much about The Beatles, The Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, etc.  Sure, I had heard their songs on the radio when I was very young, but after getting into the church at age 7, additional exposure to that sort of thing would be delayed for many years.

Understand, this is not a complaint.

I had the opportunity to learn a great deal about a sub-culture of Christian music that has had a huge impact on my views and beliefs to this day.  “Alternative” is such a cliched and undefinable term, but it truly was an alternative to typical Christian music.  Honest, self-critical and often satirical - the music of Steve Taylor, Daniel Amos, the 77s, The Call and King’s X - to name a few - was truly an inspiration and source of comfort to me as I navigated my teenage years and early 20s.  The voices behind these bands were those of humans with real questions, struggles and doubts that paralleled my own, and they taught be much about the necessity of questioning tradition, authority and religion.  Those of you that know me know that, for better or worse, I rarely deal in black and white.  I believe God gave us a mind and soul with the ability to intepret His Words and apply them to life’s situations without relying on some man-made set of religious guidelines.  I learned that Christians are not perfect, and should not presume to be better than non-Christians.  I learned that not all Christians are Republicans — ok, that was a joke.  But most of all, I learned that in spite of all our struggles, questions, concerns, failures and shortcomings - we have a great Hope.

I must also point out that in spite of all of the other music I listen to now, I still go back to these songs for inspiration.  An entire generation (or two) of musicians have since spawned from these bands (whether they know it or not), but many of the elders are still going strong.  Some have gone on (we miss you, Gene), a few have lost their faith (we miss you too, Doug).  But many can still be seen touring and making albums.  It is a sign of their passion, and I admire them for it.

Thank you Terry, Steve, Mike, Gene, Doug and all the others.

Do yourself a favor and check some of them out.  You may have trouble finding some of these albums, but they are worth finding.

Steve Taylor
www.sockheaven.net/

Highlights:
I Predict 1990 (album)
Squint (album)
Meltdown (album)

Daniel Amos (also DA, Da), Swirling Eddies
www.danielamos.com

Highlights:
Zoom Daddy (Swirling Eddies album)
Darn Floor, Big Bite (DA album)
Kalhoun (album)
Shotgun Angle (album)

The 77s
www.77s.com

Highlights:
77s (album)
Sticks and Stones (album)
88 (live album)
Pray Naked (album)

The Lost Dogs (members from DA, 77s and The Choir (and at one time, Adam Again)
www.thelostdogs.com

Highlights:
Scenic Routes (album)