Over the Rhine has been a sleeper favorite band for me for a long time. I had known about them peripherally for a while, but I first connected with their music when I was in charge of ordering books and music for a church bookstore and coffeeshop. In search of more than spit-shined Nashville CCM (no offense) I ordered in their two albums, Ohio and Drunkard's Prayer. We played those two albums often until a ladies' book club was enjoying a moment of silence one day and noticed an F-bomb in one of the songs, after which we were commanded not to play them in the store. But I still had plenty of time for the rich, honest lyrics to sink into my mind.
Three years ago, I went to the Calvin Festival of Faith and Music with my sister and our good friends Naomi and Justin. Over the Rhine (Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist) were the headliners for the Saturday night wrap up concert, but they also taught a small breakout session on songwriting. It was scheduled at 8:00 am on Friday morning, and we got there early to get good seats for the sold-out class, clutching cups of coffee. Linford and Karin arrived about 5 minutes before class, wrapped in sweatshirts and scarves, clutching cups of coffee and grinning a little ruefully about early mornings.
Casually, they simply answered questions and extemporized about songwriting, Linford often from behind the piano playing bits and pieces of songs to illustrate points.
To the question, "What are some elements that make up a great song for you?" Linford answered "The first eight to ten words are a critical element. They should draw you in, like a great opening line in a story or poem."
On Saturday night, I went with friends to the Triple Door in Seattle for a dinner-concert. Over the Rhine has played here at the end of November for the past few years, and it's the perfect time of year to listen to them. Introducing this song, Linford said that it had been in the works for about 5 years. "I'm glad it's finally arrived in time for this album," he said, "because I think it's something I have to remember every day."
Believe me
My heart should know
Some prayers are better left unspoken
I just wanna hold you
And let the rest go
All my friends are part saint and part sinner
We lean on each other
Try to rise above
We’re not afraid to admit we’re all still beginners
We’re all late bloomers
When it comes to love
All my favorite people are broken
Believe me
My heart should know
Orphaned believers, skeptical dreamers
Step forward
You can stay right here
You don’t have to go
Is each wound you’ve received
Just a burdensome gift?
It gets so hard to lift
Yourself up off the ground
But the poet says,
We must praise the mutilated world
We’re all workin’ the graveyard shift
You might as well sing along
All my favorite people are broken
Believe me
My heart should know
(As for) your tender heart—
This world’s gonna rip it wide open
It ain’t gonna be pretty
But you’re not alone
‘Cause all my favorite people are broken
Believe me
My heart should know
Orphaned believers, skeptical dreamers
You’re welcome
Yeah, you’re safe right here
You don’t have to go
‘Cause all my favorite people are broken
Believe me I should know
Some prayers are better left unspoken
I just wanna hold you
And let the rest go
*the video is not an official music video, but was put
together for a church service in Knoxville, TN.
What a great song for the church to hear.
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