Under the heading “Various Artists” was a random assortment of songs from, appropriately enough various artists…but no jacket cover, album title or names of songs were noted.  Intrigued, I hit play on the album to see what was up with that, and was immediately taken with the first song. Really really taken. As it played I called to Jay who was in the next room, “Where did this song come from? Which album is this? I LOVE this song…have you ever heard it before? Wow, this is an amazing song!!”  Turns out he hadn’t ever heard it either…nor did he have any clue how the music appeared on our Ipod.  How it got there remains a mystery, but I’d like to think of it as a delightful surprise Christmas present, no matter where it came from.

The song is “How Many Kings” by Down Here. I think this was actually released a couple of years ago, but I have never heard it before.  The words were striking, and I loved the music and artistry. The content closely mirrored some of what our pastor had talked about in church just a couple of hours before. How beautiful and startling: this concept of the God of the universe humbling himself to the point where he becomes one of the weakest and frailest who dwell on this earth…completely dependent on ordinary, sinful humans for his very subsistence.  Though I know of no other songs by this Canadian band, I love this release enough to look into some of their other offerings.

I am no artist myself so my words do little justice to this beautiful song…which I why I am going to stop blathering and let you listen to it for yourself!  While I cannot find the exact recording that somehow magically appeared on my Ipod, I did find this video of a live performance. It’s live, so it’s not musically/technically perfect, but if you have a sec…take a listen!

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe after all we’ve projected
A child in a manger

Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliness hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl
Just a child
Is this who we’ve waited for?

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn savior
All that we have whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he’ll suffer
Do you believe, is this who we’ve waited for?
It’s who we’ve waited for

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many Gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only one did that for me

All for me
All for you
All for me
All for you

How Many Kings Lyrics- DOWNHERE Song words

Single Song Words by Artist / Band : DOWNHERE
Lyrics Title : How Many Kings
Taken from Album : -
Single Released : 2007

Iron Maiden: Wow! Just wow. Brave New World (2000) showed a return to form with some great tracks, Dance of Death (2003) was okay, and then A Matter of Life and Death (2006) blew me away. I’d easily put that last one in a top 5 list of best Maiden albums ever.

Dream Theater: They never really slowed down, but I didn’t know it, because I wasn’t buying their albums. They pretty much all rock, with Systematic Chaos (2007) being no exception.

Rush: Some of the best stuff ever on their latest. When Snakes and Arrows (2007) opened with “Pariah dogs and wandering madmen/Barking at strangers and speaking in tongues” to a heavy hitting sound, I was floored. I need to go back and pick up Vapor Trails (2002).

King’s X: Ogre Tones (2005) is glorious, full bore King’s X, with the diverse sound of the early albums that includes both Doug and Ty on lead vocals, but with much of the more hard-driving sound that was developed on Dogman.

Savatage: Probably need a separate entry on them, as their music is all over the map. But it used to rock, and it still does.

Megadeth: I only have a few tracks from The System Has Failed (2004), and I have not heard United Abominations (2007), but what little I have heard makes me glad Dave Mustaine recovered from his radial neuropathy.

Here’s a couple bands that didn’t make the list even though I have their newer stuff and still listen to them.

Dio: Killing the Dragon (2002) and Master of the Moon (2004) are okay, but don’t compare to Dream Evil (1987) and some of his other earlier work (not to mention Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules from his Black Sabbath days).

Queensryche: I like many of their more recent albums, but I just don’t think they stand up to Operation: Mindcrime (1988) and Empire (1990).

I’ve probably missed some good ones. What other established metal bands survived the grunge movement and have put out a great album recently?

At which point I found myself explaining something that is probably utterly mystifying to anyone who did not grow up listening to heavy metal but is enjoyed greatly by those of us who did: much of Iron Maiden’s repertoire is based on references to literature, history, film, television, and mythology. And it is often done quite respectfully. Even, one might say, tastefully.

To make the point here, I’ll highlight a few of the songs that I’ve enjoyed and then ask my faithful readers who might have listened to a little Maiden growing up to chime in with further references. Of course, that assumes I have any faithful readers left. So here goes.

The Trooper – Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade” and the Battle of Balaclava (part of the Crimean War)

Where Eagles Dare – book and movie of the same name

Flight of Icarus – Greek myth

To Tame a Land – “Dune” by Frank Herbert. Here’s a great detail from Wikipedia.

However, when Steve Harris requested permission from the author to name the song “Dune” and to use a spoken quotation as the track’s intro, his request was met with a stern reply from Frank Herbert’s agent: “No. Because Frank Herbert doesn’t like rock bands, particularly heavy rock bands, and especially rock bands like Iron Maiden”. This statement was backed up with a legal threat, and eventually the song was renamed “To Tame a Land” and released in 1983.

