The Canadian rock group Arcade Fire presently sits up at the top of the charts with an interesting album called Neon Bible. I'm a poet and lyricist, so I read these kinds of things. The group itself is, I think, seven members and it reminds me of an updated Electric Light Orchestra. They now employ a haunting pipe organ that makes an amazing rock instrument. Like, who ever knew? Like when Wierd Al Yankovic turned the accordion into a rock machine.
I interpret the poem below as sounding like it's about the Jon Benet Ramsey media phenom. The whole album has the feel, common in rock, of existential angst aimed at God (think: the Book of Job or Ecclesiastes).
(Antichrist Television Blues)
Don't wanna work in a building downtown
No, I don't wanna work in a building downtown
I don't know what I'm gonna do
Cause the planes keep crashing always two by two
Don't wanna work in a building downtown
No, I don't wanna see it when the planes hit the ground
Don't wanna work in a building downtown
Don't wanna work in a building downtown
Parkin' the cars in the underground
The voices when they scream, well they make no sound
Once they hear the city is rusting
And the troublemakers ridin' on the back of the bus
Dear God, I'm a good Christian man
In your employ, i know you understand
That you gotta work hard and you gotta get paid
The girl's thirteen, but she don't act her age
She can sing like a bird in cage
Oh Lord, if you could see her when she's up on that stage
You know that I'm a god-fearin' man
You know that I'm a god-fearin' man
I just gotta know if it's a part of your plan
To see my darling stand by your right hand
I know you will do what's right, Lord
For they are the lanterns and you are the light
Now I'm overcome
By the light of day
My lips are near
But my heart is far away
Tell me what to say
I'll be your mouthpiece
Into the light of a bridge that burns
As I drive through the city with the money that I earn
To the dark of a starless sky
I won't stare into nothing and I'm asking you why
Lord, let me make her a star
So the world can see who you really are
Little girl, you're old enough to understand
You'll always be a stranger on a strange strange land
Men are gonna come while you're fast asleep
So you better just stay close and hold onto me
If my little mockingbird don't sing,
Then daddy won't buy her no diamond ring
Dear God, will you send me a child?
Oh God, will you send me a child?
'cause I wanna put it up on the tv screen
So the world can see what your true Word means
Lord, won't you send me a sign?
'cause i just gotta know if I'm wastin' my time
Now I'm overcome
By the light of day
My lips are near
But my heart is far away
But now the war is won
How come nothing tastes good?
Oh you're such a sensitive child (sensitive child)
You know you're such a sensitive child
I know you're tired, but it's all right
I just needed you to sing for me tonight
You're gonna have your day in the sun
You know God loves the sensitive ones
Oh my little bird in a cage
Oh my little bird in a cage
I need you to get up for me up on that stage
Show all the men that you're old for your age
Now in the times of fear
But if you don't take it, it'll disappear
Oh my little mockingbird sing
Come on, my little mockingbird sing
I need you to get up on the stage for me, honey
Show the men it's not about the money
I want to hold you up to the world
So that they can see themselves inside my little girl
Do you know where i was at your age?
Any idea where i was at your age?
I was workin' downtown for the minimum wage!
And I couldn't let you just throw it all away
Threw me a kingdom, God, threw me a knife
So tell me Lord am I the Antichrist?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Alan,
I was just listning to "every Grain of Sand by Bob Dylan. What a difference in the two. For a time in His life, Mr. Zimmerman had touched into something woderful. I hope he finds it again. it is so fleeting in this life
Truly, it is. You know, I think he is still a believer in Christ, just not a fundamentalist. I also have a book called DYLAN'S VISIONS OF SIN that analyzes his lyrics over the years. Very interesting. I may blog some of it sometime.
"Every Grain of Sand" is a great song, for sure. I liked Dylan when he was in his spiritual phase, because he brought a freshness to fundamentalism. I think, next to "Highway 61," my favorite album of his was "Infidels." Also, the more subtly spiritual "John Wesley Harding" LP.
He still uses scripture in a reverent way on his records. "Modern Times" is packed with references. The man has also really become funny.
Compare this to Jagger, who just seems to be hard toward God. Another Christian from our era was Van Morrison. And don't forget Alice Cooper.
Post a Comment