Weekly Lyric World View

I decided to start this up as a way to compare the world views of secular music with that of what is taught in the bible. Music is one of the most compelling and moving mediums of art known to man. Because it has such profound effects on human thought, it makes sense that it can also be the source of corruption. I think it is important that listeners understand and carefully evaluate their musical input, how often do we do a double take when we actually find out what the lyrics are for a song we like. Therefore, as much as I need this as anyone else, I will be begin by looking at a song by one of my favorite artists. RHCP. Yes they are amazing, but they are by no means "christian". This particular piece, "Heaven" is by the lead guitarist John Frusciante off his solo album Empyrean.

Lyrics to Heaven :
Well I spent the night in heaven
I wanted to figure it out for myself
I spin around the fortress
You never know the currency that we all run on
We run on
We run on
You once told me
You keep a billion frequencies on your person
End the night with channel four
You don't see me looking you up when I'm here
We live fast cuz time won't last
See me freezing like the bum I am
From where you start there's endless information drilled into your eyes
Well, I don't need protection
One life begins, another dies
Bad timing
I won't last
Man, that's the facts
It is a feeling that will never pass
And you know you could be taking us far
When I speak to you again through the stages of pleasure
Well, I don't have my own fave
So c'mon and be replaced
There's a future that's calling
But I don't see it coming
No, I don't have my own face
So c'mon and be replaced
There's a future that's calling
But I don't see it coming
No, I don't see it coming
No, I don't see it coming

This piece starts off with a relaxed folk-rock groove. The chords are pretty typical in progression if you are familiar with RHCP sound. Anyhow, The mood is set up as deep and contemplative, with a more energized bridge section. THe second verse adds a drum set, as well as an organ, (possibly referring to southern christian worship music) The piece grows out of the bridge section adding a string quartet and keyboard effects. The piece builds and builds but suddenly evaporates at the end of the out-tro.

Lyrics: As one can deduce, John does not believe in God, but more of a "higher power" that is not active in our lives, more of a being that is random and can not possibly care about humans.
"Well I spent the night in heaven
I wanted to figure it out for myself
I spin around the fortress
You never know the currency that we all run on"
Shows perfectly that John is struggling to understand his current situation in life, and the urge to be the master of his own life.
"You once told me
You keep a billion frequencies on your person
End the night with channel four
You don't see me looking you up when I'm here
We live fast cuz time won't last"
this particular section is interesting. It appears that john is either conversing with God. Billion frequencies could refer to people's souls. Channel four could either be the news and all that has happened through out the day relayed on t.v. or a specific person. In the second half of the verse, John says "you don't see me looking you up when I'm here". I may be wrong but to me it seems that while in heaven, john doesn't feel the need to look for God, because he feels God didn't do anything for him. He goes on to the next stanza, which perfectly describes the mind set of our modern society. We are so busy with our lives that we just load up every minuet leaving ourselves no time to breath. This is juxtaposed with the next stanza where john calls himself a bum living on the street, inferring that he has more time than anyone else, and is in a more lamentable state than anyone else.

"From where you start there's endless information drilled into your eyes
Well, I don't need protection
One life begins, another dies
Bad timing
I won't last
Man, that's the facts
It is a feeling that will never pass"
This verse further describes the state of human society, living in the information age, As it says in the bible, Daniel I think, In the last times there will be an increase of knowledge. This stanza is particularly dark, stating a almost nihilistic view of life, and the hopeless feeling that goes with believing that there is nothing after death.

"And you know you could be taking us far
When I speak to you again through the stages of pleasure
Well, I don't have my own fave
So c'mon and be replaced
There's a future that's calling
But I don't see it coming
No, I don't have my own face "

John is back talking to his "god" figure, showing that he only views God as someone who is supposed to give you success, more of a good luck charm. The song ends on a low, depressing really, reflecting John's struggle to get over his drug addictions. The feeling that once he dies someone else will just take his place in the statics of world population. He says that there is a future calling, but he can't see it. There is hope somewhere, but he just like everyone else is blind to it.
In conclusion, this is a prime example where the music can catch you off guard. It sounds groovy and for me most of all, he is with RHCP. It has to bee good right? Well after looking at the lyrics my opinion has changed. The Lyrics are quite dark, I can't imagine what John must have gone through in order for him to write something like this. But It is not bad, music like this is critical for christians, it challenges and in a way enriches us. There are thousands of people out there who share similar beliefs to those of john's, it is wrong for us as believers to keep our hope to ourselves and let people just wonder around lost. I would encourage all of you to go out of your way to make connections and be good friends to those that you know who feel alone like John. And above all else pray.
the end