From: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org (good-noise-digest) To: good-noise-digest@smoe.org Subject: good-noise-digest V5 #46 Reply-To: good-noise@smoe.org Sender: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-good-noise-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk good-noise-digest Thursday, April 18 2002 Volume 05 : Number 046 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: People Get Ready - Lyrics and a comment ["anne en jos" ] Re: People Get Ready ["Roberta Piper" ] Re: Re: People Get Ready [SMOKEY596@aol.com] Re: Re: People Get Ready ["Roberta Piper" ] Re: People Get Ready [ThePsyche@aol.com] Re: Re: People Get Ready [SMOKEY596@aol.com] Re: People Get Ready [ThePsyche@aol.com] Re: Re: People Get Ready [Susan Krauss] Re: People Get Ready ["Adam Bailey" ] Re: Re: Re: People Get Ready [SMOKEY596@aol.com] putting a thread to bed [ThePsyche@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 13:43:17 +0200 From: "anne en jos" Subject: Re: People Get Ready - Lyrics and a comment I hope this is John's only religious song he will ever make !!! . I don't want that same feeling I always have when I buy a new David wilcox CD: "is it to spiritual or not ? " Why is he doing this song, is it because of what happend sept 11th ?? Jos ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 06:47:57 -0700 From: "Susan Krauss" Subject: RE: People Get Ready - Lyrics and a comment I think John's doing "People Get Ready" because of all the events going on in the world now - war in the Middle East & Afghanistan, the potnetional attack on Iraq, etc. I'm not sure he'd be doing it at all if he hadn't been on Etown where the host suggested it. I think he heard & sang it than and decided it was appropriate and he loved it. It *is* a great song and I don't think it's necessarily "religious" - more gospel (and to me there's a difference). susan in alameda Behalf Of anne en jos Why is he doing this song, is it because of what happend sept 11th ?? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 07:10:55 -0500 From: " Gina" Subject: People Get Ready I asked the good people at FolkScene if John said anything about doing "People Get Ready" on their show. They said that he just liked the song and that's the only reason it was done. Gina ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 09:51:43 -0500 From: "Roberta Piper" Subject: Re: People Get Ready I've been reading the discussion of John's singing "People Get Ready" with interest. I'm a "non-believer" in an all-knowing, demanding God. To me God is the Love in all of us. Or God is everything, everywhere. I, too, hope that John is not going to start singing a lot of religious songs. Many, if not most, religious songs are not to my liking and some even irritate me, especially those which intimate or state that a person is damned if he/she doesn't believe a particular way. Gospel songs such as "People Get Ready", however, don't bother me; as a matter of fact I rather enjoy them. If I had really analyzed what it is saying I might get annoyed. But I have heard it so much over my life that I don't really stop to analyze it. I suspect that John likes"People Get Ready" because it has such a jolly tune and the lyrics sound (superficially at least) so jaunty. Although some songs John has written have a spiritual element in them I will be surprised if he ever writes overtly religious songs. (IMHO "Let Them In" is the most overtly religious song John has recorded -- and he did not write those lyrics. BTW, "Let Them In" touches me deeply.) Robbie ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 11:05:20 -0400 From: SMOKEY596@aol.com Subject: Re: Re: People Get Ready Jumping in late here, but wondering, aren't most of these songs just spiritual, not necessarily religious? I mean, spirituality covers an infinite amount of ground and includes everyone, and unless the song specifically mentions Jesus or Buddah or Allah or whomever, I hear them as just being spiritual, "fill in your own 'God'" kind of songs, which are fine with me. You know, recently one reviewer panned Don Conoscenti for singing "Hour in Texarkana", which is about a man killing a deputy. Of course, the guy didn't even bother to take the time to really understand what the song is about,...lack of compassion and understanding and the tragedies that can arise from it. The guy claimed that Don was ADVOCATING killing a cop!! C'mon...I've seen the man carry a bumblebee out the door rather than kill it. That's not what he's saying at all. Sometimes the meaning is more than the words that are written on the paper. SMOKEY ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 10:20:55 -0500 From: "Roberta Piper" Subject: Re: Re: People Get Ready Smokey wrote: > Jumping in late here, but wondering, aren't most of these songs just spiritual, not necessarily religious? I mean, spirituality covers an infinite amount of ground and includes everyone, and unless the song specifically mentions Jesus or Buddah or Allah or whomever, I hear them as just being spiritual, "fill in your own 'God'" kind of songs, which are fine with me. I referred to "Let Them In" as religious because of the line "Let them in, Peter". As I understand it, St. Peter is the gate-keeper at the door of the Christian heaven which in the minds of many, if not most, Christians is open only to those who believe in the divinity of Christ. >Sometimes the meaning is more than the words that are written on the paper. I certainly agree with this statement! And sometimes, if not often, the meaning of a song is so colored by the life experiences of the person listening to the song -- or even the circumstances in which the person has heard the song -- that it takes on a personal meaning beyond the lyrics. Robbie ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 16:08:47 EDT From: ThePsyche@aol.com Subject: Re: People Get Ready robpiper writes: > And sometimes, if not often, the meaning of a song is so colored by the life > experiences of the person listening to the song -- or