The Gospel Truth 2007
Susan Werner takes on the church in contemporary American life in this gospel/bluegrass – tinged collection of 11 new originals. Quite possibly the first “agnostic gospel” album, this CD surveys the wide variety of viewpoints regarding the church today, ranging from earnest and uplifting handclap choir rousers such as “help somebody” to the introspective and critical “forgiveness” and “sunday mornings,” pausing along the way for comic relief in the frank and humorous “our father” and what is sure to become the anthem of agnostics everywhere, “probably not.” A project sure to confirm Werner’s reputation as “one of the most innovative songwriters working today” (Chicago Tribune).
-
1
(Why Is Your) Heaven So Small
3:29
Lyrics
(Why Is Your) Heaven So Small - Lyrics
excuse me sir, what did you say?
when you shout so loud, it's hard to tell
you say that i must change my ways
for i am surely bound to hell
well i know you'd damn me if you could
but my friend, that's simply not your call
if god is great and god is good
why is your heaven so small
you say you know you say you've read
that holy bible up on your shelf
do you recall when jesus said
judge not, lest ye be judged yourself
for i know you'd damn me if you could
but my friend, that's simply not your call
if god is great, and god is good
why is your heaven so small
with your fists that shake, and your eyes that burn
what makes you do these things you do?
i would not be surprised to learn
someone somewhere excluded you
but my friend, imagine it if you would
a love much mightier than us all
o if god is great and god is good
why is your heaven
so small -
2
Help Somebody
2:51
Lyrics
Help Somebody - Lyrics
i got plenty and then some
what do i do?
go out and help somebody
get plenty and then some, too
i got a roof over my head
what do i do?
go out and help somebody
get a roof over their head, too
i got supper on the table
what do i do?
go out and help somebody
get supper on the table, too
'cause i got it to give
i got it to give
and when you got enough to give away
well it's the only way to live
i'm going to heaven
what do i do?
go out and help somebody
get to heaven, too -
3
Forgiveness
3:12
Lyrics
Forgiveness - Lyrics
How do you love those
Who never will love you
Who are happy to shove you
Out in front of the train
How do you not hate those
Who would leave you lie bleeding
While they hold their prayer meeting
How do you love those
Who never will love you
Who are so frightened of you
They are calling for war
How do you not hate those
Who have loaded their bibles
And armed their disciples
'cause I donÕt know anymore
And I canÕt find forgiveness
For them anywhere in this
And with God as my witness
I really have tried
How do you love those
Who never will love you
I think only God knows
and He is not taking sides
I hope one day He shows us
How we can love those
Who never will love us
but who still we must love -
4
Did Trouble Me
3:35
Lyrics
Did Trouble Me - Lyrics
When I closed my eyes so I would not see
My Lord did trouble me
When I let things stand that should not be
My Lord did trouble me
When I held my head too high too proud
My Lord did trouble me
When I raised my voice too little too loud
My Lord did trouble me
Did trouble me
With a word or a sign
With the ringing of the bell in the back of my mind
Did trouble me
Did stir my soul
For to make me human, to make me whole
When I slept too long, slept too deep
My Lord did trouble me
Put a worrisome vision into my sleep
My Lord did trouble me
When I held myself away and apart
My Lord did trouble me
And the tears of my brother didn't move my heart
My Lord did trouble me
...
And of this I'm sure, of this I know
My Lord will trouble me
Whatever I do and wherever I go
My Lord will trouble me
In the whisper of the wind, in the rhythm of a song
My Lord will trouble me
To keep me on the path where I belong
My Lord will trouble me
Will trouble me... -
5
Sunday Morning
4:05
Lyrics
Sunday Morning - Lyrics
sunday morning
there is someplace that 'm supposed to be
keeps returning
the feeling keeps coming over me
just like music
or like sunlight on a distant memory
sunday morning
sunday morning
my mother choosing what to wear
my father combs his jet black hair
we are their little prizes
in our mary janes and clip on ties
we hurry down the aisle
the neighbors smile because we're
late again
on sunday morning
there is someplace ...
