Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Neil Young...theologian?


Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga. The Grammys belonged to young woman on Sunday night, or so it seemed. A couple of grizzled Canadian senior citizens did okay as well. Leonard Cohen copped a lifetime achievement award, while Neil Young was given a humanitarian honour. It's good to hear about the various causes he supports. I'm old enough to have watched Young move from folkie, to rocker, to philosopher and even theologian. In every phase he has sung with a look on his face as though someone just dropped a guitar on his foot. Have you heard his song, When God Made Me?

Was he thinking about my country,or the colour of my skin?
Was he thinking about my religion,and the way I worshipped him?
Did he create just me in his image,or every living thing?
When God made me.
When God made me.

Was he planning only for believers,or for those who just had faith?
Did he envision all wars that were fought in his name?
Did he say there was only one way to be close to him?
When God made me.
When God made me.

Did he give me the gift of love to say who I could choose?
When God made me.
When God made me.
When God made me.

Did he give me the gift of voice so some could silence me?
Did he give me the gift of vision not knowing what I might see?
Did he give me the gift of compassionto help my fellow man?

When God made me.
When God made me.
When God made me.

What do you think of Neil's theology? You don't have to be a Single Lady to answer this question.

3 comments:

IanD said...

Am decidedly NOT a Single Lady. (So awesome that you're down with Beyonce catalog, by the way!)

I had no idea that Neil Young was so spiritual, or even Christian. Yet another interesting post from the Light on the Corner.

PS - Leonard Cohen sucks!

Laura said...

The second verse really struck me. I have never felt that God was there for only those who express their faith. At times though it seems that critics of organized religion paint all church folk with this "exclusive" assumption. Never thought of Neil Young as a theologian before. I think I had his "Harvest" tape...(that dates me) I have grown to appreciate Leonard Cohen, but Taylor Swift rules with my tween, teen and tween wannnabe.

David Mundy said...

Beyonce is hard to ignore Ian.

I figure Leonard Cohen sings like a rusty gate, but he is quite a presence in concert. His song Hallelujah is downright biblical and has been sung by many artists. Best version? K D Lang.