Now Jacob got two women and a whole house full of kids
And he schemed his way back to the promise land
And he finds it's one thing to win 'em, it's another to keep 'em
content
When he knows that he is only just one man
And his sky's an empty bottle and when he's drunk the ocean dry
He sails off three sheets to some reckless wind
And his friends say "ain't it awful"
He says "no, I think it's fine"
This is the world as best as I can remember it
Now Rachel's weeping for the children that she thought she could not
bear
And she bears a sorrow that she cannot hide
And she wishes she was with them but she just looks and they're not
there
Seems that love comes for just a moment, and then it passes on by
And her sky is just a bandit swinging at the end of a hangman's noose
Cause he stole the moon and must be made to pay for it
And her friends say, "my, that's tragic"
She says, "especially for the moon"
This is the world as best as I can remember it
This is the world as best as I can remember it
Written by Rich Mullins
From the album The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume
1
Be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight
Cloneliness is next to Godliness, right?
I'm grateful that they show the way
'Cause I could never know the way
To serve Him on my own
I want to be a clone
They told me that I'd fall away
Unless I followed what they say
Who needs the Bible anyway?
I want to be a clone
Their language it was new to me
But Christianese got through to me
Now I can speak it fluently
I want to be a clone
Send in the clones
Ah I kind of wanted to tell my friends and people about it, you know
What?
You're still a babe
You have to grow
Give it twenty years or so
'Cause if you want to be one of His
Got to act like one of us
So now I see the whole design
My church is an assembly line
The parts are there
I'm feeling fine
I want to be a clone
I've learned enough to stay afloat
But not so much I rock the boat
I'm glad they shoved it down my throat
I want to be a clone
Everybody must get cloned
Written by Steve Taylor
From the album I Want To Be A Clone
His world became routine and he got restless
The family ties that bind just tied him down
He felt his life was passing by him
Felt his dreams were crashing to the ground
And that grass was looking greener beyond the limits of that simple
town
Cause he wanted a life of adventure
So he left behind a wife and a child
They begged him to stay
But he threw it all away
And he answered the call of the wild
He lived it up out there in Arizona
He got rowdy down in Tennesee
Making up for lost time
Crossing the line now that he was free
But when the dust finally settled
He saw just how alone a man can be
But he wanted a life of adventure
So he left behind a wife and a child
But the freedom he loved
He was now a prisoner of
Since he answered the call of the wild
And somewhere in the darkness
He began to see the light
he wondered what his chances might be
To make things right so
He went running back to where he came from
In hopes he'd be received like the prodigal son
but in the place he once called home
he found it was no longer home to anyone
And in a house cold and empty
Thru tears he cried, "My God, what have I done?"
But he wanted a life of adventure
So he left behind a wife and a child
They begged him to stay
But he threw it all away
And he answered the call of the wild
Written by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Allen Shamblin
From the album Susan Ashton
Written by Aimee Mann
From the album Whatever
week seven: Did you really assume
I'd find some solace from the letter in your room?
next life, could you kindly refrain
from throwing yourself at the mercy of a traing?
silence all, nobody breathe
how in the world could you just leave?
you promised you would
overcome evil with good
maybe this world is a barren place for a soul
prone to get lost
but heaven still hounds from the smallest sounds
to the cries of the storm-tossed
week nine: I am writing in the sand
any little clue that could help me understand
every whispered secret, every muffled sigh
every half truth that was added to a lie
silence all, nobody move
I've got to know now what you hoped to prove
you promised you would
silence that evil with good
shame feeds guilt, guilt needs release
you took it to God
you made your peace
and swore that you would
overcome evil with good
every old demon playing back the crime
if they needed blood, I'd have gladly given mine
a Child of the Kingdom; still an invalid
forgive her, please Father
she don't know what she did
silence all, now go to sleep
God, I long to see her face
Written by Peter Furler, Wade Jaynes, and Steve Taylor
the water's free, the well is deep
how can we return
that which we never could earn?
