For the second album in the series, I’m going to cover an incredibly ambitious record from one of Christian music’s most enduring bands, Caedmon’s Call. For their first album after the departure of long-time vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Derek Webb (we’ll hear more from him in a later installment), the band recruited former Normals singer/guitarist/songwriter Andrew Osenga (perhaps more from them later, as well), travelled to India and South America to reach the people there, and wrote songs about their experiences. The resulting album is a sometimes bizarre mix of strange sounds and instrumentation, but is still a showcase of excellent songwriting and the effect of actually taking the gospel to the world and engaging in fellowship with believers in completely different cultures.
The album opens with a “count-off” from an indigenous Indian man leading right into the title track: a call for believers to share the good news and love of Christ with everyone, no matter the circumstances. “There’s Only One (Holy One)” begins a semi-recurring theme of God being the one true God the world over, which is a pretty enduring theme if you ask me. “Jenny Farza/Mother India” are the best songs on the album, hands down. The former is essentially a vocal solo by a young girl leading into the “Mother India” track. It explores the differences between American and Indian culture and how, despite those differences, God still showers His love upon everyone. The song also has a vocal bridge sung by Jenny Farza, which are possibly the most beautiful vocals I’ve ever heard. It honestly brings me to tears every time I hear it. After “Mother India” is “International Love Song,” a nice little number that sums up the affectionate feelings one gets toward the locals and their way of life when on a trip.
“All I Need (Did Not Catch Her Name)” tells the story of a woman who, despite being poor and losing her loved ones, still clings to Christ through hardship and trial. “Los Hermanos Countoff,” with the sons of the woman from the previous song, leads into “Volcano Land,” an incredibly bouncy tune about life in Ecuador. Next is “The Roses,” a song about an old Ecuadorian couple who have seen God’s influence in their lives over the years.
“Mirzapur Group” is another “lead-in”song, this time for “Bombay Rain,” a number that details the fact that the rain falls on everyone the world over and, once again, God is the same God everywhere.
“The Innocent’s Corner,” inspired by a room in Westminster Abbey, details the hardships that the “lower” caste members of society face day to day, and also the attitude that many members of American society have toward those who have less than us. “Sarala” tells of a young Indian girl who visits India with her parents for the first time, sees the difference in their homeland and hers, and learns about how her grandpa came to know Jesus. “Punjabi Group with Joseph D’Souza” captures the impromptu worshipping of a group of Indian believers and leads into “Wings of the Morning,” a song about the unending hope present through faith in God. “Dalit Hymn” closes the album with the cries of the Dalit people of India, a group of people who, according to the liner notes, are not allowed to even draw water from a well. It is a cry for emancipation from the caste system and a song of praise, repeating the phrase “sub kooch ho sak-ee dey,” which means “anything is possible with God.” A hidden track, presumably titled “I Miss You,” comes a few minutes after the hymn ends, and an extended session with the Mirzapur group truly ends the album.
This album isn’t quite for everyone; as I said, some truly strange instruments are used, and some of the indigenous vocals sound pretty strange. However, it is a true testament to the power of God in the world, both in the love and care we should show others and in the fact that every person washed in the blood of Christ rests in His hands.
Choice lyrics:
“Share the Well”: Do you think the water knows, flowing down the mountain thaw, finally to find repose for any soul who cares to draw.
“There’s Only One (Holy One)”: But where my Shepherd leads, where else can I go? Who else fills my cup till it overflows?
“Mother India”: There’s a land where our shackles turn to diamonds, where we trade in our rags for a royal crown. And in that place, our oppressors hold no power, and the doors of the King are thrown wide.
“International Love Song”: A perfect love is a world without hunger.
“All I Need (I Did Not Catch Her Name)”: Who else knew my name before the day that I was born? Jesus is all I need.
“Volcano Land”: A bumpy ride on the bus to the amber hill, I was feeling like a hundred pesos, but something in my soul was certainly there to stay.
“The Roses”: Honey, that’s all they have and they’re happier here than any of my friends back home. They’ve met Jesus and they really know Him.
