Wednesday
Mar142007
I Don't Know
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 06:25PM
Ok, so I know it's been WAY too long since I've updated the Drawing Board page. And I know I said I'd try to get you a clip or demo or something from the new Caedmon's record.
Well, today I'm doing something about it.
This song is one that I wrote for the new record, but I don't think it'll make it. You never know, though, so we'll see. Anyway, I wrote this after a conversation Cliff and I had about war, pacifism, Southern Baptists and the fact that we continually feel how we know less and less.
And yes, the first verse is a true story. The "Mark" refers to Mark Lockett from the Normals and the "we" refers to Derek Webb and me.
HERE IS THE SONG. It's called I Don't Know
And here are the lyrics...
it was the haunted-most house
in the great state of California
we were peering through the windows
not believing but a little creeped out
and we never heard him coming
Mark can be so quiet when he wants to
he screamed and we ran
and he laughed and we were turning red
cause it can be anything
that shows me
I don’t know
so many things I don’t know
I don’t know
so many things I don’t know
and we’re not the only nation
who thinks that we are always the good guy
who prays
and believes that God is on their side
you know it’s hard to sleep
when you’re living in a frightened country
to kiss my girls good night
amid the rumors of war
it doesn’t take very much to show me
cause safety is an idol
the easiest to worship
and we can hide our secrets
beneath a banner or a flag
cause to love my enemy
means an awful lot of questions
and I know You’re the answer
but I don’t know what that means
Well, today I'm doing something about it.
This song is one that I wrote for the new record, but I don't think it'll make it. You never know, though, so we'll see. Anyway, I wrote this after a conversation Cliff and I had about war, pacifism, Southern Baptists and the fact that we continually feel how we know less and less.
And yes, the first verse is a true story. The "Mark" refers to Mark Lockett from the Normals and the "we" refers to Derek Webb and me.
HERE IS THE SONG. It's called I Don't Know
And here are the lyrics...
it was the haunted-most house
in the great state of California
we were peering through the windows
not believing but a little creeped out
and we never heard him coming
Mark can be so quiet when he wants to
he screamed and we ran
and he laughed and we were turning red
cause it can be anything
that shows me
I don’t know
so many things I don’t know
I don’t know
so many things I don’t know
and we’re not the only nation
who thinks that we are always the good guy
who prays
and believes that God is on their side
you know it’s hard to sleep
when you’re living in a frightened country
to kiss my girls good night
amid the rumors of war
it doesn’t take very much to show me
cause safety is an idol
the easiest to worship
and we can hide our secrets
beneath a banner or a flag
cause to love my enemy
means an awful lot of questions
and I know You’re the answer
but I don’t know what that means
Reader Comments (14)
great stuff. dig it.
badda boom!
Wow. I haven't even listened to the song yet and I love it. Those are some powerful words...
its pretty catchy
nice hook..
American Idol anyone? We're seriously waiting on your commentary for Idol. Do you watch it?
I like it! The lyrics are very thought-provoking and honest and the hook is sweet! Thanks for sharing it with us Andy- I'm really looking forward to the new record. (:
In Christ,
Tom
Oh and I got my Ilikeandy.com shirt yesterday and it's stinking cool! Confused stares and conversations have already started because of it- the mark of a truly cool T-shirt in my humble opinion. (:
Tom
Call me dense, but I don't see how the first part of the song corresponds to the last. I think I sort of know what you're getting at, but am not quite sure.
not to be a downer but transient does have a bit of a point. I really like the second half but I'm sure that the first half has anything to do with the main crux of the song. sorry the critical lyricist snuck out of me for a sec. Stopping now. (:
i was sorta confuse too, but didnt put much thought into it
Thanks for asking Transient. That was actually sort of the point of that verse. The story is about believing something, in this case that ghosts aren't real, but being shown that I don't believe it as much as I do, because I was so easily scared. I was so easily scared because the story of the haunted seemed to fit in with the creepy house and the late night and all that. Just one random instance, yes a pretty a obscure one, that shows me a tiny bit about what I do or don't believe/understand.
And the fact that it only barely ties in sort of makes it even better to me. I think it fits in with the ethos well that way. Who knows. I just liked it that way. Any other thoughts?
Damn. Yep, I have to say I love it.
I've been feeling really convicted lately about the US being the new Roman Empire of the world. Where's the nearest foreign military base after all? Nope. There's not one around. We wouldn't allow it inside our borders. Anyway, it's not simply our foreign policy that has me convicted. It's the pride of the whole thing. It makes me a little sick.
It's kind of like the way retarded people are looked at by other people. We still see intelligence as the defining human trait, and we see those with less as unfortunate or broken, while those with more are whole. I just don't think that's the way it is. But the two situations both give me that same sick feeling...
Hearkening back to our CCM discussion, there some irony in this song. It has a hook that was meant for radio, but it wouldn't make the CCM cut because, 1) it doesn't profess to have it all figured out, and 2) it's too smart.
It's not the best song Andy has ever written, but it's attractive because it's so candid. I like that Andy holds to what he does know and isn't afraid to admit to that which he doesn't. I think most of us profess knowledge of things we vaguely understand largely out of fear. We cling to bias, prejudice, and our intellectual house of cards because to admit there's holes in our thinking is to be vulnerable and that's scary.
There is even irony in the tone of this post. I'm trying to make it sound like I know what I'm talking about, when I'm really just rambling. Ha.
My favorite parts of this song? First, the pre-chorus. It's awesome, awesome, awesome. And it reminds me of a song snippet I've heard before, but I can't place it just now. Secondly, the last verse is smokin' good.
It's all about what Derek Webb has been talking and writing about lately. And I don't mean the political angle. I'm talking about the love angle. When we are married to out theology or politics in such a way that it prevents us from loving each other--and more inclined to hammer each other with words--into oblivion and beyond--then we probably need to reexamine our motives.
"Safety is an idol" is a great line, thought provoking to say the least. Nice work Andrew Osenga. Keep the songs a comin'!
I like the angle better than D. Webb's. Andy is saying I know there are things I don't know, which is another way of saying "tell me what you think about this". Derek tends to be a little more judgemental in his protests of our involvement in Iraq and war in general. This song is FAR more likely to spur a change of heart in a person like me because it forces me to develop an argument for the way I feel rather than a defense of who I am.