Lyle Lovett’s album was Joshua Judges Ruth was one of least his successful albums did not gain mainstream acceptance with country music fans as his I Love Everybody album did. For some reason, fans were not as receptive of this album as they were his I Love Everybody album which is why Joshua Judges Ruth sold poorly in album sales. The album shows a much darker side of Lyle Lovett.
Church is a song which describes Lyle’s day at church last Sunday. The song is an unusual country song with a religious vibe which is quite graphic.
A highlight of this song is some of lyrics rhyming scheme. For example, saying may and choosing a word that rhymes with may such as day. For instance read these lyrics. The lyrics explain the rhyme scheme if you take time to analyze them.:
He said now I'll remind you if I may
You all better pay attention
Or I might decide to preach all day
And now everyone was getting so hungry
And the old ones started feeling ill
And the weak ones started passing out
And the young ones they could not sit still
Lyle went to church last Sunday so he could sing and pray. However something quite unusual happened on that day.
Now church started right on time as usual without a doubt. Everything was just fine. Except after church services were over when it came time to let us out.The preacher kept preaching. He told us, “I have one more thing to say. Children before you think of leaving. You better think about the Judgement Day.”
Now this is the point where everyone was getting nervous. Everyone was wondering what was the next thing he would do. Everyone was hungry too.
He kept on preaching. He said, “Now I'll remind you if I may. You all better pay attention or I might decide to preach all day.”
Everyone was getting so hungry. The old ones started feeling ill, the weak ones started passing out, and the young ones they could not sit still. The preacher's voice rose higher. So Lyle snuck up to the balcony and crept into the choir. He begged them brothers, sisters, help me please.
Now here is the turning point of this song.
The preacher said, “I said when I give you a signal and raise up my hands. Won't you please join with me together? Praise the Lord I have a plan.” “Long is the struggle, hard the fight. Father please forgive me. To the Lord let praises be. It's time for dinner. Now let's go eat. We've got some beans and some good cornbread.”
This is the part where the song gets unusual. The song takes a graphic, gruesome turn abruptly.
A great white dove from up above landed on the window sill. The dove flew down beside him and a fork appeared right in his hand. With everybody watching, the preacher ate that bird right there and then. Everyone got really nervous. Everyone watched on in disbelief.
These were the words he spoke. He said, “Now Mama's in the kitchen and she's been there all day. I know she's cooking something good. So let's bow our heads and pray.”
And the moral of this story is preacher preaches long enough, even he'll get hungry too and he'll sing.
Family Reserve is a song that reflect on the death of his uncle and several other family members. The mood of this song is filled with such sadness. Sad and mournful are two words to describe this Lyle Lovett song.
When Lyle saw the ambulance going down Main Street, he didn't give it a thought. But it was his Uncle Eugene. He died on October 2, 1981. They all called him Skinner. He'd get drunk in the morning and show Lyle the rolls of fifties and hundreds he kept in the glove box of his old gray SS Impala.
His second cousin Callaway died when he barely turned two. It was peanut butter and jelly that did it. Mama just stood there and watched him turn blue. She didn't know what to do.
Since The Last Time is a mournful song about Lyle’s time at a funeral. He tells details from his vivid memory.
Lyle went to a funeral. Lord it made him happy seeing all those people he ain't seen since the last time somebody died. Everybody was talking. They were telling funny stories. Then the people start crying. All of the little children start crying too. Lord they're scared. Because they ain't never seen a dead person before.
Now it's church on Sunday. It's a bar on Friday night. It's work on Monday. His schedule goes back to the usual routine.
I rate this album, Joshua Judges Ruth, 4/5****.
No comments:
Post a Comment