even the > circumstances in which the person has heard the song -- that it takes on a > personal meaning beyond the lyrics. I think the way we interpret all things we read and hear are based on life experiences. And we all know how just the first few notes of a song can bring a special memory flooding back. A few folks mentioned David Wilcox. It sounds like the fact that he is Christian has turned some folks off. As Smokey pointed out, lyrics that speak directly to a faith, invoking the names of that religion's God are a song of a different color. But even David Wilcox never uses specific words in his songs. I find his stuff to be spiritual and thought provoking more than overtly Christian. IF he speaks about God in a particular manner in concert, isn't that his sharing himself with the audience? I heard David speak in concert about how that label "Christian Artist" can turn people off to listening to him if they think he is one of those "God Types." It is sad to totally turn yourself away from a whole cache of wonderful music because he is a Christian. In fact, my favorite Wilcox songs tend to have nothing to do with God unless you consider and orgasm a religious experience. (now there is a thread to start!) Billy Jonas is one of my current favorite writers. His song God Is In is overtly religious. It doesn't focus on any one religious practice, but instead, speaks to them all. I know now that Billy is Jewish. I am not, but have found his view of the world and spirituality meshes very well with my own. If before I heard his music I had heard he was Jewish and had a song called God Is In, I might have passed him by....and I would have missed music that has become very important in my life. Final comment. Thanks Gina for making the initial post that started this thread. I have wished for some time that the GOOD NOISE group might wake up and discuss things philosophical, sociological, religious and dare I say...political! It is wonderful to stretch the psychic muscles and clarify for myself where I stand on some things. Namaste friends, P Bryn, the music junkie God Is In by Billy Jonas God is in the child's eyes, see them wide, wondrous, wise God is in the rain and snow, and each snowflake: this we know God is in the trees and air; the rocks, the birds, the bees, the bears God is in the clouds above; God is in each act of love God is in the oceans deep, some say God goes there to sleep God is in the mountains high, whistling a lullaby God is in the darkest woods, God is in your neighborhood God is in a place that's near; sometimes it's just not so clear God is in....God is in....God is in....God is in.....God is in...God is in God is in your strangest pleasure; some say God is into leather God is into body piercing; in your nipple, lip and nose ring God is in your new tattoo, in your scars and birthmarks too God is in your brand new nose, in your control top pantyhose God is in the latest fad, except for bungy jumping....that's dangerous and bad God is in your cellular phone, God will not leave you alone God is in th internet, wondering why you're not there yet God is in Vogue, and Spin, and Rolling Stone cuz God is in....God is in...God is in... God is in....God is in.....God is in God is in the Christian house; bread and wine and holy cross God is in the Jewish home; shalom chaverim, shalom God is in the Muslim; Allah hu akbar salaam God is in the Hindu way; jai bagwan! namaste God is in those dancing Pagans, in each drop of persperation God is in the Wicken coven; twelve plus one--a perfect dozen! God is in the Druid's song, that's why they go on so long God is in the Buddhist's chair saying "don't just do something--sit there! God is in the Vatican; God goes there for vacation God is in the Quaker meeting,sleeping 'til they start the singing God is in your guru; how do you spell that? "Gee, you - are - you" God is in the atheist, saying "yeah, I don't exist" God is in the flowing Tao, then and now and now and now God is in the Rastaman; I and I and on and on God is in the Moonie wedding; who gets who-- begin the betting God is in the Hare Krishna, rub their heads and make a wish now God is in...God is in...God is in....God is in...God is in....God is in God is in your bank account, sometimes juggling the amount God is in your ATM, counting bills and stacking them God is in your college fund, laughing cuz it's gone gone gone God is in your IRA, adding interest every day God is in your pocket change, your job is giving it to strangers God is in the beggar's cup; sometimes God just fills it up God is in the empty hand, spent it all on cheap Almaden; God was in the S & L's but left, that's why they went to hell God is in the Wal-Mart; greets you with a shopping cart God is in your old jalopy, makes it go when it should not be God is in the Greyhound bus, sitting in the back, watching us God is in 'tourist class' on a frequent flyer pass God is in the pilot light; dancing through the night God is in the radio, Wolfman Jack told me so God is in the microwave, unless you try to use something metal -- then the microwave is the devil; also don't microwave with plastic wrap cuz it forms molecualr bonds with your food and turns your intestines into Tupperware God is in your Tupperware, but not the lids so buy some spares God is in...God is in...God is in...God is in...God is in...God is in God is in the ozone layer; holier and holier God is in the atom bomb, or at least the atom bomber's mom God is in Checnya, Sobrenica, Slovenica, Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovia, Montana, Oklahoma (World Trade Center) God is incredulous at all the stuff we do to us God is inspired by those who fly and those who try God is insatiable so sing and dance way past full God is in you and me, someday God will help us see that God is in love with love so live and love and that's enough God is inside of you and all you don't and all you do God is in your greatest doubt,the jury's out, the doctor's out, but God is in, God is in, God is in your darkest sin, and out