Seven Psalms – Paul Simon
Seven Psalms by 81-year-old Paul Simon is unlike any album he’s released previously. The idea for the album, his fifteenth studio project, came to Simon in a series of dreams in 2019. Watch the trailer for the album here.
The album, which was released digitally as one long (33 minute) track, is meant to be listened to in its entirety, not as individual songs. The beautifully sounding album features Simon’s singing backed by his playing acoustic guitar, with other sounds (flutes, choral harmonies, bass harmonica, etc.) mixed in.
The album has a sense of a last testament from Simon, who is Jewish. It finds him preparing for death and hashing out belief and doubt. The opening song “The Lord” begins with:
I’ve been thinking about the great migration
Noon and night they leave the flock
And I imagine their destination
Meadow grass, jagged rock
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- Song of the Week Lyrics: “Holy Forever” by Chris Tomlin
He has dealt with religious issues in the past. For example, his 2011 album So Beautiful or So What, features “The Afterlife” and “Questions for Angels”.
“The Lord”, which features a “The Lord is” (think of “The Lord is my Shepherd” from Psalm 23), refrain that will show up throughout the album. An example is:
The Lord is a virgin forest
The Lord is a forest ranger
The Lord is a meal for the poorest of the poor
A welcome door to the stranger
In “Love is Like a Braid”, he sings:
I lived a life of pleasant sorrows
Until the real deal came
Broke me like a twig in a winter gale
Called me by my name
And in that time of prayer and waiting
Where doubt and reason dwell
A jury sat deliberating
All is lost or all is well
“My Professional Opinion” is an acoustic blues song. He sings:
All that really matters
Is the one who became us
Anointed and gamed us
With His opinions
Which is followed by “The Lord is” refrain from the opening song.
In “Your Forgiveness”, he sings:
And I, the last in the line
Hoping the gates won’t be closed
Before your forgiveness
He goes on:
I, I have my reasons to doubt
There is a case to be made
Two billion heartbeats and out
Waving the flag in the last parade
I have my reasons to doubt
On the short “Trail of Volcanoes”, he sings of regret:
It seems to me
We’re all walking down
The same road
To wherever it ends
The pity is
The damage that’s done
Leaves so little time
For amends
On “The Sacred Harp”, wife Edie Brickell joins him on vocals. Their voices blend to beautifully sing:
The sacred harp
That David played to make his
Songs of praise
We long to hear those strings
That set his heart ablaze
The song ends with “The Lord is” refrain from the opening “The Lord”.
On the closing wait, Simon sings:
Wait
I’m not ready
I’m just packing my gear
Wait
My hand’s steady
My mind is still clear
The song and album ends with Brickell singing:
Heavеn is beautiful
It’s almost like home
Children! get ready
It’s time to come home
And they both sing:
Amen
- Forever Young. Watch Bob Dylan perform his classic “Forever Young” from his new album Shadow Kingdom.
- Faithfully. Enjoy this lyric video for “Faithfully” from TobyMac’s excellent album Life after Death.
Holy Forever – Chris Tomlin
This week’s song of the week is “Holy Forever” from Chris Tomlin’s album Always. The song was written by Tomlin, Brian Johnson, Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson and Phil Wickham. Enjoy the lyric video here.
[Intro: Choir]
(Holy)
(Holy)
[Verse 1: Chris Tomlin]
A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who’ve gone before us, and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb
[Pre-Chorus: Chris Tomlin]
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
[Chorus: Chris Tomlin & Choir]
And the angels cry, “Holy”
All creations cries, “Holy”
You are lifted high, holy
Holy forever
[Verse 2: Chris Tomlin, Jenn Johnson & Choir]
If you’ve been forgiven, if you’ve been redeemed
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
If you walk in freedom, if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
[Chorus: Chris Tomlin, Jenn Johnson & Choir]
And the angels cry, “Holy”
All creations cries, “Holy”
You are lifted high, holy
Holy forever
Hear Your people sing, “Holy”
To the King of kings, holy
You will always be holy
Holy forever
[Pre-Chorus: Chris Tomlin, Choir & Jenn Johnson ]
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominion
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all, Jesus
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all (Oh, stands above)
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
[Chorus: Chris Tomlin, Jenn Johnson & Choir, Jenn Johnson]
And the angels cry, “Holy”
All creations cries, “Holy”
You are lifted high, holy
Holy forever (We cry, “Holy forever”)
Hear Your people sing, “Holy” (We will sing)
To the King of kings, (Holy) holy (Holy forever)
You will always be holy
Holy forever
[Outro: Chris Tomlin]
You will always be holy
Holy forever
