Rock Lyrics and Reason
June 20th, 2005 | Published in Quotes, Culture, Music | 4 Comments
Not only do rock lyrics denigrate reason, but the way rock is usually experienced discourages any kind of careful reflection. Much of the time, rock (like most popular music) is used to cover over silence. Whether in a car, on a bus, or when walking, rock music serves for its listeners as a kind of personal sound track, enlivening tedious activities with excitement, much the way that film and television scores enliven boring passages with exciting music. Time that could be spent thinking is thus spent listening and daydreaming.
—Kenneth A. Myers All God’s Children and Blue Suede Shoes: Christians & Popular Culture (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1989), p. 149
June 23rd, 2005 at 11:33 am (#)
That may be true for some rock songs. But if they are Christian rock songs, it’s entirely different. For example, consider these profound, inspiring, challenging lyrics from TobyMac:
Love is in the house and the house is packed
So much so I left the back door cracked
Mama always said it’s a matter of fact
That when love is in the house, the house is packed
Love is in the house and the house is packed
So much so I left the back door cracked
Daddy always said that I wish I was black
And when love is in the house, the house is packed
And the great things about this song is that if you hear it on Christian radio, you will hear this refrain over and over and over again. That is helpful, because it enables you to meditate on the profound truth throughout the day that “when love is in the house, the house is packed”–the truth of which has been revolutionary in my life.
June 23rd, 2005 at 11:48 am (#)
Justin,
Thank you for that example. It is truly inspiring! And he is soooo dreamy. I am going to go crack the back door now.
Josh
June 30th, 2005 at 7:13 pm (#)
I loved this quote from Myers,
“…rock music serves for its listeners as a kind of personal sound track, enlivening tedious activities with excitement, much the way that film and television scores enliven boring passages with exciting music. Time that could be spent thinking is thus spent listening and daydreaming.”
Only I love the fact that music enables me to daydream and create my own personal soundtrack to life. I think its extremism to focus on filling all our silences with God.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:46 am (#)
i think writing lyrics is a very good way of putting your feelings down and making a good tune from it.