"A New Law" by Derek Webb

[marc p]

7/28/06:

A New Law
by Derek Webb

don’t teach me about politics and government
just tell me who to vote for
don’t teach me about truth and beauty
just label my music

don’t teach me how to live like a free man
just give me a new law

i don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me

i want a new law
i want a new law
gimme that new law

don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
i prefer a shot of grape juice

don’t teach me about loving my enemies

don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
just give me a new law

what’s the use in trading a law you can never keep
for one you can that cannot get you anything
do not be afraid
do not be afraid
do not be afraid

[Josh]

8/14/06:

These lyrics echo a lot of the sentiments of a book I just finished, Watership Down (one of my new favorites). How easy it is to forgoe the hard work of thinking and evaluating and accept general but utilitarian 'laws'.

[Josh]

Okay, Chris, so I finally had time to listen to some Derek Webb. I have to say, just reading the lyrics to this song don't do it justice. I really like it musically. Great song.

[meghan]

Derek Webb has created a lot of controversy over his newest release.... I need to look more into it.

[christopher]

Glad you liked it. I also like the track following that one very much as well (can't remember the name). I'll post the lyrics when I get a chance.

Meghan, yeah Derek was sending out e-mails about this (I guess I'm on his list since I downloaded Mockingbird) and he's apparently have some sharp disagreements with his label, to the point of legal action it would appear. He's kind of hushed up about since the legal stuff started.

[christopher]

Okay, I found it..

Lyrics to A King & A Kingdom :
(vs. 1)
who's your brother, who's your sister
you just walked passed him
i think you missed her
as we're all migrating to the place where our father lives
'cause we married in to a family of immigrants
(chorus)
my first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man
my first allegiance is not to democracy or blood
it's to a king & a kingdom

(vs. 2)
there are two great lies that i’ve heard:
“the day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die”
and that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican
and if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him

(chorus)

(bridge)
and nothing unifies like a common enemy
and we’ve got one, sure as hell
he may be living in your house
he may be raising up your kids
he may be sleeping with your wife
oh no, he may not look like you think

This is another one that needs the music to truly appreciate it. But I like the message of allegiance to Jesus only and especially the last part (which is kind of shocking when you first hear it) of recognizing the true enemy within.

[meghan]

I'm down with what Derek talks about.. but I feel I'm really past all this "jesus is not white and republican" stuff. That's so two years ago

[Josh]

True enough. As I'm seeing lately I'm a bit late on pop culture from Derek Webb to Donnie Darko.

It's a sign that I'm getting up there in age.