Tuesday, November 16, 2004

infernal affairs

This post by richard reminded me that I wanted to post some thoughts on Derek Webb's new album, I See Things Upside Down. Actually, it would be repeating a lot of his post, so just read that. I just hope people give the album a chance, since it is so different from his previous work. It is very good stuff.

I'm not sure what the BEST track on the album is, but my current favorite is "Ballad in Plain Red." (Maybe it's because I really liked The Screwtape Letters?)

i'm robbin' 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 lines that will sell some books
so grab 'em fast, i'm running out of 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 versus what's right
what's the difference tonight?

take out the sign, forget the meal
we've got a gym and a ferris 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
but 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.

(True to DW form, all the lyrics are in lowercase. EXCEPT -- and I never noticed this before -- he capitalizes "Lord," "Jesus," and other names for the divine. You learn something new everyday.)

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