Pipers that lead us to reason

Brian Worley

[15 Rock songs with a reasonable message about matters relating to faith]  

Learn to Be Still

Eagles  

Its just another day in paradise
As you stumble to your bed
You'd give anything to silence
Those voices ringing in your head
You thought you could find happiness
Just over that green hill
You thought you would be satisfied
But you never will-
Learn to be still

We are like sheep without a shepherd
We don't know how to be alone
So we wander round this desert
And wind up following the wrong gods home
But the flock cries out for another
And they keep answering that bell
And one more starry-eyed messiah
Meets a violent farewell-
Learn to be still
Learn to be still

Now the flowers in your garden
They don't smell so sweet
Maybe you've forgotten
The heaven lying at your feet

-solo-

There are so many contradictions
In all these messages we send
(we keep asking)
How do I get out of here
Where do I fit in?
Though the world is torn and shaken
Even if your heart is breaking
Its waiting for you to awaken
And someday you will-
Learn to be still
Learn to be still

You just keep on running
Keep on running

 The Last Resort

Eagles

She came from providence,

The one in Rhode Island

Where the old world shadows hang

Heavy in the air

She packed her hopes and dreams
Like a refugee

Just as her father came across the sea

She heard about a place people were smiling
They spoke about the red mans way,
And how they loved the land
And they came from everywhere
To the great divide
Seeking a place to stand
Or a place to hide

Down in the crowded bars,
Out for a good time,
Can't wait to tell you all,
What its like up there
And they called it paradise
I don't know why
Somebody laid the mountains low
While the town got high

Then the chilly winds blew down
Across the desert
Through the canyons of the coast, to
The Malibu
Where the pretty people play,
Hungry for power
To light their neon way
And give them things to do

Some rich men came and raped the land,
Nobody caught em
Put up a bunch of ugly boxes, and Jesus,
People bought em
And they called it paradise
The place to be
They watched the hazy sun, sinking in the sea

You can leave it all behind
And sail to lahaina
Just like the missionaries did, so many years ago
They even brought a neon sign: jesus is coming
BROUGHT THE WHITE MANS BURDEN DOWN
BROUGHT THE WHITE MANS REIGN

Who will provide the grand design?
What is yours and what is mine?

‘Cause there is no more new frontier
 We have got to make it here

We satisfy our endless needs and
Justify our bloody deeds,
In the name of destiny and in the name of god
And you can see them there,

On Sunday morning

They stand up and sing about
What its like up there
They call it paradise
I don't know why
You call someplace paradise,
Kiss it goodbye

 

Hole in the World

Eagles

There’s a hole in the world tonight.
There's a cloud of fear and sorrow.

There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow


They say that anger is just love disappointed.
They say that love is just a state of mind.
But all this fighting over who is anointed,
Oh, how can people be so blind?

There's a hole in the world tonight.
There's a cloud of fear and sorrow.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow.

Oh, they tell me there's a place over yonder
Cool water running through the burning sand.
Until we learn to love one another,
We will never reach the Promised Land.

There's a hole in the world tonight.
There's a cloud of fear and sorrow.
There's a hole in the world tonight.
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow.

(There's a hole in the world tonight.)
They say that anger is just love disappointed.
(There's a cloud of fear and sorrow.)
They say that love is just a state of mind.
(There's a hole in the world tonight.)
But all this fighting over who will be anointed,
(Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow.)
Oh, how can people be so blind?

There's a hole in the world tonight.
(Hole in the world)
There's a cloud of fear and sorrow.
(Fear and sorrow)
There's a hole in the world tonight.
(Ooooh)
Don't let there be a hole in the world tomorrow (repeat three times)

Imagine
John Lennon

Imagine there's no heaven,
It's easy if you try,
No hell below us,
Above us only sky,
Imagine all the people
living for today...

Imagine there's no countries,
It isnt hard to do,
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too,
Imagine all the people
living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

(Imagine all the people sharing all the world)

Imagine no possessions,
I wonder if you can,
No need for greed or hunger,
A brotherhood of man,
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer,
but I'm not the only one,
I hope some day you'll join us,
And the world will live as one.

