wilcox

One of the things Devon and I share in common is our interest and common taste in music. Our all-time favorite musician is David Wilcox. David is a folk artist with a beautiful voice and exceptional talent on the guitar (the best guitarist I've come across). Even more so, in my opinion, he has a prophetic voice in song-writing and story-telling. He writes from a faith perspective and tells stories of life, tragedy, hope, relationships, peace, and faith. He seems to capture our souls with words he chooses and the melodies that accompany his message.

We have been fortunate enough through friends (Jon Eshleman and Bart Tarman) to spend time with him. We shared Easter with him at the Eshlemans' house a couple of years ago and during our time there, he and his wife, Nancy shared some songs just for us after dinner. They had been spending two years traveling together with their son around the U.S. in an Airstream trailer, visiting friends and playing shows. Their Airstream became their home after they sold their house and virtually all their possessions. David tells the story of how someone would notice the far away origin of their license plate and mention, "You're a long way from home." David would say, "Actually, our home is with us where ever we go. It's right here! When we stay in the mountains for a few days, we take delight in waking up to see the thousands of acres which we consider our back yard."

Last summer David was a guest at Forest Home College Briefing and I (with a few friends) connected with him there and spent some time together. He gave our church group a private concert! We sat in a circle and he asked us to share whatever we were feeling at the moment, including struggles, hopes, dreams, and then he would play a song for that person that fit their situation. I offered to share some of my feelings at the time and David said, "I'm not sure I have a song that fits, so let's try this..." and he proceeded to make up a song on the spot just for me. I have my own David Wilcox song!!

Well, his new album was released this week, called "Airstream" which he wrote on the road and tells many wonderful stories of their time together as a family and other thoughts that came up on the journey. One of my favorite songs is called "Three Brothers." If only our friends in Israel could see their situation this way...

The lyrics are below and you can listen to it here.

All three brothers love their father, and he’s brought them here today
To see these papers and these lawyers and divide the old estate
All three feel that they’re the favorite he loves each of them the best
And these documents he gave them will now put them to the test

So they open all the writings that will prove the rightful heir
To this home that they remember, and the right to settle there
Their own sister is a prisoner, they don’t see her face to face
They’ve not heard her song of beauty, or felt the movement of her grace

She lives behind those bars of steel and waits for her release
Will she die or will we see Jerusalem in peace

Each one looks at what he’s given, and he studies what he’s shown
They hold their maps that show possession to this place they’ve called their home
At first they sigh with satisfaction when they see what’s on their maps
Each one’s given all he wanted, but the boundaries overlap

So do you wish us to be brothers? Father, help us understand
Or do we each kill off the others to claim this same piece of land?
Do you mean there to be hatred in this place you built to last
And will Faith just die a prisoner in the dungeon of the past

She lives behind those bars of steel and waits for her release
Will she die or will we see Jerusalem in peace

Jerusalem is sending her voice
From inside the prison of disbelief
Stand up you people of the one God
To bring about her release

Comments

[melissa klaeb]

that is my favorite wilcox song