I think I’m following. The song is asking how is the darkness within me contributing to the darkness I see and despise all around me. A common switchfoot theme: a call for peace and unity by looking within instead of pointing the finger. And when you start to do that, anger gives way to grief. For the suffering and darkness in you and around you. Dark dark dark.
Ya know, it's kinda surreal to get off the phone with my former engineering boss (20 years my senior!) after strongly encouraging him to cut out his ongoing affair and tell his wife everything, and then discover your lovely blog post nestled in my inbox...what whiplash! And that, just after I borrow your eloquence in submitting my song request of "Politicians" for Switchfoot's monthly livestream in April earlier today:
"Last night, I took my "little" Christopher (a term from the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program) to a Detroit Pistons game against the Toronto Raptors. For the singing of the Canadian anthem, I rose with the rest of the crowd in solemn observance of one of our compulsory cultural liturgies...and yet, when the singer began to espouse the U.S. anthem, the video boards became emblazoned with the stars and stripes, and the overhead lights streamed red, white, and blue...I found myself unable to continue standing, pondering some salient questions which Jon posed nearly a decade ago: 'ARE we the "land of the free and the home of the brave?' Who are we the people? What is the character of the nation underneath the flag? Do we empower and uphold the freedom and bravery of others, or does our flag wave over a different kind of land?' And, I discovered that I did not like the answers I found. In times when I feel like "everything is broken, breaking down," in times when "everything is bleeding, (humanity) is bleeding," and my tax dollars and presumed consent are funding a military-industrial-incarceration-entertainment complex which justifies the bombing and murder of innocent Iranian schoolgirls, I find that I need this song more than ever: 'I pledge allegiance to a country without borders, without politicians.'"
I confess that I haven't listened to the song, nor pondered its lyrics, as I forswear Switchfoot spoilers and singles on principle ere the release of each new album*, but to echo your sentiment when you signed my copy of "Everyday Apocalypse," "I hope you find this wonderful," I also fervently hope to be delighted by "Forever Now!" Thank you for the unexpected joy of your post on a heavy, bewildering day!
* As a 17yo approaching his senior year of high school and eagerly awaiting the release of "Vice Verses," I took the announced track listing and penned poems based on nothing more than the title and my personal speculation, a tradition which I've maintained ever since!
Thanks for the post. Very excited about the newest SF album, they have been the soundtrack to our family's life for about 25 years. We lived in SoCal for a bit and got to attend a couple of BroAms and see them routinely at the San Diego County Fair, the Belly Up and Petco Park. Heck we've chased them across the country and even overseas - some funny stories about seeing them in Germany (giving the Foreman parents a post-gig ride back to their hotel, or Jan Foreman asking my teenage daughter if she had ever seen an after-show with Jon...and then grabbing her hand and saying come with me...). We're living in strange times....Long Live Benjamin Crow.
Weirdly yesterday I was wondering when you'd post another review of a song or an album as I've missed them. Maybe it was this wonderful new Switchfoot song that made me wonder that but who knows? Thanks for this post. You pulled out the one bit of the song I hadn't thought about yet.
Switchfoot has always resonated with me emotionally, musically, spiritually. This is a great first song from what is sure to be one of my favorite ‘26 projects. The way “Native Tongue” was for that disc. This one may be a bit more introspective …?
I absolutely loved this track when it came out, and love the oh-so-switchfoot video that accompanied it. I've seen them live twice, and they're church. My thirteen year old son calls U2 "chopped (i.e. low quality, ugly) switchfoot" whenever I put them on (not endorsing, just think its funny). Anyway, this song speaks to our moment perfectly in their Switchfoot way, and it was so heartening to hear it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it, with which I very much agree.
I think I’m following. The song is asking how is the darkness within me contributing to the darkness I see and despise all around me. A common switchfoot theme: a call for peace and unity by looking within instead of pointing the finger. And when you start to do that, anger gives way to grief. For the suffering and darkness in you and around you. Dark dark dark.
Ya know, it's kinda surreal to get off the phone with my former engineering boss (20 years my senior!) after strongly encouraging him to cut out his ongoing affair and tell his wife everything, and then discover your lovely blog post nestled in my inbox...what whiplash! And that, just after I borrow your eloquence in submitting my song request of "Politicians" for Switchfoot's monthly livestream in April earlier today:
"Last night, I took my "little" Christopher (a term from the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program) to a Detroit Pistons game against the Toronto Raptors. For the singing of the Canadian anthem, I rose with the rest of the crowd in solemn observance of one of our compulsory cultural liturgies...and yet, when the singer began to espouse the U.S. anthem, the video boards became emblazoned with the stars and stripes, and the overhead lights streamed red, white, and blue...I found myself unable to continue standing, pondering some salient questions which Jon posed nearly a decade ago: 'ARE we the "land of the free and the home of the brave?' Who are we the people? What is the character of the nation underneath the flag? Do we empower and uphold the freedom and bravery of others, or does our flag wave over a different kind of land?' And, I discovered that I did not like the answers I found. In times when I feel like "everything is broken, breaking down," in times when "everything is bleeding, (humanity) is bleeding," and my tax dollars and presumed consent are funding a military-industrial-incarceration-entertainment complex which justifies the bombing and murder of innocent Iranian schoolgirls, I find that I need this song more than ever: 'I pledge allegiance to a country without borders, without politicians.'"
I confess that I haven't listened to the song, nor pondered its lyrics, as I forswear Switchfoot spoilers and singles on principle ere the release of each new album*, but to echo your sentiment when you signed my copy of "Everyday Apocalypse," "I hope you find this wonderful," I also fervently hope to be delighted by "Forever Now!" Thank you for the unexpected joy of your post on a heavy, bewildering day!
* As a 17yo approaching his senior year of high school and eagerly awaiting the release of "Vice Verses," I took the announced track listing and penned poems based on nothing more than the title and my personal speculation, a tradition which I've maintained ever since!
Thanks for the post. Very excited about the newest SF album, they have been the soundtrack to our family's life for about 25 years. We lived in SoCal for a bit and got to attend a couple of BroAms and see them routinely at the San Diego County Fair, the Belly Up and Petco Park. Heck we've chased them across the country and even overseas - some funny stories about seeing them in Germany (giving the Foreman parents a post-gig ride back to their hotel, or Jan Foreman asking my teenage daughter if she had ever seen an after-show with Jon...and then grabbing her hand and saying come with me...). We're living in strange times....Long Live Benjamin Crow.
Weirdly yesterday I was wondering when you'd post another review of a song or an album as I've missed them. Maybe it was this wonderful new Switchfoot song that made me wonder that but who knows? Thanks for this post. You pulled out the one bit of the song I hadn't thought about yet.
“Long Live Benjamin Crow”? (Across the bottom of the paper.)
Switchfoot has always resonated with me emotionally, musically, spiritually. This is a great first song from what is sure to be one of my favorite ‘26 projects. The way “Native Tongue” was for that disc. This one may be a bit more introspective …?
"How do you feel?" i,m fine... Love it.
I absolutely loved this track when it came out, and love the oh-so-switchfoot video that accompanied it. I've seen them live twice, and they're church. My thirteen year old son calls U2 "chopped (i.e. low quality, ugly) switchfoot" whenever I put them on (not endorsing, just think its funny). Anyway, this song speaks to our moment perfectly in their Switchfoot way, and it was so heartening to hear it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it, with which I very much agree.
I can't wait to get my hands on this record.