The Least Of These

This song was recorded on my first ever album project which is now (thankfully) unavailable, "Walk By Faith". Our band, Damascus Road, was pretty popular in our town, and people were clamoring for a tape, so one of our guys booked a studio for us. I think we had been apart all summer, and had about a week to practice these songs... After a total of 9 hours in the studio, we had recorded our 10 song first album! By the time it came out we were sick of it...

The Least Of These

Another heartbeat, another voice
Another hand reaching out for help
Do we have a choice
A man is hungry, a man is ill
In a world so self-preserving
If we don’t help no-one will

CHORUS
We are to be the light of the world
Shining out to the lost and the lonely who are near
But will a man listen to the good news
When he has no bread to eat
Or he has no shoes upon his feet
I tell you he is the least of these
The least of these

Another drunkard, another bum
Another derelict on the street
Will you be the one
He needs the gospel, he needs a meal
Don’t give one without the other
He doesn’t need a halfway deal

CHORUS

You did it unto the least of these
You did it unto Me
You did it not to the least of these
You did it not to me
You did it unto the least of these
You did it unto Me
You did it not to the least of these
You did it not to me

©Apr.14/1986 Jamie Soles

Leave 'Em Behind

Leave ‘Em Behind

I have seen the dying embers of desire in silence lay
Half buried in the ashes of defeat
I have known the waves of apathy to break upon my shore
And swirl the dust of death around my feet
I have listened to the whisper of deception in my ear
And felt the subtle poison in my mind
But I have seen the wind of heaven blow away the clouds
And it’s time to leave those other things behind
Leave ‘em behind

I have noticed the condition in the shadows of my heart
To choose to do what’s wrong instead of right
I have harbored my ambition in the shelter of my soul
And made myself an idol in Your sight
I have shared the yolk of bondage with the proud and evil men
And joined them in the scorn of those who find
But I’ve been drawn with power by the Man upon the cross
And it’s time to leave those other things behind
Leave ‘em behind

There is no room for excuses there is no room left for pride
There are no unbridled passions left untamed
When you’re chosen by the Father there is nowhere you can hide
From the gates of hell your life will be reclaimed
To the ones who will not listen, to the ones who will not hear
To the ones who close their eyes and ears and minds
In this life and ever after let the consequence be known
That Jesus Christ is leaving you behind
He’s gonna leave you behind

©Nov.26/1989 Jamie Soles

This song was an expression of my early readings in reformed theology. I can track when I first started thinking along these lines by looking at my songs... They generally started moving from a "the-end-is-coming-soon!" approach to a much longer view of history, in September of 1989, three months after Val and I were married. What a ride I have taken her on! Wheee!!!!

Old Songs

I periodically look back thru my catalogue of songs from the old days. Some of them need to stay in the catalogue... but others could stand an airing.

I think I will start posting the lyrics to some old songs that have either never seen the light of day, or the day they saw was a lot of years ago.

Benny

Remember that story at the end of the life of David, where he gives Solomon instructions about dealing with a few tough nuts in Israel? "Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.", he says of Joab. Solomon hears and heeds, and the first couple chapters of 1 Kings tell the tale of the deaths of Adonijah, Joab, and Shimei. In each case, Solomon sends Benaiah to do the deed. It sort of looks like the tale of a don with his hit man, so I have taken the liberty to shorten Benaiah's name to something more manageable. Bible stories meets The Godfather...

Benny (1 Kgs.1:52-2:46)

If you show yourself a worthy man
Not a hair of your head shall fall
But if wickedness is found in you
You know who I’m gonna call
I’ll call Benny, Benny, Benny
I’ve got a job for you

If you play your game of subterfuge
If you seek to undermine
If your hat size grows too big for you
You fight against your life
Hey Benny, Benny, Benny
I’ve got a job for you

If you hold onto the altar horns
To escape from what you’ve done
In the day of peace you shed the blood of war
Your blood thirst days are done
Benny, Benny, Benny
I’ve got a job for you

If you break the oath you swear to God
If you love to disobey
If you think your words will be forgot
We’ll remind you yet today
Benny, Benny, Benny
I’ve got a job for you


@Mar.31/2006 Jamie Soles