and in, and out and in, and God is in...Goddess in...God is Zen...Got us in...God is in ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 16:32:52 -0400 From: SMOKEY596@aol.com Subject: Re: Re: People Get Ready Bryn, thanks for the words to that song! And I agree with everything you've written. Regarding David Wilcox, I find Christopher Williams to be the same way. His songs have a spiritual feel to them without any overt "preaching". I like that. My brother is a musician and has put out two CDs, both very openly Christian, although with his own "spin" on them. I sometimes wish he would do it in a less obvious way, or even go back to covering Gorka, etc. And then I wonder about myself....why do I think he shouldn't sing about God and his faith? Does it mean there's something wrong with me? Or something wrong with him? I don't know. All I know is that when I give someone one of the CDs, I hope that they will enjoy it even if they don't care for the "God" references. Because they are damn good songs. Another Don comment...when he was at our house, he and my brother talked about God a bit, and Don's comment was that there is so much beauty in the world, he figures there has to be an artist. :-) SMOKEY (wondering, if St. Peter is guarding the gate, is St. Caffeine serving the coffee?) :-) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 16:39:09 EDT From: ThePsyche@aol.com Subject: Re: People Get Ready SMOKEY writes: > wondering, if St. Peter is guarding the gate, is St. Caffeine serving the > coffee?) :-) > Aand once you get settled in go find Zuly who is doing the charter cruises around heaven. Excellent post Smokey and I would like to hear your brother's stuff. Adios, PB ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 13:40:48 -0700 From: Susan Krauss Subject: Re: Re: People Get Ready My problem with David Wilcox is that he forced the Christian interpretation on his songs. I'd seen David several times and loved his music. I had no idea he was a Christian until one night, a few years ago. David performed at the Great AMerican Music Hall and every story he told put a Christian spin on his music. SO he'd tell a story which about Jesus and then sing "How Did I Find You Here?" A song I loved all of a sudden became a song about finding Jesus because of David's story. As someone who is not Christian and who doesn't like overtly Christian music, the song was ruined. Before that sone was a great love song but because of David's intro, it is now a song about loving Christ, and frankly, that's not something I can do. David can share himself with the audience all he wants but his sharing turned me off. I have rarely listened to his music since then. susan in alameda ThePsyche@aol.com wrote: A few folks mentioned David Wilcox. It sounds like the fact that he is Christian has turned some folks off. As Smokey pointed out, lyrics that speak directly to a faith, invoking the names of that religion's God are a song of a different color. But even David Wilcox never uses specific words in his songs. I find his stuff to be spiritual and thought provoking more than overtly Christian. IF he speaks about God in a particular manner in concert, isn't that his sharing himself with the audience? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 20:58:34 From: "Adam Bailey" Subject: Re: People Get Ready >Aand once you get settled in go find Zuly who is doing the charter cruises >around heaven. > that would be on Resurrection Bay right? =) _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 17:06:08 -0400 From: SMOKEY596@aol.com Subject: Re: Re: Re: People Get Ready Susan, although David's Christian references don't bother me, I do know what you mean about his stories and his stage banter. I hadn't seen him for a while, and when I saw him November of 2000, all of a sudden he seemed a bit...preachy? That's the only way I could describe it. I don't ever recall David mentioning specifically Jesus when I've heard him, tho, just God in general. I saw him last year tho, post 9/11, and I didn't get that feeling. Maybe it depends on how he's feeling and what's going on in his life at the time. I hate to hear that some of the songs are "ruined" for you after hearing him talk about them. I find that a lot of songs can be heard in different ways. Some love songs could be heard as being love for God rather than another human, just as some songs about God could be heard as love songs for humans. Anyway, so far I've not heard anything from DW or JG that has turned me off religiously in any way. Interesting points of view from everyone, and very diplomatic too. Let's keep up the discussion! :-) SMOKEY ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 23:32:20 EDT From: ThePsyche@aol.com Subject: putting a thread to bed I went a surfing and typed the words John Gorka and religion into my search engine. I knew there had to be something out there in the ether...that John must have mentioned something at sometime in an interview. Miraculously, on my first hit, I found this bit, from an interview with a Frank Goodman from PureMusic, from March of 2001: PM: Do you have special spiritual leanings, Christianity or Buddhism, or something else? JG: I was raised Catholic, so that did something. I don't classify myself, but I do believe in a God, just... PM: You don't give him a name. JG: Right. With music, I've always had a faith in myself that I could do it my own way, even though I knew it would be the hard way. But as far as confidence goes, it's been more absent than present. Here is a link for the entire text, an interesting read. John Gorka Interview One more tiny bit to put this thread to bed, again from the interview: JG: Well, I still want to keep working on songs. There are so many places you can go with a song, and for me it's still all about that. Chasing down the songs, and trying to make them as good as I can. Peace friends, thanks again Gina for an interesting conversation. Bryn ------------------------------ End of good-noise-digest V5 #46 *******************************