From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V4 #243 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Monday, August 26 2002 Volume 04 : Number 243 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [RS] Iron Gate [Roxylee ] [RS] bark bark ["Bill Chmelir" ] Re: [RS] RS-Christian Imagery [adam plunkett ] [RS] Bow Wow ["Shelley DePaul" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 08:26:17 -0400 From: Roxylee Subject: [RS] Iron Gate To me, this song is simply about a woman who is throwing off the mortal coil and entering into eternal life. Someone (Jesus? Her departed husband?) is waiting for her there, as promised. The iron gate, to me, signifies this confining physical existence, as compared to the freedom of the spiritual body when we are transformed. This song is one of my favorites, also, because of the upbeat tempo, the imagery, and the hope it conveys. The woman was surprised and happy that ending this life on earth was not scary or painful, but gloriously liberating and happy, as the Lord promises to all believers: 1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 17:54:47 -0600 From: "Bill Chmelir" Subject: [RS] bark bark Have any of you ever listened to Beyond the Iron Gate and heard it as a song about a dog? My brother offered that interpretation recently which I thought was very interesting having never considered that perspective before. I've never heard an explanation from Richard about it's meaning. Bill - --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.380 / Virus Database: 213 - Release Date: 7/24/2002 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 19:37:43 -0700 (PDT) From: adam plunkett Subject: Re: [RS] RS-Christian Imagery I am 22 years old and have been in catholic education since i was 14. I am not Catholic. The main problem, to me, is an idea of rightness. To most Catholics and Christians is an idea that they have figured it all out. And they press this belief on others. I like Richard's music because it is religious on a non-denominational sense. Yes, its clear what his religion is but we don't have any down your throat songwriters. I have always been a fan of Southern songwriter Pierce Pettis, a Christian who Richard has recommended in concert. he is a wonderful songwriter but I really find his "religious" songs overbearing. Take "Next Best Western". I see it more as a complex story song about losing spirituality in a tough world than any sort of preaching. - -Adam - --- Lisa Davis & Family wrote: > You misunderstand. First off, the very idea that I > would suggest, even > for a second, that Richard's music "should" or > "should not" reflect > anything one way or the other, is absurd! As if! > > Anyway, the point is that in a Christian-dominated > country there is > always anxiety from non-Christians that Christians > who make repeated > overt and repeated reference to the particular > features of their > religion may be proselytizing or at the very least, > speaking only to a > select group of listeners, the in-crowd. (There is > a whole category of > "Christian" music that markets itself as such, and > is speaking to a > particular audience.) Obviously, I'm a major > Richard fan and don't feel > that way about his music. In fact, I think early on > this ATTRACTED me > to Richard's music simply because it made clear he > was dealing with > difficult spiritual issues, that interested me. > (I'm thinking of Sea if > Fleur-de-Lys and Nora in particular -- the idea of a > singer discussing > what was and was not "sin"!!) But not every > listener, especially a new > listener, would feel that way if their first > exposure was a subgroup of > songs each of which had such overt references. My > dad, who is of Jewish > background and as hostile to proselytizing as > anyone, loves Richard's > music too, but I don't think I would have chosen to > play him e.g. > Ascent, Transit, Love Before you Go (with intro), > "Shades of Black, > shades of blue," etc. as his first taste. > > I love all Richard's songs but I do think, based on > my last listen, that > UNLESS he wants people to think his focus is > narrower than I believe it > is, he might want to mix things up a bit when > choosing his set-list. > > Lisa Davis Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Aug 2002 00:22:07 -0400 From: "Shelley DePaul" Subject: [RS] Bow Wow >Have any of you ever listened to Beyond the Iron Gate and heard it as a song >about a dog? My brother offered that interpretation recently which I >thought was very interesting having never considered that perspective >before. I've never heard an explanation from Richard about it's meaning. Ha! Yes! I think you've nailed it. Betcha it's Richard's version of that David Massengill story/song - you know - the one about the boy who refuses to enter heaven because his dog's not there so he goes down to the 'other' place at which point he is informed that it's the REAL heaven and that's why dog spelled backwards is GOD etc., etc. Tell your brother he's a genius. Shelley By the way David's got a new website (and an amazing new CD out - got to hear some songs from it when he came to Godfrey's in April - also bought his little book of story pictures. They're Great!) It's much easier to order stuff now. The Plump site was a disaster. Also he sends out occasional emails if you join the list. They are a delight to read. http://www.davidmassengill.com ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V4 #243 ***********************************