Used To Be
In a record store I went to in 2003, I happened to listen to a song for the first time. I liked the message of the song, but i didn’t know the title. 4 years later, I happened to stumble upon the song again as it played in our DVD player. I tried to look for the title on the mp3 cover, but since it wasn’t printed in sequence, I just tried to search for the lyrics of the song through one snippet. I finally found the song. I’m pasting a copy of the song here. The title of the song is the title of this blog entry.=) it was sung by Stevie Wonder and Charlene (whoever she is).
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Superman was killed in Dallas
There’s no love left in the palace
Someone took the Beatle’s lead guitar
Have another Chivas Regal
You’re twelve years old and sex is legal
Your parents don’t know where or who you are
Used to be the hero of the ballgame
Took the time to shake the loser’s hand
Used to be that failure only meant you didn’t try
In a world where people gave a damn
Great big wars in little places
Look at all those frightened faces
But don’t come here we just don’t have the room
Love thy neighbor’s wife and daughter
Cleanse your life with holy water
You don’t need to pay we’ve got a few
Used to be a knight in shining armor
Didn’t have to own a shiny car
Dignity and courage were the measures of a man
Not the drugs he needs to hide the scar
Can you picture me?
Does your preacher pray?
Does your president have soul?
Have you heard a real good ethnic joke today?
Mama took to speed and Daddy ran away
But you mustn’t lose control
Let’s cut a class, I’ve got some grass
The kids are wild we just can’t tame them
Do we have the right to blame them?
Fed them all with indecision
We’ve rigged their minds with television
But what the hell they’re too young to feel pain
But I believe that love can save tomorrow
Believe the truth can set us free
Someone tried to say it
And we nailed Him to a cross
I guess it’s still the way it used to be…
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The reason why I like this song is because of its portrayal of the realities of the world. What’s sad is that though this song was written 2-3 decades ago, the words hold true today. And it still holds true that there is someone who can save us, if we just let Him. We wonder why the world is so screwed, but looking at our families, at ourselves, do you really have to wonder?
So many people want to do things their own way, want nothing to do with God, and end up wondering why God doesn’t help them.