we haven't a hope
beyond Your grace
I know that You will
overcome evil
for good
From the album Going Public
'Cause he will never give up on you
And neither will I, neither will I
Know that he still believes in you
And if you will try, if you try again
he will never give up on you
And neither will I, neither will I, my friend
I heard your name today
I heard it from a wiser voice inside
And it broke my heart
I got down on my knees
Reminded that the Father of your soul
has been the one to care the most
And he is there to lift you up and hold you close
his love is strong, so strong
Keep walking on
And keep on looking straight ahead
And when you feel like turning back
Turn to him instead
Written by Twila Paris
From the album Beyond a Dream
There is a difference, a qualitative difference
Between what I know as a fact, and what I know as truth
It stands as a great divide to separate by thinking
From when I'm thinking foolishly and when I've understood
The facts of theology can be altogether cold
Though true in every way they alone can't change me
Truth is creative, transforming and alive
it's truth that keeps me humble, saved and set free
We can only possess what we experience
We can only possess what we experience
Straight up honesty, that's my obligation
That's the point when I obey the truth without hesitation
When faith gains consent of my stubborn will
And makes the irreversible commitment real
To the Jesus of my journey, to the Christ of crucifixion,
Resurrection and redemption, to the Father of mercy,
To the God of all comfort
Then and only then, then and only then,
Then and only then, truth begins its
Saving and illuminating work within the heart
And not a moment sooner, not one moment sooner
If there be no sympathy, there can be no understanding
You must surrender to a truth to really understand it
Oh look at me, my opinion slipped out
But I'm under obligation, without hesitation
To speak the truth in love, speak the truth in love
Somebody said, "Opinion is the queen of the world"
I believe this goes way beyond opinion
Crown this one king, crown this one king, crown this one king
Baby, where I come from that's a bold, bold statement
But I ain't no company man, you can respect that, can't you?
Written by Charlie Peacock
From the album The Secret Of Time
I saw a friend of mine. He said, "I was worried about you
I heard she had another man, I wondered how you felt about it?"
I'm so happy that I can't stop crying
I'm so happy I'm laughing through my tears
Saw my lawyer, Mr. Good News
He got me joint custody and legal separation
I'm so happy that I can't stop crying
I'm laughing through my tears, I'm laughing through my tears
I took a walk alone last night,
I looked up at the stars
To try and find an answer in my life
I chose a star for me. I chose a star for him
I chose two stars for my kids and one star for my wife
Something made me smile.
Something seemed to ease the pain
Something about the universe and how it's all connected
The park is full of Sunday fathers
And melted ice cream
We try to do the best within the given time
A kid should be with his mother,
everybody knows that
What can a father do but baby-sit sometimes?
I saw that friend of mine, he said,
"You look different somehow."
I said, "Everybody's got to leave the darkness sometime."
I'm so happy that I can't stop crying
I'm laughing through my tears. I'm laughing through my tears
I'm so happy that I can't stop crying
I'm laughing through my tears. I'm laughing through my tears
Written by Sting
From the album Mercury Falling
How did we strike it rich?
Kissing up to the powerful
How did we make our pitch?
Satellites by the towerful
Why do you young people have to go and get caught up in a radical
phase?
My conscience was clear, and my wallet was full
I didn't hear none of this "sacrifice" bull
Tough times call for a backtrack
Gimme that old-time easy listening
Cuddle up, yeah, yeah
12 hours, twice a day
Cuddle up, yeah, yeah
Simmer down
Attaway
Color me old-fashioned, but I still remember when
The sermons were affirming, 'cause the Lord liked us better then
It's 2044
And I don't want to be my brother's keeper no more
Color me chicken yellow if I liked it in the ozone
Call me lemon jello if I lacked a little backbone
We're King's Kids, dang it
And we used to know what a housekeeper was for
Tickle my ear and I'll pay you for your show
Sing about stuff that I already know
Whisper sweet nothings
Pour a nightcap
Gimme that old-time easy listening
Cuddle up, yeah, yeah
12 hours, twice a day
Cuddle up, yeah, yeah
Simmer down
Attaway
Cuddle up, yeah, yeah
Order now, don't delay
Cuddle up, yeah, yeah
Sleep it off
Drool away
Gather-me-round children, 'cause your faith is a mystery
Gather me grandchildren for a little church history
It's 2044
And I miss our turn-of-the-century ways
How did we strike it rich?
Kissing up to the powerful
How did we make our pitch?
Satellites by the towerful
Why do you young hotheads have to go and get caught up in a radical
phase?
I'm ok, you're ok, we're ok, so
I think I'm gonna buy my own radio show
Spread the good news and the Barry Manilow
Happy talk, no rock
Non-stop easy listening
Written by Steve Taylor
From the album Squint
Do you remember our talks in the coffee shops
You wanted so much to believe
Then came the day when the light overcame the dark
You were seeing clearly then
Did you really understand
All of these years I have worried and wondered
What's become of you?
