“We all know sometimes life hates and troubles,
Can make you wish you were born in another time and space.
But you can bet your lifetimes that and twice it’s double,
That god knew exactly where he wanted you to be placed.
So make sure when you say you’re in it, but not of I,
You’re not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called hell.
Change your words into truth, and then change that truth into love
And maybe our children’s grandchildren and their great grandchildren will tell…”
I am utterly convinced that Stevie Wonder is one of the great poets of our age. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve had what some might call a “neuro-spicy” compulsion to hear and transform pop music lyrics into sacred texts. So, at the risk of minor heresy, I invite you to sing and dance with me. A great example of this is in Stevie Wonder’s ‘As’, which, in addition to the above lyrics, also gives us this secular-sacred echo:
As around the sun the earth knows she’s revolving. And the rosebuds know to bloom in early May. Just as hate knows love’s the cure, you can rest your mind assure that I’ll be loving you always.
It’s like a love song from God. Have a listen to the entire thing; you’ll thank me later.
Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter (Queen Bey to her fans) is one of the most culturally significant figures of the 21st century. Given her social engagement and influence, I have often thought of her as something of a modern-day icon. Her mega-hit, ‘Love on Top’ has these lyrics that I thought were maybe a bit too much, but then I remembered the biblical Song of Songs. Here they are together:
“Baby, baby I can feel the wind whipping past my face as we dance the night away.
And, boy, your lips taste like a night of champagne As I kiss you again, and again, and again, and again.”
“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is perfume poured out; therefore, the maidens love you. Draw me after you; let us make haste. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.” (Song of Songs 1:1-4)
You’re not going to be able to listen to this one without dancing.
Finally, if you don’t know the late, great soul singer Barry White, you should. Nicknamed ‘The Maestro of Love,’ Barry White’s lush, sensual, orchestral dance music is an entire soundscape unto itself. I also find it deeply spiritual. My favorite Barry White song, ‘You’re the First, the Last, my Everything,’ includes these lyrics, which I find almost threefold.
The first, my last, my everything.
And the answer to all my dreams.
You′re my sun, my moon, my guiding star.
My kind of wonderful, that’s what you are.
I know there′s only, only one like you,
There’s no way they could have made two.
You′re all I′m living for, your love I’ll keep forevermore.
You’re the first, you′re the last, my everything.
There’s also this:
You’re my reality, yet I’m lost in a dream You′re the first, my last, my everything.
Which, to my ears, sounds almost like a blessing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN8b1-26E7c
We are living in unprecedented, yet precedented times. It feels like the world is a hot mess, and yet… There is still so much room for the necessity of soul, exuberance, and joy. What are your favorite secular-sacred lyrics? Let me know.
I hope you dance. I think God would approve. You’re welcome.
Whelp, now I’m dancing. Thank you!
You’re welcome and me too!
Great way to start the day! Thanks!
Thank YOU 🙏🏾
Oh my LOVE all this Wesley!
❤️❤️❤️
Thanks, Wesley.. “I wake up to the sound of Music” Thanks to you this morning.
I always loved “Let it Be” by the Beatles
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Beautiful
Amen 🙏🏾
Loved this, Wesley! Thank you!
Here’s my song: “I’ll be Loving you Always, with a Love that’s True…Always. When the things you’ve planned, need a helping hand? I will understand Always.” This was my dear parent’s favorite love song. Can you hear Jesus singing this to all of us?
I do…
100%
When the holy spirit reminds me to dance, it’s You’ll Never Find by Lou Rawls. When I’m troubled, it’s Darius Rucker’s Lift Me Up. Personal relationship probs send me to Nicolette Larson’s Lotta Love (“If you were out there waiting, I hope you show up soon”). Thanks for legitimizing the idea of prayer through pop songs, and what are we ALL WEARING TO THE SPIRITUAL SOCK HOP??!!
Lou Rawls yes!!!
I agree 100% about Stevie Wonder. Songs in the Key of Life is a masterpiece. One of his many. Thank you.
Thank YOU!
While it’s not a dancing song, I’ve always loved Leonard Cohen’s “The sisters of mercy”. However, all the songs you mentioned “make a joyful noise unto the Lord”. Thank you for lifting our spirits!
I just listened. Holy
It’s not quite as danceable, but Paul Simon’s “Old friends, sat on the park bench like book ends” is another side of my relationship with God that brings me peace and joy. But there is also joy in dancing with God.
One of my favorites!
As I get older, the vision of “Old friends, sat on the park bench like bookends,” by Paul Simon brings me peace and connection with God. Maybe not as danceable, but there you are. Dancing with you in Alaska.
Might be time for a dance party in the Great Hall!
Amen & Amen!
Sometimes I feel like I’m “Living (just enough) for the City” and then God says “Don’t you Worry about a Thing”, lifts me to “Higher Ground” and puts Stevie’s version of Roberta Flack’s “I can See the Sun in Late December” in my playlist.
I seriously love this playlist!
Thanks, Wesley. What a great way to start my day!
You are so welcome!
Thanks for reminding us that the distinction between the sacred and secular — or the religious and non-religious — is not always useful. Indeed, conventional definitions of religion these days only drive the distinction deeper, and suddenly we’re having to talk about the “spiritual” as if it isn’t religious!! (“I’m spiritual but not religious!”) Experiences of the sacred (Sacred?) cannot be bottled up and expressed only in what we conventionally call “religion”.
Amen!
One summer in my former church, when the choir was off, I had soloist sing music from the collected works of Steven Schwartz. Some of it was overtly religious (Godspell, of course, but also God Help the Outcasts from The Hunchback of Notre Dame) while others were more “spiritual.” I think that God still was worshiped, and I managed to keep my membership in the Association of Anglican Musicians.
LOVE Stephen Schwarz! Maybe we can do ‘Defying Gravity’ at Calvary this summer :-))))))