daddy prays because the money's tight
mama prays she'll raise her children right
and my brother prays he'll change
so he won't feel so very strangely out of tune
and i went back the other day
closed my eyes and tried to pray
but a voice spoke loud and clear
"you ask too many questions, dear"
and i said, "you ask too few"
that's why i still don't know quite what to do
on sunday mornings ... -
6
Our Father (The New, Revised Edition)
3:30
Lyrics
Our Father (The New, Revised Edition) - Lyrics
Thy kingdom come to every nation
Thy will be done in everything we do
Lord, lead us not into temptation
And deliver us
from those who think they're You
Lord send us forth to be of service
To build the schools and dig the wells
And deliver us from the creepy preachers
With their narrow minds and very wide lapels
Lord give us strength to bring compassion
to every corner of the world
And please allow for women in the Catholic priesthood
And remind the pope that he coulda been a girl
Lord deliver us from politicians
Who drop Your name in every speech
As if they're Your best friend from high school
As if they practice what they preach -
7
Lost My Religion
3:07
Lyrics
Lost My Religion - Lyrics
Lost my religion
At the age of ten
seen too much with my own eyes
already by then
Lost my religion
Got a little off track
Lost my religion
Never really got it back
Lost my religion
In the holy church
Preacher told me "girls like you
Are more trouble than they're worth"
Lost my religion
I guess it had to be
Lost my religion
Or my religion lost me
Things we cling to
Things we hold true
smoke clouds, white lies
just to get by
Lost my religion
Again yesterday
When my baby said goodbye
And turned and walked away
Lost my religion
But I don't need it anymore
I found a new religion
Down at the corner store -
8
Don't Explain It Away
4:04
Lyrics
Don't Explain It Away - Lyrics
If you find yourself looking at someone
at their shining hair so silky soft and black
If you find yourself smiling at someone
And then suddenly you find they're smiling back
Well that's how love comes calling
It may call you today
Don't stop yourself from falling
Don't explain it away
If you find yourself in the dead of night
In the moonless light
In the middle of the woods
And you've turned around, you turned left and right
And you're lost for now
But you might be lost for good
And you need someone to guide you
When you have gone astray
Well, that still small voice inside you
Don't explain it away
Don't explain it away
When the moment mystifies you
Don't explain it away
And the feeling will surprise you
Don't explain it away
If you find yourself at the water's edge
And you're listening as the waves break on the shore
While a sea of stars rolls above your head
And you realize you're part of so much more
And you're struck dumb with wonder
Can't find the words to say
Don't break the spell you're under
Don't -
9
I Will Have My Portion
3:02
Lyrics
I Will Have My Portion - Lyrics
And some would say
That time has passed me by
And some would say
That the wells have all run dry
Some would say
That's how its meant to be
So some would say
But I beg to disagree
Cause I know good fortune waits for me somewhere
I will have my portion I will have my share
I'll keep my feet in motion til they carry me there
I will have my portion I will have my share
Cause I do believe
There's a harvest in the field
I do believe
There's truth to be revealed
I do believe
There's treasure to be found
And I do believe
There's enough to go around
I know good fortune waits for me somewhere
I will have my portion I will have my share
I'll keep my feet in motion til they carry me there
I will have my portion I will have my share
Cause somewhere there's a blessing and it bears my name
and soon or late, it's coming to me just the same
Can't wait to see
What's set aside for me
With every new sunrise
I'm gonna keep my eyes wide open -
10
Probably Not
2:55
Lyrics
Probably Not - Lyrics
Well I've travelled far and wide
'Cross hills and countryside
To answer the questions troubling me
And one day out of the blue
I realized I knew
And the answer was simple as could be
Is there a god above?
Is there eternal love?
Probably not
Probably not
Is there a home up in the sky?
Will we be there by and by?
Probably not
Probably not
Think of that Easter day
When they rolled the stone away
And the apostles said they'd seen Jesus by the city wall
Well Saint Thomas' heart was pure
When he said, "o right yeah sure"
That's why Saint Tom was the grooviest apostle of all
Is there a god above?
Is there eternal love?
Probably not
Probably not
Is there a home up in the sky?
Will we be there by and by?
Probably not
Probably not
But what if I've been wrong
And God's been up there all along
And He hands me a heavenly crown
Would I dare to turn Him down
Probably not
Probably not
And if He sends me down to hell
Would I smile and say oh well
Probably not
no Probably Not -
11
Together
3:20
Lyrics
Together - Lyrics
there must be a time
there must be a place
when everyone will finally come together
if there is a God
with a human face
i'm sure He'd want us all to come together
and get beyond these bolted doors
get beyond these awful bloody wars
get beyond this way of settling scores
'cause the score is never even
and if i had the words
then i'd make the case
that everyone has got to come together
if i had the hounds
i'd call off the chase
and everyone could finally come together
and we'd get beyond who's right and wrong
get beyond the need to look so strong
and just get on with simply getting along
'cause that's a thing we can all believe in
'cause that's enough of the bitter tears
that's enough of talking to our mirrors
that's enough of separate hemispheres
that's enough that's enough
we really gotta come together -
12
After All Of This
2:37
Lyrics
After All Of This - Lyrics
i would like to think
there's something
after all of this
when life's final kiss
has faded
i will have waited to see
if there might be more
still another door to open
i'm hoping
and i can say that faith
is one thing
i could never risk
too much of a leap
too steep a fall
but after all of this
i just can't resist
wondering what's to come
and there may be nothing
but there must be something
no one really knows
but i would like to think