But all of these years haven't taken my love from you
Try to understand
My dear Marianne
Sometimes I say too much, many times not enough
I'd like to find that fine line
Where He gives us time to grow, room to fall gracefully
Are you really in His hands
Can you tell me Marianne
Cause all of these years I have worried and wondered
What's become of you
But all of these years haven't taken my love from you
Try to understand
My dear Marianne
All of these years I have worried and wondered
What's become of you
But all of these years haven't taken His love from you
I'll leave you to His hands
My dear Marianne
Written by Christine Dente
From the album Shape of Grace
Lullabyes
And pennies in a wishing well
Sad goodbyes
To friends of make believe
A love so pure
A treasure
Now buried in the sea of me
Milton lost his paradise
Dorothy lost her way
Vincent lost his sanity
Thomas lost his faith
Hoover lost the second time
Sigmund lost his friend
Me, I lost my innocence
And I want it back again
A tug-of-war
Is going on inside of me
A calloused heart
That wants to make a change
While time prevails
Fighting tooth and nail
Keeping me set in my ways
Marco found the orient
Geppetto found his boy
Lincoln found a unity
That Lee could not destroy
Lindy found the other side
Gershwin found the stage
Me, I found a stubborness
That seems to grow with age
As I dream of where I'll go
May I learn from where I've gone
And take the memories that I hold
Into tomorrow
I had it once before
And I want it back again
Written by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick
From the album Angels of Mercy
I've fanned the burning embers
till my house was on fire
there's no parody like power
there's no fever like desire
I've drained the wine of darkness
to the dregs of deceit
there's no drug as strong as pride
there's no blindness like conceit
I've railed against a mountain
with a pickax and a file
there's no minefield like presumption
there's no deathwish like denial
there's no gunshot like conviction
there's no conscience bullet proof
there's no strength like utter weakness
there's no insult like the truth
I've adjusted my prescription
till I couldn't trust my vision
there's no killer like convenience
there's no sickness like omission
I've amended resolutions
and resisted explanation
there's no trap door like emotion
there's no pit like reputation
there's no cancer like ambition
there's no cure like crucifixion
Written by Charlie Peacock and Douglas Kaine McKelvey
From the album strangelanguage
Freshman scream in a classroom
Was there a sound?
First degree in the vacuum
I'm on college ground
Took a class
Big fun
Modern Ethics 101
First day learned why
ethics really don't apply
Prof says "One trait
takes us to a higher state
Drug free, pure bliss
get your pencils, copy this:
"Life unwinds like a cheap sweater
But since I gave up hope I feel a lot better
And the truth gets blurred like a wet letter
But since I gave up hope I feel a lot better"
Top of the class sits Ernest
He was brightest and best
Till the professor lured him
to the hopeless nest
Now he lives for the shortcut
like a citizen should
Tells the class with a wink
"Only the young die good."
He says, "Ideals? Uncouth.
Fatalism need youth
Eat well, floss right
Keep the hungry out of sight
Save face -- nip and tuck
Praise yourself and pass the buck
Don't forget the best advice
Everybody's got a price
"Life unwinds like a cheap sweater
But since I gave up hope I feel a lot better
And the truth gets blurred like a wet letter
But since I gave up hope I feel a lot better
"While the world winds down to a final prayer
Nothing soothes quicker than complete despair
I predict by dinner I won't even care
Since I gave up hope I feel a lot better"
Nazis plead in a courtroom
"Pardon me, boys"
Profits fall in a boardroom
Did they make a noise?
Someone spreads an affliction
Company's nice
Someone sells an addiction
Puts your soul on ice
Half wits knock heads
Candidates in double beds
Good guys defect
"I can't precisely recollect"
Teacher's pet theory's fine
if you're born without a spine
Can't you spell wrong?
Sing it to him Papa John
Written by Steve Taylor
From the album I Predict 1990
she had the innocent eyes of a Renoir lady
clutched her black book like an angel nursing a child
"It's a quarter to midnight here, baby
If you're gonna stare, do it while I'm sleeping"
but her eyes, they shone of an innocent way...
in her eyes, we glimpsed of an innocent way...
and in the days that followed we were under a spell
why's the girl visiting a prison cell?
Innocence, innocence
innocence lost
all souls want it back
some uncover the cost
innocence, innocence lost
break free, look at me
is your innocence lost?
He'd seen things that a man don't mention
sunk into his eyes was a weariness nothing could heal
"Don't tell me 'bout your cheap salvation
what's a man to do when he don't feel nothing?"
but her eyes they shone of an innocent way...
she said "Beyond these bars there are things you can't see"
he spoke slowly
"Ain't no pardon for me"
Innocence, innocence
innocence lost
all souls want it back
some uncover the cost
innocence, innocence lost
she said "Look at me
don't you, don't you lose your innocence
don't lose your innocence"
he said, "God's own angels couldn't give me hope
when you leave me hanging just leave me enough rope"
but in her eyes he glimpsed of an innocent day...
And on the eve of destruction they were shining the chair
outside vigils, inside men were sobbing
as she kissed his forehead when the morning had dawned
he said softly to her
"I'll see you beyond"
Written by Steve Taylor
From the album I Predict 1990