Aboutttttttttttttttttt Turn!

My blog needs a change of direction. And like many things in life, I like to view them as a spectrum – then I can find my niche on said spectrum and sit comfortably alongside those with opposing, complementary and even mental views.

Hobbs blog is one end of blog spectrum – random ramblings of an existence embattling madman. Whilst at the other end of thing I suppose you could put my blog, which seems to be more of a spiritual journal and general textual ejection of interests. However, DJ is fast overtaking me with his blogs transformation into lively debating hall, and amusing musings of muses from his youth.

Lets just for arguments sake say Hobbs is at the more general, liberal end of blogdom – the left wing. And DJ is at the more functional and intellectual end of things. Yes, I know its a bad, flawed scale. But I only did it so I can say in print, without fear of libel, that DJ is right wing.

So I want to move to the more centre ground. As I get older, I seem to compromise a lot more in some things. My socialist principles definitely, some ethical views I hold, even some theological views. Although don't get me wrong – I'm still putting the “fun” into fundamental. As opposed to the “mental”. (For those of you who care, I am a Reformed Charismatic, making me a continuationist Calvinist, missional in motive and holding a very high ecclesiology. I love Wikipedia.)

But I digress. So, in my new found thang to make this blog the shizzle, I am going to not always do God blogs. Cat will be elated. But they will still feature heavily, O Elected Believers! I will though, begin reintroducing one of my favourite hobbies I used to do ten years ago in college. No, not collecting rejection letters. Yes, I really did that. I have quite a collection. I have been rejected in personal print for the positions of England Football Manager, Tory Party leader and Archbishop of Canterbury to name but a few. Ask me about them some time.

My mini interest, sad as it is, was interpreting song lyrics. I spent hours at college pouring over Lennon's writings. Now, Nossie's most recent post inspired me. Only because I couldn't quite tell if it was serious or satirical. If it was satirical, it was a work of genius. However, if it was serious....

So, to start us off gently, I will respond to Nossie's post. Because if she was being satirical (which I suspect she was) then I must honour the writer and its good skills sharpening practice for me. It also fuels my analytical brain. So, I bring to you my flawed, subjective, unauthoritative interpretation of “Make Our Garden Grow:”

You've been a fool / And so have I,
But come I'll be your wife.
And let us try / Before we die
To make some sense of life.

The first verse opens with an acknowledgement of regret – mistakes have been made by both parties. There is no point in ongoing finger blaming, and the writer wants to underline the fact both sides (them, and the other) must lay down arms. The verse goes on to reveal what the author wants: companionship, love and to journey together. We presume the author is female, as the second line states “be my wife.” The author is appealing to her partner to say 'lets put our past mistakes behind us. I want to be with you. I can only do this thing with you.' The first verse is a powerful statement about the place of companionship in life, without which life seems to have no sense. Whether this is true or not is debatable, but there is no question that the author seems to feel life is empty without her lover

CHORUS:
We're neither pure, nor wise, nor good
We'll do the best we know.
We'll build our house and chop our wood
And make our garden grow...
And make our garden grow.

The chorus, which refrains through the song and therefore not only anchors it, but communicates the main text of the song, echo's the first part of the first verse. The author recognises her and her partners frailty and limitations, and doesn't romanticise or dress up the walk ahead: its going to be a learning curve, one step at a time. She uses the illustration of building a house to communicate the hard work and effort together. But the use of the word 'our' again reveals her heart for journeying together. The use of the house and garden pictures reveals a homely desire for abiding, resting and enjoying each other. Like a garden, their love will take time to plant and tend, to grow and flourish, but it will show much variety and beauty over time. The author is making a very real, very earthed statement about love. In this Hollywoodised, romanticised age, this is refreshing and much needed.

I thought the world / was sugar cake
For so our master said.
But now I'll teach / my hands to bake
Our loaf of daily bread

The choral theme of working and walking together comes more to the fore in the second verse. The author makes herself vulnerable – as all relationships require – as she reveals her previously wrong world-view. “Sugarcake” shows that perhaps she had this innocent, sweet, naïve view of life and the world. Disappointment and let-down can shatter such erroneous thinking, and these disappointments could perhaps be what have been referred to in earlier couplets. The identity of the 'master' is vague and obscure, so any attempt to identify who he is would be pure conjecture and speculation. Whoever he or she is, their words have been empty and false: the second and third lines carry a sense of spitting cynicism towards previously embraced teachings. The author is now focused on learning new ways of providing for her and her partner – this commitment to shared responsibility and unity again a powerful statement of love, a more mature view that has replaced the previously immature understanding.

Let dreamers dream / what worlds they please
Those Edens can't be found.
The sweetest flower / The fairest trees
Are grown in solid ground.

After a repeat of the chorus, the first two lines of the third verse share a message to the authors partner: “let those who used to think the way I did get on with it; it won't work.” The search for Paradise is a empty search, in that fallible people always spoil and taint infallible circumstances. The repeated message of work, commitment and investment reaping the rewards of love and beauty come forth in the final two lines. Solid ground is perhaps a metaphor for the relationship of the author and her partner, indicating her desire for more commitment and stability to make their love work as a long term reality, instead of a short term fancy.

In short, this song is a message about love: the transience of many peoples experiences of love that are dream filled and vacuous, and the need for real love to be earthed, worked at and invested in. But the real rewards of love are reaped in such an environment.

Its fascinating how people could read the same piece of writing, in any form, and interpret it very differently. Yes, there is a discussion to be had there DJ, but not for right now.....

Let me set a little challenge – but don't worry, its a very easy one! My song of the moment is Lionel Richie's “Easy”. I challenge all your blogger type people to do a little song interpretation of its lyrics and post on your blogs – and yes, this song sums up the phase of life I find myself currently in. That's the only clue you are getting, but I look forward to seeing how your fiendish little minds work!

And if you all ask nicely, next blog I'll tell you the crazy goings on currently happening with regards to leadings and leanings in what could be my next step...