Hats off to a popular musician with the gravitas to share his spiritualism in his music.Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Label: Columbia
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Duration: 13 tracks, 1:01:23
Crossover in CCM talks to Christian artists writing / performing outside the Christian realm. For as long as this modern era has been with us, this crossover has gone both ways. Secular artists have long added Christian / faith-based values to their music. This is particularly true for artists reaching a maturity in their years and in their art.
Bruce Springsteen’s latest release, Wrecking Ball, portrays this crossover well. This, his 17th release, boasts all of the classic ‘Boss’ his fans expect with songs of Americana shown in both folk and rock offerings. Wrecking Ball boasts both his early E-Street Band-like rockers and later solo folk-style offerings leaving the listener with a wide breath of Springsteen’s art.
Like Bob Dylan and others, Springsteen offers reflections of faith in his lyrics. While songs “We Take Care Of Our Own”, “Land Of Hope And Dreams” (complete with a tribute to Clarence Clemons with the signature classic sax which the ‘Big Man’ provided prior to his recent passing), “American Land”, “We Are Alive” display classic Springsteen national patriotism, his spiritual side also shines in the lyrics of others.
“Jack Of All Trades”, a slow, sorrow-filled ballad of taking what live gives you and accepting your fate shares thoughts of compassion with:
‘We’ll start caring for each other like Jesus said we might’
The lyrics of “Rocky Ground” lay the foundation of faith and hope with:
We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (refrain)
Rise up shepherd, rise up
Your flock has roamed far from the hills
The stars have faded, the sky is still
The angels are shouting "Glory Hallelujah"
We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (refrain)
Forty days and nights of rain have washed this land
Jesus said the money changers in this temple will not stand
Find your flock, get them to higher ground
Flood waters rising and we're Canaan bound
We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (refrain)
Tend to your flock or they will stray
We'll be called for our service come Judgment Day
Before we cross that river wide
Blood on our hands will come back on us twice
Rise up shepherd, rise up
Your flock has roamed far from the hills
Stars have faded, the sky is still
Sun's in the heavens and a new day's rising
You use your muscle and your mind and you pray your best
That your best is good enough, the Lord will do the rest
You raise your children and you teach 'them to walk straight and sure
You pray that hard times, hard times, come no more
You try to sleep, you toss and turn, the bottom's dropping out
Where you once had faith now there's only doubt
You pray for guidance, only silence now meets your prayers
The morning breaks, you awake but no one's there
We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground
There's a new day coming
We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (refrain)
“Swallowed Up (In The Belly Of The Whale)” is one of two bonus tracks on the Wrecking Ball special edition, telling a story similar to that of Jonah and the Whale with:
I fell asleep
on a dark and starry sea
with nothing but the cloak
of God's mercy over me
We've been swallowed up
we've been swallowed up
Disappeared from this world
we've been swallowed up
Trust at our skills
and our good sails
put our faith back with God
the righteous in this world prevail
Wrecking Ball is classic Springsteen offering much to the listener. Raw and guttural American spirit, classic Springsteen rockers, his signature version of American folk music, and yes faith all are present here. Hats off to a popular musician with the gravitas to share his spiritualism in his music.
http://brucespringsteen.net/
Scott S Mertens
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