Virtually Paul
Words and Theology
February 12, 2007 on 12:27 pm | In Bible College, Church, Music, Theology |Following some good discussion starters from Geoff:
One of the things that we looked at quite a bit in my first semester at Ridley was the worship/church service stuff. With three weekly chapel services to practice/practise in, my eyes were opened to a world of prayer books and meticulous attention to eloquent readings of scripture. My church seems much more haphazard in comparison. We’ve got a decent bunch of bible readers now, who even pre-read the passage before they drop it on the church… but we don’t use prayer books… and sometimes even the pastors say stuff, that, if you took it back to the letter of the biblical-theological law, wouldn’t actually hold water.
I was in one chapel service at college where a fellow student said, in passing, during a closing prayer, “Thanks God for showing up today”. At morning tea following, there were 5 stiff old Anglicans there to remind him that God is actually omnipresent. Now, for an ordination candidate in a theological college, that’s probably not as tactfully horrific as it would be in a church laity context. The point, however, remains… and I think this is the source of Geoff’s underlying ponderings.
Language is one of the key means through which we express and understand theological ideas. The thing about words, is that they are merely a representation of the concept that the communicator is trying to explain. The quality of that representation, is influenced not only by the lingual/literary education of the speaker… but also by the decoding processes of the listener.
So what does that mean for Geoff and the Third Day song? Well seeing as I’ve actually sung live on stage with Third Day, I’ll dig a bit deeper into the song lyrics. I agree that the phrasing of the lyrics over the music leaves the obvious misnomer surrounding what the beautiful thing is. But the words aren’t just “You are beautiful, my sweet, sweet song”… the bridge says this:
You are my strong melody
You are my dancing rhythm
You are my perfect rhyme
And I will sing of You forever
Anyone who has ever tried to write a song will tell you, from the experience that these are all components of a beautiful song. I think that’s where the words of “You Are So Good To Me” are coming from. That’s what I take away from it anyway. It’s an analogy. And it’s a largely emotional/experiential one, rather than a strongly theological one.
Now, to drive my point home, I decided to pick on one of Geoff’s favourite songs, which I actually really like as well. “How Great Thou Art”. It is a really nice song. However, I kind of struggle with it sometimes, particularly singing this verse:
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
I understand what the song is getting at here. It’s reflecting on God’s creation as a revelation of His greatness and trying to express that. It has a more staccato melody compared to a Third Day song where the chords tend to ring out and flow together. That, for me, really brings out the “ye olde english” feel to the verse as it talks about “forest glades and woods” that “I wander” through. I get what the song is saying… but I’m an Aussie. I don’t wander through forest glades. I walk. I walk through the bush.
I could start a rant about how crap I think songs are when they talk about Jesus and his “fame” just because of it’s sheer literary Hollywood-infused stupidity… yep… I just did start a rant.
Words are awkward. Theology is complicated. That’s about to become my tagline.
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Paulie,
Thanks for the link through and for having a crack at the discussion. I do understand that it’s an analogy, and that it’s not trying to convey a deep theological principle. Which is why (as I mentioned) I really do LIKE the song. I think it’s a great song. And in the context of being a song that a band sings, that’s fine.
But when it’s taken out of the environment of being an artistically performed song, and into the environment of being a song that a congregation sings together, in worship of Jesus, it needs to hold up for that setting.
Most people who were singing that song on Sunday morning don’t have an experience of writing a song, so even the words of the bridge become about the song that they’re singing, and how perfect it is. Which I’m not so cool with.
And in regards to your cheap-shot at “How Great Thou Art” - this could be my closet-Anglicanism showing, but the real reason you don’t relate with wandering through forest glades is nothing to do with being an Australian. It’s more to do with being an accountant, who doesn’t see any point in attempting to use beautiful words when a perfectly ugly one will do the same job.
Comment by Geoff — February 12, 2007 #
If I was after an even cheaper shot, I’d accuse you of doing the same thing with girls as you accused me of doing with words in your last sentence. However, I’m not that mean and I’m also slightly scared of what Bec might do to me. The witty comeback is therefore merely recorded here for the sake of my ego.
Back-pedalling a bit… I wasn’t saying that I don’t relate to the words in How Great Thou Art. I like the words. I really like the song. They’re just not the way I would express the same thing.
And in terms of the Third Day song, I agree with you… if John and Jane Pewsitter don’t understand what they’re singing about, then maybe the mega-musicians up the front need to start thinking about leading worship rather than performing their favourite tunes. The interesting twist there, is that your musicians will most likely relate to the song in the first instance, such that it might take them a while to catch on to your point.
Comment by Paul — February 12, 2007 #
Paul, I’d normally reserve any romantic overtones for somewhere less public, but when you force me like that, for the record…
My girlfriend is strikingly beautiful, and any insistence to the contrary is simply delusional.
Comment by Geoff — February 12, 2007 #
Nice work. Now I don’t feel as guilty about the comment.
Comment by Paul — February 12, 2007 #
You should
Comment by Geoff — February 12, 2007 #
You’re so chivalrous and manly Geoff.
Comment by Paul — February 12, 2007 #
Dear Paul,
However much you like to joke here is a kindly word of advice from someone who doesn’t struggle majorly with self-image issues but is still very human.
Never Under Any Circumstances Whoever the Girl is Make Any Remark Whatsoever about Appearances. Not in even in Jest. The word Ugly Does Not Come into Play Ever, the Word Beautiful Should Never Be Abused.
Recant. Or I’m never having lunch with you again.
Ugly words do NOT suffice where beautiful ones can be used.
Goodness, where is your artistry and your very normal human appreciation of things wondrous!
ps. Geoff is manly, clearly much more than you.
Comment by Bec — February 13, 2007 #
Oooooer not impressed at all. Hardly surprising. Obviously you are aware that I don’t mean it at all. I was just playing word games with Geoff.
Amongst the boys, such things are fair game. It’s just intellectual chess, trading line for line. Perhaps the internet isn’t the best arena for our banter though at times.
I unreservedly recant with my sincerest apologies.
And I was right. I am slightly scared.
Comment by Paul — February 13, 2007 #
[…] There has been some lively discussion over on Geoff’s (and Paul’s) blogs about the Third Day song, “You Are So Good to Me”. Before I get going, might I add that after a short background check this is actually a Third Day cover of a Waterdeep song. There! So now you know who to blame if you’re going to proceed down that avenue. You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song You are beautiful my sweet, sweet song And I will sing again […]
Pingback by all said and done » Infinite loops and petty poetics — February 13, 2007 #
hey I just thought I’d let you know I’ve got one of these bloggy things now so if you would like to check it out or even pass the link on to anybody u feel should read or comment me here’s my url..
http://trashtrendsandturbulance.blogspot.com
thanks
Comment by Paul — February 15, 2007 #
[…] The phrase “You are beautiful my sweet sweet song” in this previous post seems to have driven a bit of search traffic my way from people looking for Third Day lyrics and tabs. […]
Pingback by Virtually Paul » Blog Archive » Third Day Tabs — May 11, 2007 #