Children of the Damned – film of the same name

The Prisoner & Back in the Village (2 songs, 1 topic) – British television show “The Prisoner”

Run to the Hills – Europeans coming to the Americas

Aces High – British RAF versus the German Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain

Rime of the Ancient Mariner – though 13 minutes in length, it is still an abridged version of the poem

I Had a Little Monkey

But…if you are looking for a wonderful tool to use this season as you help your children and family prepare to celebrate Palm Sunday, Good Friday and the events leading up to and including Easter, specifically relating to the hymns which our churches often use for the celebration of the Passion of Christ, I highly recommend this:

It is one of a series of four books, all of which we own and love, which Joni Eareckson Tada and Bobbie Wolgemuth have collaborated on and which are designed to help introduce children to the richness of these hymns. The book presents twelve Passion hymns, and includes some of the history behind each song, wonderful accounts about the authors, and a devotional which aids children in gaining an understanding about each hymn, as well as written music for piano/guitar. A wonderful CD is included and features beautifully orchestrated versions of all the hymns featured, with children’s voices accompanying the two women’s. It is extremely pleasant listening, and we often play selections from these cd’s during the week to help our children prepare for Sunday worship using whatever hymns we might be singing that day.

Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well tell me now what war is
Again tell me what life is

For the greater good of God

He gave his life for us he fell upon the cross
To die for all of those who never mourn his loss
It wasn’t meant for us to feel the pain again
Tell me why, tell me why

1. One book that changed your life:

Through New Eyes by James Jordan (free version)

I read it in college and, quite frankly, didn’t agree with very much of it. Yet my enjoyment of the Bible started growing exponentially afterwards, and I’ve never looked back.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:

Magician by Raymond Feist (along with the rest of the Riftwar series)

I’ve always enjoyed this series and have read through it every 7 or 8 years.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:

Fifty Wooden Boats ???

I’m reading this question to mean “one of the books” rather than “the one book”. Too much pressure otherwise.

4. One book that made you laugh:

Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government by P.J. O’Rourke

5. One book that made you cry:

The Endless Knot by Stephen Lawhead

My eyes leaked at the end of this one.

6. One book that you wish had been written:

A Young Man’s Illustrated Primer

I suppose only Neal Stephenson fans will really get that.

7. One book that you wish had never been written:

Dragons of a Fallen Sun

I could do without the whole Dragonlance thing. If anyone out there doesn’t like the Fantasy genre, I blame it on the likes of Dragonlance.

8. One book you’re currently reading:

Future Grace by John Piper

My brother gave this to me years ago… I’m finally enjoying it.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:

The Resurrection of the Son of God by N. T. Wright

I had started it, we had another baby, and I once again lost my ability to concentrate well enough to read big theological books.

10. Now tag five people:

No thanks… hope no one minds.

So here are the lyrics to Truth Be Told. What do you make of them?

This is the first tale of death in the world
When Cain struck down Abel, a family broken
Since then mankind’s dominated his own kind
To insult and injure there’s no such thing
As peace, till death do us part

Till that last (truth be told)
Sin lies at the doorway (truth be told)
Hell’s open for business now (truth be told)
The soil cries out for revenge (truth be told)
And death is upon the ground, all around

The battle ain’t over, without spoils of war
Just ’cause it is written, does not make it so
When you dance with the devil, wait ’till the song’s over
I ask myself how bad do i want you to live
My anger is near

Till that last (truth be told)
Sin lies at the doorway (truth be told)
Hell’s open for business now (truth be told)
The soil cries out for revenge (truth be told)
And death is upon the ground
Sin lies at the doorway (truth be told)
Hell’s open for business now (truth be told)
The soil cries out for revenge (truth be told)
And death is upon the ground, all around

Tribulation strikes and we’re hit hard
Still you just go on your way
Head in the sand, ignoring the rain
Just like the flood in Noah’s day, In His day

Can’t punish those for ruining the Earth
its suicide to some degree
because we are all guilty, guilty as sin
There’ll be no peace, never for you and me

Before Al qaeda and Bin Laden
Long before Hitler and Hussein
Ever since the first murder was committed
The verdict’s always been the same (been the same) WRONG!

a cursed future just repeats the past
There’s hell to pay, the stone’s been cast
So there’ll be no peace (never be peace)
Till the last truth be told, by you and me

Here’s a whirlwind tour of their lyrics. In King, they talk about the opposition of kingdoms:

you are the one who causes me pain
you are the one who causes me grief
you are the one who lied to me
it won’t be long soon you will see
king is coming…
you are the one who magnifies hate
you are the one who distorts our love
you are the one disguised as a saint
it won’t be long your kingdom will quake

Everywhere I Go makes a rather plain statement of trust:

ive been in tears
ive been the clown
ive had my doubts
what if im wrong
ive been in love
then maybe not
i crossed my heart
and then forgot
i read the story
that you died
i turned the page
you were alive
with hope and love
but mostly faith
one day ill see you face to face
everywhere i go i see you there