“Bombay Rain”: But most amazing of them all is the grace that we believe in, that we are known and loved, loved and known.
“The Innocent’s Corner”: But we sit here debating the meaning of justice with self righteous spin and an uppser caste grin. We’re still suffocating on quicksand indifference where no choice is ever that hard.
“Sarala”: Jesus found her grandfather there. I heard him say these cows aren’t sacred, they’re just in the way.
“Wings of the Morning”: Made in the image of a giver and a lover, Who left His throne to come down here.
“Dalit Hymn”: God made every man forward and free, sub kooch ho sak-ee dey.
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Great Christian Albums, part 2
Share the Well by Caedmon’s Call
For the second album in the series, I’m going to cover an incredibly ambitious record from one of Christian music’s most enduring bands, Caedmon’s Call. For their first album after the departure of long-time vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Derek Webb (we’ll hear more from him in a later installment), the band recruited former Normals singer/guitarist/songwriter Andrew Osenga (perhaps more from them later, as well), travelled to India and South America to reach the people there, and wrote songs about their experiences. The resulting album is a sometimes bizarre mix of strange sounds and instrumentation, but is still a showcase of excellent songwriting and the effect of actually taking the gospel to the world and engaging in fellowship with believers in completely different cultures.
The album opens with a “count-off” from an indigenous Indian man leading right into the title track: a call for believers to share the good news and love of Christ with everyone, no matter the circumstances. “There’s Only One (Holy One)” begins a semi-recurring theme of God being the one true God the world over, which is a pretty enduring theme if you ask me. “Jenny Farza/Mother India” are the best songs on the album, hands down. The former is essentially a vocal solo by a young girl leading into the “Mother India” track. It explores the differences between American and Indian culture and how, despite those differences, God still showers His love upon everyone. The song also has a vocal bridge sung by Jenny Farza, which are possibly the most beautiful vocals I’ve ever heard. It honestly brings me to tears every time I hear it. After “Mother India” is “International Love Song,” a nice little number that sums up the affectionate feelings one gets toward the locals and their way of life when on a trip.
“All I Need (Did Not Catch Her Name)” tells the story of a woman who, despite being poor and losing her loved ones, still clings to Christ through hardship and trial. “Los Hermanos Countoff,” with the sons of the woman from the previous song, leads into “Volcano Land,” an incredibly bouncy tune about life in Ecuador. Next is “The Roses,” a song about an old Ecuadorian couple who have seen God’s influence in their lives over the years.
“Mirzapur Group” is another “lead-in”song, this time for “Bombay Rain,” a number that details the fact that the rain falls on everyone the world over and, once again, God is the same God everywhere.
“The Innocent’s Corner,” inspired by a room in Westminster Abbey, details the hardships that the “lower” caste members of society face day to day, and also the attitude that many members of American society have toward those who have less than us. “Sarala” tells of a young Indian girl who visits India with her parents for the first time, sees the difference in their homeland and hers, and learns about how her grandpa came to know Jesus. “Punjabi Group with Joseph D’Souza” captures the impromptu worshipping of a group of Indian believers and leads into “Wings of the Morning,” a song about the unending hope present through faith in God. “Dalit Hymn” closes the album with the cries of the Dalit people of India, a group of people who, according to the liner notes, are not allowed to even draw water from a well. It is a cry for emancipation from the caste system and a song of praise, repeating the phrase “sub kooch ho sak-ee dey,” which means “anything is possible with God.” A hidden track, presumably titled “I Miss You,” comes a few minutes after the hymn ends, and an extended session with the Mirzapur group truly ends the album.
This album isn’t quite for everyone; as I said, some truly strange instruments are used, and some of the indigenous vocals sound pretty strange. However, it is a true testament to the power of God in the world, both in the love and care we should show others and in the fact that every person washed in the blood of Christ rests in His hands.
Choice lyrics:
Like this:
~ by jayaws on June 10, 2010.
Posted in Analysis, Commentary, Music