Room Noise: Did anyone get it? Guess not.

I've been listening to this song (see bottom of post) by a band that was popular when I was still pre solid-food, physically speaking. They sure knew how to write back then!

Ironically, I had this track as part of a playlist containing Contemporary Christian Music, including some of the new commerical worship music that's out there - and sure, I like a lot of it myself. Somehow though this song became more poignant in that context.

For example, a band who's music I love sang the following:

Take control of the atmosphere
Take me far away from here
There is no better loss than to lose myself in you
In a parachute to glide, I am captive in your sky
Surrender has somehow become so beautiful

I can contrive some meaning from that, but only relative to my interpretation of those words. Or another band sang this:

Praise Him under open skies
Everything breathing praising God
In the company of all who love the King
I will dance, I will sing
It could be heavenly
Turn the music loud, life my voice and shout
From where I am
From where I've been
He's been there with me
He's built a monument
His very people
So let his people
Sing, sing, sing

Again, nothing incorrect necessarily, but there's a certain lack of solidity that makes it appealing to my generation, I think. Actually, scratch that - maybe not it's the lack of solidity that makes it acceptable, but the lack of depth in my generation that makes fluffy lyrics such as these the norm. We're in the age of "Hallmark"esque Christian lyrics, and I believe people are too quick to say "that's deep".

Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for Contemporary Christian Music to start singing "A Mighty Fortress" to a death metal tune. I don't think you have to be Shakespearan to have substance. Or even say the name Jesus every third line (though it would help to mention your Lord and master some of the time) - you can be solid, boldly Christian by being serious about the content of your words - guard your mouth and raise the standard of your lyrics before a Holy God. Look at Petra. Even someone like Keith Green, who I think gets a bad rap sometimes. They said something. It's sad that the so much good music we find these days is from people who regurgitate the old - I'm sure there are Christian Musicians today who seriously have something to say for the glory of God and the enrichment of the Church.

I could go on and rant and rave, but that's not my point really - I wanted to point out that this is not an old issue - people one generation before me struggled the same way, and here's a song to prove it:

Room Noise
2nd Chapter of Acts

No more Conversation
No more idle words
Pitter pitter patter
words fall from your platter

Pseudo Gospel music
Music everywhere
but not a single drop
to drink anywhere

I don't want to be room noise
generically speaking
I don't want to be room noise
no one will stop and hear me, hear me...

Down on bended knees
Doing what you please
As you say
"Gospel Gospel music's an alternative"
Then you never have to
change the way you live

Idle, Idle lyrics
floating through the air
Invisible acting
emotional snare

I don't want to be room noise
Generically speaking
I don't want to be room noise
No one will stop and hear me, hear me...

Down on bended knee
doing what you please
PHARISEE!

I don't want to be room noise...

Twenty something years later, is someone listening?