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Matthew 3:7-10

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.


Stupid Fact of the Week
There was only one civilian casualty during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg

04 December, 2005
Pop/Rock Theology, Part Deux: Something For The Pain
This is more philosophy than theology... but I have comments concerning it that may spin it more towards theology... I'll allow you to digest it and comment first, however.

The idea for this came up when I went to the doctor to have my ear examined. It had been bugging me since the flight back from NYC. Apparently it is quite infected, as the doctor's words were only, "Oh My God!"

She wrote out a prescription for an antibiotic to combat my infection, and then paused and looked at me and said, "Would you like something for the pain?"

"I'm not really in any pain," I responded. She smiled awkwardly and paused. It felt odd... the moment... her reaction... as though I had just turned down a million dollars or sex with a supermodel. I told myself it was probably just the first time she had heard that response from someone my age, and then felt very contented with myself for my apparent strength of character and high threshold of ear pain.

However, before I left the examination room, she asked me a further two times if I would like anything for the pain.

I suppose I can't fault her. Half the people in this world spend most of their lives trying to take the edge off... or add some edge on... while the other half enjoy easing the pain of others.

But it made me think about the many varieties and facets of pain. Since escapism has always been a favorite subject of mine, I figured it would be fitting to do a Pop/Rock Theology on the subject. The list of choices is practically endless when looking for a modern rock song dealing with escapism (in fact I almost went with Tenacious D's "Wonderboy," since it is an amazing song that deals with the idea of longing for something "above the mucky-muck"), but my choice for today's entry is a song that will forever remind me of my trip to NYC, as it was the first place I heard it (about eight times). I'm sure some of you have probably already heard it, as it's about 15 years old.

It's called "Ball and Chain," by the band Social Distortion. The song is posted in the jukebox at right. The lyrics follow below:

Well it's been ten years, and a thousand tears
And look at the mess I'm in-
A broken nose and a broken heart,

An empty bottle of gin

Well I sit and I pray
In my broken down Chevrolet-

While I'm singin' to myself

There's got to be another way


chorus:
Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain
I'm lonely and I'm tired

And I can't take any more pain

Take away, take away

Never to return again
Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain


Well I've searched and I've searched

To find the perfect life-

A brand new car and a brand new suit

I even got me a little wife-

But wherever I have gone
I was sure to find myself there-

You can run all your life

But not go anywhere

chorus:
Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain

I'm sick and I'm tired

And I can't take any more pain

Take away, take away

Never to return again
Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain


Well I'll pass the bar on the way

To my dingy hotel room-

I spent all my money

Been drinkin' since a half past noon-

I'll wake there in the mornin'

Or maybe in the county jail-

Times are hard getting harder

I'm born to lose and destined to fail-


chorus:

Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain

I'm lonely and I'm tired
And I can't take any more pain

Take away, take away

Never to return again
Take away, take away

Take away this ball and chain


As always, today's Pop/Rock Theology is brought to you, in part, by Pop Rocks candy. Sugar free flavors now available.
posted by Rockel @ 10:28 AM  
1 Comments:
  • At 5/12/05 7:57 AM, Blogger The Cobra said…

    Anyone consuming the sugar free pop-rocks should be aware of the potential health problems inherent in artificial sweetners, namely Aspartame.

    http://www.mercola.com/article/aspartame/not_natural.htm

     
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Lyrics of the Week

ON THE NICKEL
by Tom Waits

("I'd like to do a new song here. This is eh, it's about downtown Los Angeles on 5th Street. And eh all the winos affectionately refer to it as The Nickel. So this is kind of a hobo's lullaby.")

sticks and stones will break my bones,
but i always will be true, and when
your mama is dead and gone,
i'll sing this lullabye just for you,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never comb their hair,
well they're lined up all around the block,
on the nickel over there.

so you better bring a bucket,
there is a hole in the pail,
and if you don't get my letter,
then you'll know that i'm in jail,
and what becomes of all the little boys,
who never say their prayers,
well they're sleepin' like a baby,
on the nickel over there.

and if you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star,
well you'll find out where the scarecrows sit,
just like punchlines between the cars,
and i know a place where a royal flush,
can never beat a pair, and even thomas jefferson,
is on the nickel over there.

so ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain,
and you're always late for supper,
and man you let me down again,
i thought i heard a mockingbird, roosevelt knows where,
you can skip the light, with grady tuck,
on the nickel over there.

so what becomes of all the little boys,
who run away from home,
well the world just keeps gettin' bigger,
once you get out on your own,
so here's to all the little boys,
the sandman takes you where,
you'll be sleepin' with a pillowman,
on the nickel over there.

so let's climb up through that button hole,
and we'll fall right up the stairs,
and i'll show you where the short dogs grow,
on the nickel over there.

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