A New Century

A Cowboy's Prayer (2001)

Oh My Lord, please forgive me
And remember not my past
With Your love, everlasting and divine

If my step ever falters
Or my heart becomes untrue
You alone have the power to renew me

With the breath of the morning
You freshen my mind
With the dreams of a future so true
I am blessed with Your Spirit
Of genuine grace
And a dose of Your purity too

When the road has me weary

And my saddle's hanging low

You are there with a drink fresh and cool

Lord, You know where I'm ridin'

And You know the trail is rough

But there's a town just beyond this last valley

In the calm of the evening

You quiet my soul

As the stars sparkle down from the sky

While I gaze at the heavens

With wonder and awe

My thoughts turn to You by and by

Oh My Lord, please forgive me
And remember not my past
With Your love, everlasting and divine

If my step ever falters
Or my heart becomes untrue
You alone have the power to renew me

Celebrity (2001)

Once upon a time
Before the truth
It all was mine
Eternal youth

'Twas then I heard a voice
Inside of me:
It's all you choice
Celebrity

She came upon me there
Inside a dream
With flowing hair
Sight unseen

So lucious and so sweet
Upon the tree
Take and eat
Celebrity

I'll give you the crown
A king you'll be
Just bow down
And worship me

I'll reveal your name
And all will see
The world-famed
Celebrity

Father, it is done
Have you forsaken me?
No, My Son
Have faith in me

Nailed to a limb
Upon the tree
It is Him
Celebrity

Adonai (2001)

Here I am, Lord, Adonai
Face to face, and eye to eye
Search my heart, Lord, search my mind
Heal my soul, Lord, Adonai

You have known me from my birth
You will lift me from this earth
Send Your angels, from the sky
Take me now, Lord, Adonai

The Word of God (2001)

I was built on the mountain
I am spilled on the land
I chase doubt from the valley
I shine out from His Hand

The Word
The Word of God
The Word of God
The Word of God

Come behold it is written
In the scroll you must eat
Though your tongue tastes of honey
I become bittersweet

The Word
The Word of God
The Word of God
The Word of God

Through the years men have listened
But their ears never heard
Seeds I lay in the soil
Snatched away by a bird

The Word
The Word of God
The Word of God
The Word of God

Now that time's nearly conquered
By His signs from the past
Your heart thirsts for the future
For the first and the last

Word
Last Word of God
Last Word of God
Last Word of God

Gus (2001)

YouTube demo

A man of the water brought into this land
To serve as a husband and friend
To serve as a father, and now that he's done
He goes back to the water again

Gus once walked upon earth with us
Gus gave us his love
Gus once walked upon earth with us
But now he looks down from above

A fisherman's adage to rise with the sun
To rest when the river runs high
To fish with all strength till the end of the run
Then soar like an eagle on high

Gus once walked upon earth with us
Gus gave us his love
Gus once walked upon earth with us
But now he looks down from above

So now we're together to honor his name
To comfort our mother, his wife
So let us remember the spirited flame
That burned all the years of his life

Gus once walked upon earth with us
Gus gave us his love
Gus once walked upon earth with us
And now he looks down from above

Come with Me (2001)

YouTube demo

We are tossed on the ocean
We are lost out at sea
On a raft built by martyrs
From a Land we can't see

And the oars will get heavy
As we row through the gale
And our hearts filled with sorrow
As we pass those who fail

Come with me
I'll take you by the hand
Come with me
I'll lead you to The Land
Come with me

Long ago it was written
And I know it is true
That our hearts were united
Making one out of two

And our love shall continue
Through the blustering storm
Let my words ever comfort
And my arms ever warm

Come with me
I'll take you by the hand
Come with me
I'll lead you to The Land

Come with me
And be holy
Come with me
And be free
Never doubting
Never turning
Never anxious
No, no, no
Come with me

Far away in the distance
I can hear trumpets sound
Calling souls from the water
Calling souls from the ground

And they rise in an instant
To be caught in the air
Swept away in a moment
Into Christ's loving care

Come with me
I'll take you by the hand
Come with me
I'll lead you to The Land
Come with me
Come with me
Come with me

Commentary

As had begun ever since my Dad’s cancer diagnosis and far too premature death (in August 2000, at the age of 62), I began to take my faith much more seriously. This was reflected in my songs, which were now nearly all focused on my faith and the full implications of Christianity. Karen quite accurately described this as me “having an affair with Jesus,” which she felt as a threat. However, the two of us were largely able to successfully partner as co-parents of our blended family and we collaborated on the organization of an effective memorial service for my Dad, held one year after his death at his beloved Browns Lake, in northeastern Washington. I wrote and recorded Gus for this ceremony, and my brother also wrote and recorded a new song of his own about our Dad. These two songs were played for the gathered family members as Steve and I rowed a boat out onto the lake and sprinkled his ashes.

The last of these songs, Come with Me, was the first song I wrote after the attack of September 11, 2001. This was an intense time for all and especially for me, as I had been stranded in Europe after the Tuesday morning attack. I recall reading the entire Book of Psalms as I waited to board the return flight to St. Louis (via the old TWA non-stop from London Gatwick) on that following Saturday, the first day transatlantic flights were allowed to resume.

A New Century

A Cowboy's Prayer (2001)

Celebrity (2001)

Adonai (2001)

The Word of God (2001)

Gus (2001)

Come with Me (2001)

Commentary

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