 Jesus He Knows Me

Genesis

You see the face on the TV screen
Coming at you every Sunday
See that face on the billboard
That man is me

On the cover of the magazine
There's no question why I'm smiling
You buy a piece of paradise
You buy a piece of me

Ill get you everything you wanted
Ill get you everything you need
Don't need to believe in hereafter
Just believe in me

Cos Jesus he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
Oh yes he knows me
And he knows I'm right
And he's been telling me
Everything is alright

I believe in the family
With my ever loving wife beside me
But she don't know about my girlfriend
Or the man I met last night

Do you believe in god
Cos thats what I'm selling
And if you wanna get to heaven
Ill see you right

You won't even have to leave your house
Or get outta your chair
You don't even have to touch that dial
Cos I'm everywhere

And Jesus he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
Oh yes he knows me
And he knows I'm right
Well he's been telling me
Everything's gonna be alright

Wont find me practicing what I'm preaching
Wont find me making no sacrifice
But I can get you a pocketful of miracles
If you promise to be good, try to be nice
God will take good care of you
Just do as I say, don't do as I do

I'm counting my blessings,
I've found true happiness
Cos Im getting richer, day by day
You can find me in the phone book,
Just call my toll free number
You can do it anyway you want
Just do it right away

There'll be no doubt in your mind
You'll believe everything I'm saying
If you wanna get closer to him
Get on your knees and start paying

Cos Jesus he knows me
And he knows I'm right
I've been talking to Jesus all my life
Oh yes he knows me
And he knows I'm right
Well he's been telling me
Everythings gonna be alright, alright

Jesus he knows me
Jesus he knows me, you know...

 

 

 

It’s My Life

Bon Jovi

This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud

Chorus:
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(it's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
Its my life

This is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrows getting harder make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky
Got to make your own breaks

Chorus:
It's my life
And its now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(it's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
cause it's my life

Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down

Chorus:
It's my life
And it's now or never
cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(it's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive

CRAZY TRAIN

Ozzy Osbourne

  Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe its not to late
To learn how to love
And forget how to hate

Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train

I've listened to preachers
I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts
Who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you have the role

Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train

I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeh-h

Heirs of a cold war
That's what we've become
Inheriting troubles I'm mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
I'm living with something that just isn't fair

Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train

 Authority Song

JOHN (COUGAR) MELLENCAMP
 

They like to get you in a compromising position
They like to get you there and smile in your face
They think they're so cute when they got you in that condition
Well I think it's a total disgrace

[Chorus:]
I fight authority, Authority always wins
I fight authority, Authority always wins
I been doing it since I was a young kid
I come out grinnin'
I fight authority, Authority always wins

So I call up my preacher
I say, "Give me strength for Round 5."

He said , "You don't need no strength, you need to grow up son."
I said, "Growing up leads to growing old and then to dying
"And dying to me don't sound like all that much fun."
Oh no oh no
[Chorus]

 One of Us
Joan Osborne

  If God had a name, what would it be
And would you call it to his face
If you were faced with him in all his glory
What would you ask if you had just one question

Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

If God had a face, what would it look like
And would you want to see
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and in Jesus and the saints
And all the prophets and...

Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

Trying to make his way home
Back up to heaven all alone
Nobody calling on the phone
cept for the pope maybe in Rome

Yeah, yeah, God is great
Yeah, yeah, God is good
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

What if God was one of us
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

Just trying to make his way home
Like a holy rolling stone
Back up to heaven all alone
Just trying to make his way home
Nobody calling on the phone
cept for the pope maybe in Rome

 

Take A Picture

Filter


Awake on my airplane
Awake on my airplane
My skin is bare
My skin is theirs
Awake on my airplane
Awake on my airplane
My skin is bare
My skin is theirs


I feel like a newborn
And I feel like a newborn
Awake on my airplane
Awake on my airplane
I feel so real

Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember
Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember
Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember - yeah

I don't believe in
I don't believe in your sanctity your prophecy         I don't believe in
I don't believe in your sanctity or hypocrisy
Can everyone agree that no one should be left alone
Can everyone agree that  they should not be left alone
And I feel like a newborn
And I feel like a newborn (Kicking and screaming)
 
Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember
Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember
Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember - yeah
 
Hey dad what do you think about your son now?
Hey dad what do you think about your son now?

Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember
Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember
Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember
Could you take my picture
Cause I won't remember

 
Only the Good Die Young
Billy Joel

  Come out Virginia, Don't let me wait
You Catholic girls start much too late
But sooner or later it comes down to fate
I might as well be the one
They showed you a statue and told you to pray
They built you a temple and locked you away
But they never told you the price that you pay
For the things that you might have done
Only the good die young.

You might have heard I run with a dangerous crowd
We ain't too pretty we ain't too proud
We might be laughing a bit too loud
But that never hurt no one.

Come on Virginia show me a sign
Send up a signal I'll throw you the line
The stained-glass curtain you're hiding behind
Never lets in the sun
And only the good die young.

