Finding God in music.

[billy goat redemption]

It happens to me all the time, i find myself listening to different singer/songwriters or bands and hear them questioning the idea or the person(s) of God. Its through that that i ask myself these questions and eventually seek and in some ways find God myself.

I would rather this not turn into a argument of Religion merely because this isn't about religion, its about that something bigger than us we know is lurking just beyond our minds perception and how we find it through the art of music.

let us begin.

[Thermofusion]

shenanigans

[jebreject]

this isn't about religion, its about that something bigger than us we know is lurking just beyond our minds perception

this isn't about religion, its about that something bigger than us we know is lurking just beyond our minds perception

this isn't about religion, its about that something bigger than us we know is lurking just beyond our minds perception

this isn't about religion, its about that something bigger than us we know is lurking just beyond our minds perception

this isn't about religion, its about that something bigger than us we know is lurking just beyond our minds perception

this isn't about religion, its about that something bigger than us we know is lurking just beyond our minds perception

this isn't about religion, its about that something bigger than us we know is lurking just beyond our minds perception

[billy goat redemption]

any reason you quoted that so many times?

[jebreject]

...

[billy goat redemption]

'Jesus, Jesus' by Noah Gundersen

Jesus, Jesus, could you tell me what the problem is
With the world and all the people in it?
Because I’ve been hearing stories about the end of the world
But I’m in love with a girl and I don’t wanna leave her
And the television screams such hideous things
They’re talking about the war on the radio
They say the whole thing’s gonna blow
And we will all be left alone
No we’ll be dead and we won’t know what hit us
Jesus, Jesus, if you’re up there won’t you hear me
‘Cause I’ve been wondering if you’re listening for quite a while
And Jesus, Jesus, it’s such a pretty place we live in
And I know we fuc*ed it up, please be kind
Don’t let us go out like the dinosaurs
Or blown to bits in a third world war
There are a hundred different things I’d still like to do
I’d like to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower
Look up from the ground at a meteor shower
And maybe even raise a family
Jesus, Jesus, there are those that say they love you
But they have treated me so d*mn mean
And I know you said ‘forgive them for they know not what they do’
But sometimes I think they do
And I think about you
If all the heathens burn in hell, do all their children burn as well?
What about the Muslims and the gays and the unwed mothers?
What about me and all my friends?
Are we all sinners if we sin?
Does it even matter in the end if we’re unhappy?
Jesus, Jesus, I’m still looking for answers
Though I know that I won’t find them here tonight
But Jesus, Jesus, could you call me if you have the time?
And maybe we could meet for coffee and work it out
And maybe then I’ll understand what it’s all about

[jebreject]

"Out of Hand," by Entombed

Fools gather round to whatch me bleed
but there are things you'll never see
to protect and serve one nation under god
a nation in which no-one's free

Their flesh begins to rot
what's left of what they've got
a boring life is getting old
mischief won't turn to gold

By going back to burning books
ripping apart things that doesn't fit
one times one equals nine
Your make - believe reality is full of shit

Jesus christ
lord of flies
in disguise
fuck !

It's fucked to hear one idiot's words
but worse to see others believe it
fucked up minds in fucked up times
it's up to you to foresee it

Jesus christ
lord of flies
in disguise
it's all built upon lies
out of hand
is this a fucking joke
out of mind
and it makes me fucking choke
fuck !

[billy goat redemption]

The Everlasting by Virgin Black

Breathe
A faceless one roams for my soul
The air is dense behind me
It follows, brooding, a presence that clamours for
And strikes at my soul
Shadows slant, the darkness clings and coiled
Hiding in corners it conjures none but fear
Yet my muted children testify, the everlasting
Not a sound to my ears yet my spirit is defeated
By cacophonous chatter
It follows and strikes at my soul
It follows
Give me silence
Why can I never rest from this aloof pursuer?
Please give me my peace
A wavering shadow
I wake to find it looming
Touched but never held
Its hand stops my breath
I am mourning, my eyes are stained
I feel his sacred tears upon me
His sobs strike against my heart
The faceless, haunts me
Scared but perfect and beautiful
I see the face of...
Lashed with my every burden
The air is dense before me
I cannot deny
But can I embrace?

[davy]

HOLY LYRICS WAR, GO!

