2023-05-09 – Considering the Bible

In the mid nineties, I had a little red Buick and a big ol’ bass box in the trunk, and would listen to “Christian Rock”, cranked to 11.

(What did you say? Huh? Can you say that again, I didn’t hear you….)

I have gotten away from that genre for many reasons, the least of which may be a loss of hearing, but some songs have stuck with me over the decades.

The artist’s I listened to sought to reflect Scriptural teaching for the most part. They ranged from “preaching” pop culture religion to significant theological teaching. As I listened to the lyrics, I found some to be quite challenging.

To be honest, I listened because I could justify the rock beat with “sanctified lyrics”.

Occassionaly I will post a song, supply the lyrics and make a comment or two. If you decide to listen to the tune, turn the speaker down unless you are already deaf. Some of the songs tend to have a certain “volume” about them!

This post will consider the song

Multipurpose Man – by Swirling Eddies

The Swirling Eddies were a comical band that spoke sarcastically about troubles within the church and the hypocrisy of modern day believers. I suppose that is why I listened to them so often. The lyrics are a hoot!

Multipurpose Man – by Swirling Eddies

Insert Flap A into Slot 2B
Roll me, roll me, roll me toward my destiny
I’m a room for your love, I’m a factory for war
A hungry artist knocking at the rich man’s door
A morality play
A pornography store
A scorched-earth fire
In the nuclear core

[Chorus]
I’m your very own living multipurpose man
Your cowardly lion and your blemished lamb
And I’ll be saved, and I’ll be damned
I’m your very own living multipurpose man

[Verse 2]
Fold Panel 3 along the dotted line
Drink me, drink me, drink me, I’m a cheap red wine
An alcoholic dream, a promissory note
A discouraging word in a mercenary’s throat
A hangman’s noose
On an old frayed rope
A zephyr wind
And a paper boat

[Chorus]
I’m your very own living multipurpose man
Your cowardly lion and your blemished lamb
And I’ll be saved, and I’ll be damned
I’m your very own living multipurpose man

[Bridge]
A bad smell fogging up the vestibule
Demigods, demagogues, wise man, fool
The paper-shredding keeper of the golden rule
So roll me, roll me, roll me on back to you

[Interlude]
(Drink me, drink me, drink me)
(Roll me, roll me over)
(Wind me, wind me, wind me)
(Drink me, drink me, drink me)
(Roll me, roll me over)
(Wind me, wind me, wind me)
(Drink me, drink me, drink me)
(Roll me, roll me over)
(Wind me, wind me, wind me)
(Drink me, drink me, drink me)
(Roll me, roll me over)
(Wind me, wind me, wind me)
(Drink me, drink me, drink me)
(Roll me, roll me over)
(Wind me, wind me, wind me)
(Drink me, drink me, drink me)
(Roll me, roll me over)
(Wind me, wind me, wind me)

[Chorus]
I’m your very own living multipurpose man
Your cowardly lion and your blemished lamb
And I’ll be saved, and I’ll be damned
I’m your very own living multipurpose man

[Bridge]
A bad smell fogging up the vestibule
Demigods, demagogues, wise man, fool
The paper-shredding keeper of the golden rule
So roll me, roll me, roll me on back to you

[Verse 3]
Hook my spring between the flim and flam
Wind me up, wind me, I’m a monkey band
A mad whirling dervish and a hard day’s night
A kamikaze pilot on his thirteenth flight
An electrical storm
Ben Franklin’s kite
A doomsday clock
At twelve midnight

[Verse 4]
Fill me up, fill me, I’m a white trash can
A klu klux klown and an also-ran, yeah
I’m yesterdays news, I’m a small foot note
A DJ caring less about this song I wrote

Let me know what you think of the lyrics, and of the tunes!

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