“You’re backslid up to the curbs again where the words don’t keep you warm.” We’ve all been there. Well, that’s not fair. I’ve been there several times in my life, and knew what was happening, I just didn’t have the words to describe it. “Walk out onto that old dark road, the one that used to bring you down.” The spiritual poetry Dan is able to share with me gives me an explanation of those times when I thought I had hit rock bottom only to find out it wasn’t quite true. The music complements the words in a way that it’s not difficult to understand everyone involved understands the depths being reached here. I had a beautiful day in Lost Maples, observing animals that have been hidden for a week or so because of the oppressive heat. A coolness came, along with a bit of rain overnight, and the temperature went down to 90 from 105. It’s noticeable. Kinda of interesting when 90 degrees feels cool, but even the animals noticed. Great day, and interesting to come home and hear Dan on the stereo. I’ve been listening for several days, and feel he’s definitely found a communication tool that should reach into the souls of many people. This meditation comes about because of the poetry of No Rain Tonight.
“There’s a new moon shining like she stole the sun from June. She knows morning’s gonna come too soon, but she smiles cause there ain’t no rain tonight.” This warm up metaphor prepares us for the gut-wrenching of the second verse. “There’s a front porch sent all his best boys off to fight your wars. Swears he’s seen it all before.” And we have. Grandfathers who saw their sons killed for no reason other than stubborn refusal to face reality are now watching their grandchildren killed for no reason other than a stubborn refusal to face reality. “And in these moments we hold tight, hoping just to be alright.” Beautiful lyrics giving voice to emotions we can’t express with music that swells our souls with the splendor of simplicity.
Shoutouts for So Strong (“underneath the strength of these sturdy arms I am just a kid”), Come the Morning Down On Me (“we sing to the savior as the sun’s going down to say we hope to see your face here”), Breaking Hearts Tonight (“it’s like someone took the stars and set them softly in your eyes”), and Skin Grows Thin (“the mountains sing to me how creation seems to be a window for my eyes into God’s arms”). Great work, Dan. Thanks! Dan Craig