[kyle]

Promise by Pedro the Lion

i'll take something to believe
something with long sleeves
cause it's unpredictable
now jesus said he'd fill my needs
but my heart still bleeds
he's just noy physical

now why can't i see

if i look up and the sky's not there
is there any reason that i should be scared
when a promise is a promise i know

now we've established lack of sight
maybe vision's the right word
for what i need
cause i can't see with human eyes
lord knows i've tried
to follow where he leads

from what i've seen so far
i can't believe my eyes
and what a nice suprise

[billy goat redemption]

i love pedro. 


The River by Manchester Orchestra

I will fight the spirit
With a sword in my side
She found a way out
Crack my rib
Wait to die
I think I know you best when I sleep
I think I know everything

Me and my brothers
We have tongues sharp as knives
I found a way out
Make a noise, close your eyes
I think I talk to you best when I sing
I sing about almost everything

Oh god I need it
So let me see again
Take me to the river
And let me see again
Oh my god
Let me see again
Oh my god
Let me see again
Let me see again

Grace taught her daughter
Daily on
God how I feel it
Fed her pride to your feet
I'm gonna leave you the first chance I get [4x]

Oh god I need it
I was wrong again
Take me to the river
And make me clean again
Oh my god
Make me clean again
And oh my god
Let me see again


before this was an actual song i went to several Manchester Orchestra Concerts where he sang an early version of this as an intro for Colly Strings,  here is a link to a video of that,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owyEt5jrxPc

WOW

[Andrew_TSKS]

"Anyone Can Dig A Hole But It Takes A Real Man To Call It Home" by Underoath

I'm no leader I'm just a mess
It's not the way it's supposed to be
It's just the way that it is
I'm afraid we are all victims here
And the one whose in charge
I've lead us all astray again
Oh, how the plot thickens!
Are we too far gone?
We always assume the worst
I'm afraid no ones listening anymore
I'm freaking out
I'm so sick
I'm making me sick
Don't look down
The only thing in my way is myself
I'm just thinking out loud
How can I still be alive
I should've been gone so long ago
I can't get away from it all
I messed up like I always do
I gave you nothing
I took you nowhere
You're still listening
The world around me
Has taken a turn for the worst
I'm left alone
Climbing to the top
Should I jump should I stay
Can I make another day
I am the one whose wrong
God forgive me

In all seriousness, the uncritical acceptance and even seeming desire for religious content in certain "underground" genres of music in recent years bugs me quite a bit. I feel like some teenage kids who get into hardcore/indie/emo/alt-rock/whatever in recent years see it as a Christian-oriented music scene, simply because the most efficient marketers these days tend to be the Christian labels. This bugs me, as I feel that a scene based on thinking for oneself and breaking free (to some extent) from the social constraints of mainstream culture and society should not be dominated by a mainstream and restrictive brand of religious thought. I don't object to Christianity existing within the scene, but I'm a lot happier with the sorts of lyrics that Underoath or Pedro The Lion tend to write than with stuff like the Manchester Orchestra lyric above. Something that sounds like it could be a hymn is always going to repel me a bit.

And I think you're going to find that some people with similar political and religious beliefs to my own will feel much more strongly about the issue than I do. Therefore, it's going to be pretty much impossible to have a discussion of the sort that you're looking for without facing some pretty serious resistance. And if the thread turns into a debate on religion, you really shouldn't be surprised.

[billy goat redemption]

well i agree to an extent.  i very much dislike the bullshit hardcore emo scene with all these half talented bands who are claiming Christianity or Christ likeness and live another way.  i had a hardcore band living with me for awhile and my house was always in shambles and they took my instruments and literally threw them across the garage without any care or concern.  it seems to be a pattern amongst "Christian hardcore" bands. 

as in the world of Indie, i find more bands are searching for God or are struggling to believe it at all. hints Pedro the Lion.  that Manchester Orchestra song is kinda a hymn, its alot like "come thou fount." however most of there music isnt this upfront and stuff. alot of there stuff is metaphorical or story based.

i find it a bit strange though that people would be so apposed to a thread like this.  people can have their talk about anything else in the world but to talk about searching for God or a deeper meaning in music is suddenly a bad thing. 

i think if you are going to be into music, and i mean ACTUALLY into music,not this i like whats cool right now bull shit, i think music and the art within it should be something more than just another song.  there is a deeper value within music that should be sought after.  however i am ready for the barrage of negative feedback

[davy]

//

[dieblucasdie]

"Fuck Tha Police" by NWA

Fuck tha police
Comin straight from the underground
Young nigga got it bad cuz I'm brown
And not the other color so police think
They have the authority to kill a minority