As does We Are Finding Who We Are:

forever is a mountain weve yet to climb
tears are a part of what is yet to leave behind
strength in numbers all you need is two
everyones a winner yet still so many lose
the volume of emotion erupting in our soul
a quiet revelation quickly takes a hold
patience is a virtue but she wont always wait
dissension is the tension its what weve learned to hate
it was late september i remember well
memories of the living the old man told the tale
of rising and falling and cruelty and kind
the thing the old man told me truly blew my mind
yes, now we are finding who we are
cause we can see forever
i know its been said so many times before
i once was blind but now i see
and sometimes it just makes no sense
but i believe yeah
we are finding who we are

They address abortion in Legal Kill:

i only know what i believe
the rest is so absurd to me
i close my eyes so i cant see
but the picture just gets clearer everyday
i read somewhere to learn is to remember
and ive learned we all forgot
there was peace in her before
but that was yesterday
but i can see the beauty that is here for me
the chance to live and walk free
from a legal kill
i know your side so very well
it makes no sense that i can tell
the smell of hell is what i smell
and you hand it out with handshakes everyday
i have trouble with the persons with the signs
but i feel the need to make my own
yes there are two ways to be
and truth does not depend on me
but i can feel the fight for life is always real
i cant believe its no big deal
its a legal kill

By their fifth album, however, there is more and more angst and less faith/hope/love. This change, however, leads to some their best work (if you like relatively hard-charging rock music). Lyrically, their angst is not entirely misdirected. For instance, contempt for their own petty concerns is found in Complain:

ozone disappearing in the sky
bud man asking us why ask why
if I could find my magazine this bug would die
I complain
China boy standing up to a tank
southern boy living in the house of yanks
if I can’t seem to get my motorbike to crank
I complain
complain so much easier
small kid begging for a crumb of bread
next kid bloated lying nearly dead
I wonder what to take for my aching head
I complain
lots of people crying for a little rain
whole nation learning how to live with pain
I don’t know how I’m gonna clean this little stain
I complain.
complain so much easier
black man singing Mississippi blues
Africa starves a little baby drools
I’m trying to figure out all the basketball rules
I complain
Mr. Rush Limbaugh giving me the facts
treetops falling and the newsman yaks
I’m thinking about Carter and how I’m gonna be taxed
hey
complain so much easier

And by the sixth album, it appears they are deeply struggling with their faith as described in Looking for Love:

A standard, a program, religion burns me at the stake.
I questioned, I listened, I worshipped. How can I relate?
I worked so hard at it … oh Lord the bruises and the burns.
I just don’t, don’t get it. I guess I lost my faith.
Oh, Lookin’ for love

Though there seems to still be a longing, as expressed in Run:

Yeah she told me, that if I wasn’t good
He would get me, make me pay for
everything I did, and she said
that everybody bad would burn in Hell
I did what she told me and I became someone else. I had to run
I had to hide
In the world outside
A better chance, out there
If God is everywhere.
I wait for nothing, take my chances let it ride
maybe there’s an answer but it’s buried by the lies
Somebody told me that it’s just a waste of my time.
But I can’t get rid of all those bags I left behind

And they’re not particularly happy at this stage as they describe a couple albums later in Bitter Sweet:

Ever reading… something’s bleeding in my soul
And I can’t seem to fill up the hole
And I love you… thinking of you… bitter sweet
So I bury the feeling and empty my head
Just to sleep… too deep
Watch me suffer… try to cover up the pain
And I stand on the roof in the rain
And I love you thinking of you… bitter sweet
So I bury the feeling and empty my head
Just to sleep… too deep

Pressing on to the next album, they seem to have switched allegiance as told in Believe:

If you ran away to loose your soul
And you’re scared to death you’re wrong,
If you’re past the point of turning back
And your innocence is gone
In yourself believe, it’s all right
In yourself believe, it’s all right

I realize that I’ve reprinted quite a few lyrics, but it is only a small sampling of the words behind many, many interesting songs King’s X has produced. At this stage, it doesn’t look like a happy ending, but I know of no other band that takes you along for the journey in such a compelling way (well, U2 probably qualifies). If you want to pick up an album of theirs, I recommend Dogman if you want a gloomier, harder album, or Faith Hope Love (or Gretchen Goes to Nebraska) for a more melodic, hopeful album.

In brief, Hoodwinked takes up the story of Red Riding Hood at the moment that Red, the wolf, Granny, and the woodcutter are all in the home together and proceeds from the point of view of a police investigation. Beyond the weirdness in the home, everyone is trying to figure out the identity of the Goodie Bandit. This setup is used to make a fantastic point that my kids have gradually absorbed: the challenges caused by multiple perspectives on a single story if folks aren’t willing to listen to one another. As Flippers (the police investigator) summarizes at the end of the movie, if a tree falls in the forest you’ll get three stories: yours, mine, and the tree’s.

It’s a fun feature-length parable of such proverbs as Proverbs 18:13 and Proverbs 18:17, with a strong dose of the importance of telling the truth. The animation isn’t up to Pixar standards, but it does the job, and the script is solid in support of the overall theme. And the wolf… he’s there for the parents, with a deliciously understated sarcasm that I still find funny after numerous viewings.