The Truth is Nearly Impossible to Rhyme

Here's another song I've been listening to extensively lately. It's 'Ballad in Plain Red' by Derek Webb. Great lyrics. It's an indictment of our 'Mega-church, best-selling, market-driven, billboard-messaging' modern evangelical culture. Sometimes when I hear this song, I nod my head with self-righteous condemnation, and other times I writhe in self-reproach of these sharp words.

I’m robbing Peter, I’m paying Paul
I’m changing my name back to Saul
I got to them and you know I’ll get to you

I’m turning shepherds into sheep
And leaders into celebrities
It’s holy sabotage, just look around you

‘Cause everything’s for sale in the 21st century
And the check is in the mail from the 21st century

Don’t want the song, I want a jingle
I love you Lord but don’t hear a single
and the truth is nearly impossible to rhyme

But I know the songs with all the hooks
And I know some lies that will sell some books
So grab ‘em fast, I’m running outta time

Just keep selling truth in candy bars
On billboards and backs of cars
Truth without context, my favorite of all my crimes

‘Cause everything’s for sale in the 21st century
And the check is in the mail from the 21st century

What works verses what's right
Hey, what's the difference tonight?

Take out the sign, forget the meal
We’ve got a gym and a Farris Wheel
I swear it's just like the country club down the block

‘Cause you can make your life look good
You can do what Jesus would
You’d be surprised what you can do with a hard heart

‘Cause everything’s for sale in the 21st century
And the check is in the mail from the 21st century
I think you’ve got trouble in the 21st century
So welcome to the struggle, it’s the 21st century
I never thought I’d make it to the 21st century
Lord, I love the 21st century

I write these words from the grave
‘Cause it’s the only place that I’m safe
And only the dead are permitted to speak the truth

Cookie Jar

I haven't had much time to think about writing, much less to actually sit down and write. So for now until I make the time to start again, I will point towards others writings that I have enjoyed or been encouraged by.

This is a song titled, "Cookie Jar" by Jack Johnson. It's been around a while, but it's rare for a pop singer these days to have actual insight into anything. Which is why I wanted to post the lyrics.


I would turn on the TV but it's so embarrassing,
To see all the other people, I don't know what they mean,
And it was magic at first when they spoke without sound,
But now this world is gonna hurt, You better turn that thing down,
Turn it around.

"It wasn't me," says the boy with the gun,
"Sure I pulled the trigger but it needed to be done,
'Cause life's been killing me ever since it begun,
You cant blame me 'cause I'm too young."

"You can't blame me. Sure the killer was my son,
But I didn't teach him to pull the trigger of the gun,
It's the killing on this TV screen,
You can't blame me it's those images he's seen."

"Well you can't blame me," says the media man,
"Well I wasn't the one who came up with the plan,
I just point my camera at what the people want to see,
Man it's a two way mirror and you can't blame me."

"You can't blame me", says the singer of the song,
Or the maker of the movie which he based his life on,
"It's only entertainment as anyone can see,
The smoke machines and makeup, man you can't fool me."

It was you, it was me, it was every man,
We've all got the blood on our hands,
We only receive what we demand,
And if we want hell then hell's what we'll have.

And I would turn on the TV,
But it's so embarrassing,
To see all the other people,
I don't even know what they mean,
And it was magic at first,
But let everyone down,
And now this world is gonna hurt,
You better turn it around,
Turn it around.