You got a nice white dress and a party on your confirmation
You got a brand new soul and a cross of gold
But Virginia they didn't give you quite enough information
You didn't count on me
When you were counting on your rosary
They say there's a heaven for those who will wait
Some say it's better but I say it ain't
I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints
Sinners are much more fun
And only the good die young
You say your mother told you all that I could give you was a reputation
She never cared for me
But did she ever say a prayer for me?
[Chorus]


http://www.celebatheists.com/?title=Billy_Joel

 The River Of Dreams BILLY JOEL



In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
From the mountains of faith
To a river so deep
I must be looking for something
Something sacred I lost
But the river is wide
And it's too hard to cross

And even though I know the river is wide
I walk down every evening and I stand on the shore
And try to cross to the opposite side
So I can finally find out what I've been looking for

In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
Through the valley of fear
To a river so deep
And I've been searching for something
Taken out of my soul
Something I would never lose
Something somebody stole

I don't know why I go walking at night
But now I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore
I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life
Until I find what it is that I've been looking for

In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
Through the jungle of doubt
To a river so deep
I know I'm searching for something
Something so undefined
That it can only be seen
By the eyes of the blind
In the middle of the night

I'm not sure about a life after this
God knows I've never been a spiritual man
Baptized by the fire, I wade into the river
That runs to the promised land
In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
Through the desert of truth
To the river so deep
We all end in the ocean
We all start in the streams
We're all carried along
By the river of dreams
In the middle of the night

 LOSING MY RELIGION

R.E.M.

Life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up

That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

Every whisper
Of every waking hour I'm
Choosing my confessions
Trying to keep an eye on you
Like a hurt lost and blinded fool
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up

Consider this
The hint of the century
Consider this
The slip that brought me
To my knees failed
What if all these fantasies
Come flailing around
Now I've said too much
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

But that was just a dream
That was just a dream


 Man On The Moon

R.E.M

Mott the Hoople and the game of Life. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Andy Kaufman in the wrestling match. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Monopoly, Twenty one, checkers, and chess. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mister Fred Blassie in a breakfast mess. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Let's play Twister, let's play Risk. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
See you heaven if you make the list. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey, Andy did you hear about this one? Tell me, are you locked in the punch?
Hey Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Hey, baby. Are we losing touch?
If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
If you believe there's nothing up my sleeve, then nothing is cool.

Moses went walking with the staff of wood. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Newton got beaned by the apple good. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Egypt was troubled by the horrible asp. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mister Charles Darwin had the gall to ask. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey Andy did you hear about this one? Tell me, are you locked in the punch?
Hey, Andy are you goofing on Elvis? Hey, baby. Are you having fun?
If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
If you believe there's nothing up my sleeve, then nothing is cool.

Here's a little agit for the never-believer. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Here's a little ghost for the offering. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Here's a truck stop instead of Saint Peter's. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Mister Andy Kaufman's gone wrestling [wrestling bears]. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hey Andy did you hear about this one? Tell me, are you locked in the punch?
Hey Andy are you goofing on Elvis, hey baby, are we losing touch?
If you believed they put a man on the moon, man on the moon.
If you believe there's nothing up my sleeve, then nothing is cool.

 Adia

Sarah McLachlan

Adia I do believe I failed you
Adia I know I let you down
Don't you know I tried so hard
To love you in my way
Its easy let it go...
Adia I'm empty since you left me
Trying to find a way to carry on
I search myself and everyone
To see where we went wrong
cause there's no one left to finger
There's no one here to blame
There's no one left to talk to, honey
And there ain't no one to buy our innocence
cause we are born innocent
Believe me Adia, we are still innocent
Its easy, we all falter
Does it matter?
Adia I thought that we could make it
But I know I can't change the way you feel
I leave you with your misery
A friend who wont betray
I pull you from your tower
I take away your pain
And show you all the beauty you possess
If you'd only let yourself believe that
We are born innocent
Believe me Adia, we are still innocent
Its easy, we all falter, does it matter?
Believe me Adia, we are still innocent
cause we are born innocent
Adia we are still innocent
Its easy, we all falter ... but does it matter?

 

Comments:

This was fun to compile! These songs easily came into my mind. Maybe you have your own songs that have spoken to you? These are obviously the writer's/singer's songs and ideas. I don't agree with all of the observations (Lennon's Utopian ideas for example). Just enjoy the songs and the thoughts that they have expressed. Within the lyrics I see several recurring themes: 1) the contention that religion brings along with it, 2) how religion sucks the life out of it's victims, 3) and for believers to wake up and live while they have a life to live! 

PS: The title of this piece was inspired by Led Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven"

Brian Worley       Ex-Minister.org      November 26, 2007       All rights reserved

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