Violence In My Art

from Songs From Exchange by Phil Wright

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about

An important role of artists in any culture is to show us more--to enter the manic or the ‘above’ state that sees beyond the status quo, that sees beneath the platforms we stand on, that is willing to catch glimmers of truth behind the smoke and mirrors, and hints of beauty in what is often threatening and ugly. The artist--like the prophet of old--sometimes strategically crack my facade so that a new learning can tumble out... or in. It was artists (and their close cousins, the theologians) who first illuminated the stifling boundaries surrounding my own faith... whose light was the light of a flame, burning that which would burn, refining that which would be refined, the very burning of which illuminated the perversion of a Christianity--a cross... a common cup--that would be so tamed as to be a soothing, respectable presence where it ought rather to defy oppressors, defend the oppressed, and shake everything that will be shaken so that that which is unshakable might be seen again.

lyrics

This violence in my art is like a
Well aimed fiery dart
It's burning
Bringing down the walls around my words
They just keep spilling out like
A dam burst in a drought
Some kind of learning
And I wonder, If I blow this horn
Will the people shout?
And I wonder, if I blow this horn
Will the people shout?

'Cause there's a symbol with a ragged edge
It's like a photograph on a stranger's fridge...
It's vaguely familiar
It's that woman with the blindfold eyes
Balancing the people's lies
Ah, she's vaguely familiar
But there's a whispering behind the fence
A heightened sense of coincidence
A common theme and a common sense
Has the common cup become a calming influence?
Ah, it's just so familiar!
And I wonder, if I blow this horn
Will the people shout?
And I wonder, if I blow the whistle
Will the walls fall down?

'Cause these are strange days
Strange days
A kind of turning,
Some kind of fall...

credits

from Songs From Exchange, released January 10, 2009

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Phil Wright Edmonton, Alberta

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