Fuck that shit, cuz I ain't tha one
For a punk muthafucka with a badge and a gun
To be beatin on, and throwin in jail
We could go toe to toe in the middle of a cell

Fuckin with me cuz I'm a teenager
With a little bit of gold and a pager
Searchin my car, lookin for the product
Thinkin every nigga is sellin narcotics

You'd rather see me in the pen
Then me and Lorenzo rollin in the Benzo
Beat tha police outta shape
And when I'm finished, bring the yellow tape
To tape off the scene of the slaughter
Still can't swallow bread and water

I don't know if they fags or what
Search a nigga down and grabbin his nuts
And on the other hand, without a gun they can't get none
But don't let it be a black and a white one
Cuz they slam ya down to the street top
Black police showin out for the white cop

Ice Cube will swarm
On any muthafucka in a blue uniform
Just cuz I'm from the CPT, punk police are afraid of me
A young nigga on a warpath
And when I'm finished, it's gonna be a bloodbath
Of cops, dyin in LA
Yo Dre, I got somethin to say

Fuck the police (4X)

[billy goat redemption]

the manson song is great btw.  like the noah gundersen lyrics i posted up a ways, in that song and many more of his songs he isnt screaming yey Jesus all over , hse is more questioning it all and doesnt know what to think just yet. which is where i am right now..

God is a strange thing to think about, because we are naturally selfish beings, yet we are on a constant search for something that is greater than what we know. some people search for it through sex, others the arts, and each person has their own way of searching. whether they see it that way or not is a different story.

i find myself in a constant state of being humbled by the fact that something is beyond me that i can not begin to grasp.

[dieblucasdie]

each person has their own way of searching. whether they see it that way or not is a different story.

good thing you know people better than they know themselves, then, jerkface

[coldforge]

Man, it was sad but inevitable that this thread was gonna blow up on takeoff.

[dieblucasdie]

cf searches for something bigger than himself through meta-board snark

[Andrew_TSKS]

i find myself in a constant state of being humbled by the fact that something is beyond me that i can not begin to grasp.

There's a lot of other stuff that you've said in this thread that I could post detailed answers to, but for now I will focus on this.

Your use of the word "fact" is probably the key to the objections you're gonna get here. A lot of people don't believe that this "fact" you cite is true. And they're going to take a lot of issue with you asserting it as if it is.

If you want to talk about things you believe, things you take on faith, in a manner that is accepting of the fact that others believe differently than you and/or have no particular beliefs on the subject, then you'll do a lot better. The thrust of this thread as it stands, though, is gonna offend a lot of people.

[DanielBurns11]

'Walking Is Still Honest' Against Me!

Dear mother,
This is just survival.
Cannot promise your children everything,
But you would lie so they can sleep tonight.
Defeat tasted nothing like you said.
Still 22 days left till the end of the world.
My legacy was making you a man
For a justice I could not change.
This is one voice not to forget;
"Fight every fight like you can win;
An iron fisted champion,
An iron willed fuck up."

Can anybody tell me why God won't speak to me?
Why Jesus never called on me to part the fucking seas?
Why death is easier than living?
You can be almost anything
When you're on your fucking knees.
Not today,
Not my son,
Not my family,
Not while walking is still honest,
And you haven't given up on me.

Dear shithead,
This isn't happening;
The sky is really falling,
The paint's all made of lead,
There's asbestos in the walls,
Hell's coming to rip off the doors
To your privileged heaven.
Do you want to love and feel it?
You can look but you can't taste it.
You can reach but you'll never have it.
We are untouchable;
Untouchable is something to be.

Can anybody tell me why God won't speak to me?
Why Jesus never called on me to part the fucking seas?
Why death is easier than living?
You can be almost anything
When you're on your fucking knees.
Not today,
Not my son,
Not my family,
Not while walking is still honest,
And you haven't given up on me,
And you haven't given up on me,
And you haven't forgotten me...

[billy goat redemption]

one, it is fact to me because of the things i have seen and been through, to say that it is merely an oppinion at this point is stupid on my behalf.  i will not FORCE my belief on others, to each their own.

if people are offended, i want to ask them why.  why does someones love of something that is Good and higher than himself so threatening or terrible to that person that they want to attack me for it..

let them be offended, the Bible says, " just as it was written, "Behold, i lay Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed." " romans 9:33

[davy]

Oh boy. I hereby retract my earlier contributions to this thread and wash my hands of it.

[Nick Ink]

Not offended, just a bit sad.

[billy goat redemption]

lol...at davy.

ad why sad nick?