A-DEG-BA-LO-LASay it!

Writings, Essays, Lyrics, Musings, Commentary . . .

Article #27: Lying Preacher Blues

Recently, I sent in 9 songs for copyrighting. I am rather proud of them and am hopeful that some will actually make it to the stage and/or a recording. I thought I'd share a couple here -- as I have done occasionally in the past.

Musically, I know you can't hear the tune or the chords which would give the songs more meaning. I can tell you, however, that 8 of the 9 songs were written on slide guitar (I think I've finally found my instrument at the ripe old age of 61) -- 4 in open D tuning and 4 in open G. The two I share below are both in open D.

Lyrically, the two songs I have chosen to share below, grew out of some encounters with the religious "right." The Bible is a beautiful book, but one that has also been used and manipulated down through the ages to oppress people and make them feel inferior. I am greatly bothered by how these zealots can pick and choose passages to suit their own needs:

How can one say "thou shall not kill" and have it apply to stem cell research and abortions and on the other hand support war??? How can they use Leviticus to call homosexuality a sin when other parts of Leviticus say that slavery is permitted (Lev 25:44-45) and that adulterers must be put to death (Lev 20:10)? How can they be so sure that heaven is their reward when clearly in Matthew it states that one must give up his/her material possessions in order to receive eternity?

I could go on with many other examples -- I haven't even sited portions taken out of historical context or various linguistic interpretations.

As the old gospel songs says, "Everybody talking bout heaven ain't going there. . ." And, of course, I had to add my own song to this testimony: "The Lying Preacher Blues."

The second song relates to how I have to cast off the cloak of inferiority that I have allowed these same people to put on me. Forty-five years ago, people used the Bible to justify all the inferiority they put on Black people (and, before then, to justify slavery). There came a time, however, when we had to stand up and say, "I am equal. I am a child of God. I will not let you hold me down."

Today, I must stand up again and refute the hate mongers -- those who would call me a sinner. I must start by feeling confident in my own worth. I must not be ashamed of who I am. I am a good person. I know love. And I will call my love by name, out loud -- in pride and in honesty. I am "Callin' for Suzanne." And, I am thanking God.

Hopefully you, dear reader, will actually hear my songs one day.

In peace,
Gaye

LYING PREACHER BLUES Adegbalola 2/2005, Rev 5/2005

Any preacher with more than two suits is living a lie
Any preacher with more than two suits is living a lie
I don't stand in judgment
But when you talk about an eye for an eye
Any preacher with more than two suits is living a lie

Any preacher supporting a war is living a lie
Any preacher supporting a war is living a lie
I don't stand in judgment
But when you talk about an eye for an eye
Any preacher supporting a war is living a lie

Bridge:

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
What would Jesus do?
What would Jesus wear?
Who would Jesus shoot?

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Now I call on you
I heard that Jesus
Loves me too

Any preacher who's driving a Jaguar is living a lie
Any preacher who's driving a Hum V is living a lie
I don't stand in judgment
But when you talk about an eye for an eye
Any preacher driving a Jaguar is living a lie

Any preacher molesting a child is living a lie
Any priest molesting a child is living a lie
I don't stand in judgment
But when you talk about an eye for an eye
Any preacher molesting a child is living a lie

Bridge:
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
What would Jesus do?
What would Jesus drive?
Who would Jesus screw?

I say Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Now I call on you
I heard that Jesus love me too

Tag with "amen" ending: I heard that Jesus love me too


CALLIN' FOR SUZANNE Adegbalola 5/2005

Hey, sweet Mama
Don't you hear me callin you (2x)
I be callin, callin, callin, callin
Callin for my sweet Suzanne (2x)

Call you from the valley
Call you from a mountain top
Yea, I call your name out loud
So you'll never, never, never ever stop
Call you in the morning
Call you late at night
Call your name out loud
Cuz you roll, you roll, you roll my biscuits right

CHORUS:
Suzanne, my sweet Suzanne
Suzanne, my sweet Suzanne
Suzanne, my sweet Suzanne
You know you love me like
Nobody else can

Hey, sweet Mama . . .

Call you from the forest
Call you up on Blueberry Hill
Yes I call your name out loud
Cuz you gimme, gimme, gimme a thrill
Call you from the country
Call you from the bright light city
Call your name so sweet
Cuz it sounds, it sounds, it sounds so pretty

CHORUS -- sung sweetly

Hey, sweet Mama . . .

Call you from the desert
Call you from the riverside
Call your name out loud
Cuz you gimme, gimme, gimme so much pride
Call you my lil' RJ
And call you by your given name
Call your name out loud
Cuz I'll never, never, never have no shame

Tag -- Yes I'm callin, callin, callin, callin, callin for my sweet Suzanne