A song to Sting
Seems like a number of people are commenting on the lyrics of U2 and their subliminal or otherwise Christian message at the moment, in the the lead up to and wake of their tour, and so being something of a Sting fan I thought, just for fun, I'd join in on his behalf. Mercury Falling is one of my all time favourite albums and today at work I was listening to Brand New Day. I like Stings original lyrics and his unpredictable music (and I don't know anything about drumming but I know Vinnie Colaiuta is good - trying to tap my fingers to Prelude to the End of the Game confuses me every time - maybe I'll offer a prize to anyone who can explain that rhythm to me).
I find Sting's music so unpredictable that I can't be confident I am always going to like it. The song "Fill Her Up" I certainly didn't like when I first heard it start playing. It surprised me with it's decidedly country-western sound, but even more did it surprise me when both the music and the words changed tone nearing the end. It morphs into a negro spiritual, and these are the words:
Fill Her Up
Mobil station where I stand
This old gas pump in my hand
My boss don't like me,
got a face like a weasel
Oil on my hands and the smell of diesel
Here come a big shot from the city
V8 engine, she runs so pretty
'Fill her up son, unleaded
I need a full tank a gas where I'm headed'
Up in the front seat a pretty red head
'We're going to Vegas we're gonna get wed'
'So fill her up son, don't be staring
That's a real diamond she be wearing'
I'm gonna take my baby one day
I'm gonna fill her up and head west
I'm going find some money all right
See those tail lights heading west
I got no money to invest
I got no prospects, or education
I was lucky getting a job at this gas station
That old cash box on the top shelf
The boss is sleeping, I'll just help myself
Let's consider this as just a loan
I can sort it out later on the 'phone
I'm gonna pick my girl up tonight
I'm gonna fill her up and head west
I'm gonna show her all the bright lights
We're gonna say we lived 'for we come home
And as I head through the woods on the way back
The evening sun is slanting through the pine trees real pretty
It's like I'm walked into a glade of heaven
And there's music playing
This money is cold in my hand
And a voice somewhere is saying
'Why would you wanna take that stolen thing
And What real happiness can bring?'
You're gonna fill her up with sadness
You're gonna fill her up with shame
You're gonna fill her up with sorrow
Before she even takes your name
You're gonna fill her up with madness
You're gonna fill her up with blame
You're gonna live with no tomorrow
You're gonna fill her up with pain
You're gonna fill her up with darkness
You're gonna fill her up with night
You gotta fill her up with Jesus
You gotta fill her up with light
You gotta fill her up with spirit
You gotta fill her up with grace
You gotta fill her up with heaven
You got the rest of life to face
You gotta fill her up the right way
You gotta fill her up with care
You gotta fill her up with babies
You gotta fill her up and swear
You're gonna love that girl forever
You're gonna fill her up with life
You're gonna be a loving husband
She's gonna be your loving wife
You gotta fill her up with gladness
You gotta fill her up with joy
You gotta fill her up with love
You gotta fill her up with love
Reminds me of those "relationship" talks we had back in youth group, being encouraged to be responsible and godly, to view relationships as a dealing with another person for which we would be held accountable, to think past tomorrow to how we'd like our history to be should we come to getting married ... but I didn't expect to hear it from Sting.