Humble Stumble: Hymns for Imperfect Saints: "A Light in the Window"

I have a started a new project in conjunction with my "The Humble Stumble: Lessons on Simplicity, Stillness, Fashion and Faith from a Bad Quaker" book. It's on Spotify -- "Humble Stumble: Hymns for Imperfect Saints."

I'll add a "hymn" a day.

These are not "hymns" in the traditional sense. Rather they're songs that have spoken to my soul in a spiritual sense -- even if they are not "spiritual songs" per se. Though my bias is that that our hearts hunger for beauty and meaning and when artists create something that sings deep in our souls, well, they've created a "hymn," even if it was unintentional.

Suggestions of songs that have spoken deeply to you are welcome!

I'll also post lyrics and video here.

Up today is  Carrie Newcomer – A Light in the Window

A Light in the Window 

There is always a light shining in the darkness. 

Looking out at the night 

Beyond the driver’s wheel,

Curving hips made of snow 

In the winter fields.

There’s a house set way back 

Where a lamplight glows,

Like star out in the cold,

Filled with people I'll never know,

Who left a light, 

Left a light in the window.

What would I change if 

The choice were mine? 

I was doing the best 

I knew at the time.

And every door that opened 

And door that closed,

All the things that made me grow,

Sent me off down another road,

Off to search for a light, 

For a light in the window

.

Now what's old has already passed away 

But the new is too new 

to be born today.

So I'm throwing out seeds 

On the winter snow,

As a sharp wind begins to blow,

Standing here on a new threshold,

I can see a light, 

There's a light in the window..

The world is made of stone,

And the world is made of glass.

The world is made of light,

And its moving very fast.

We pass from mystery to mystery 

So I won't lie 

I don't what happens 

When people die.

But I hope I see you walking slow,

Smiling wide as sunrise grows,

I drop my map with a 

thousand folds,

In the distance I see it 

glow,

I can see a light, 

There’s a light in the 

window.

Words and Music By Carrie Newcomer

Carrie Newcomer's website is at http://www.carrienewcomer.com/

The Newly Discovered History of Amish Rock and Roll

Not too long ago, my friend Carrie Newcomer and I were on tour together (well, actually, we appeared at one place together). While together, we put our heads together and discovered that we had both been working on the same research project -- the heretofore little known phenomenon of Amish rock and roll.

Now many people know Carrie as an outstanding singer/songwriter and me as a passable writer. But they don't know that we both PhD's in music ethnology from the Berlin Conservatory of Music (online, distance learning division) located in Berlin, North Dakota. And we have a special interest in historic peace church music (Quaker -- very, very, very quiet with few lyrics, for example).

The Amish are, of course, are loosely affiliated with the historic peace churches. And so we began looking into their music -- especially the music of the youth. What we found astounded us. That is that the Amish have had an amazing influence on American Rock and Roll.

Most of us know the Amish as a rather closed (to put it mildly) sect of pious buggy-driving believers and eschew electricity. They live in a strict society, under tight control of their family and close-knit community. But then there's "rumspringa." When they turn 16, Amish teenagers are allowed the freedom to explore the customs of the outside "English" world before deciding whether to join the Amish church for life or leave the community altogether.

During this period, many of their youth have formed clandestine rock and roll bands and have rocked forth with a wide range of songs. Many of these songs were discovered by "the English," given slightly different lyrical phrasing, and been recorded by rock and roll stars as diverse as "The Beach Boys," "The Doors," The Rolling Stones," and more.

While the reader may find that hard to believe, Carrie and I (prior to publishing our findings in a scholarly journal) are herewith listing some of our findings -- and inviting others to contribute songs they may have discovered in their listening.

"Amish Girls"

Well Mennonite girls are hip

I really dig those caps they wear

And der English girls with no caps at all

They knock me out with that short hair.

I wish they all could be Amish

I wish they all could be Amish

I wish they all could be Amish girls.

Music & Lyrics by Brian Yoder and Karl Bontrager

"Born to be Mild"

Get your buggy runnin'

Head out on the two lane

Lookin' for some rumspringa

And not dressin' up so plain

Born to be mild

Born to be mild

Music & Lyrics by Mars Miller

"Raise my Barn"

Come on baby, raise my barn

Come on baby, raise my barn

Try to get the haymow higher!

Music & Lyrics by Jim Graber, Robbie Yoder, John Miller, and Ray Bontrager

"Stotzfus Action"

I can't get no Stoltzfus action

I can't get no Stotlzfus action

'cause i try and i try and i try and i try

I can't get no, i can't get no

Music & Lyrics by Mick Stoltzfus and Keith Stoltzfus

Those are our samples. Please send your suggestions to us c/o this blog or our website http://www.secrethistoryofamishrockandrollsongscoveredbybignamerocstars.com/

--Brent

PS Check out the Amish Outlaws (that's where the picture came from)

The Geography of Light

I'm excited. For one it's Friday and Nancy and I are about to be off spending some time with Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris and some other musical types in warm, sunny places. For another, Carrie Newcomer's got a great new CD coming out.

"The Geography of Light" officially releases on February 12, but you can preview the album now on carrienewcomer.com. I've been listening to a pre-release version since Carrie gave it to me last November and I think it's her strongest effort yet. Sensitive, soulful lyrics coupled with strong melodies are one draw. The great production values are another. And then there's Carrie's voice -- strong and forceful one phrase, whispering and winsome the next. It's really amazing stuff. My favorites are "Two Toasts" (co-written with Parker Palmer), the haunting "Lazarus" (Since he called my name/Nothing's the same), and "Leaves Don't Drop, They Just Let Go." Every song on the CD (including the quirky, fund "Don't Push Send" -- about the perils of email) is a jewel -- carefully crafted and lovingly presented.



(watch closely and you'll seee me in the video)

Carrie's out touring now in support of the CD. You won't want to miss her if she comes to a town near you. If you happen to see her, tell her that her old, Quaker bowlin' cousin says, "Hey!"
-- Brent