Presence of the Lord is the first song for which Eric Clapton wrote the lyrics and featured on the only album released by Blind Faith, the band generally reckoned to be rock's first supergroup. The song was sung by Steve Winwood, and the band also included Ginger Baker and Ric Grech.
The song is a testimony of faith, a 'song of gratitude'. Clapton said the message of the song was to 'say ‘thank you’ to God, or whatever you choose to call Him, for whatever happens.' I first heard of the song through Conversations with Eric Clapton, a book of interviews by rock writer and poet, Steve Turner. In those interviews Clapton spoke about his coming to faith during Blind Faith's tour to promote the album.But Eric again became addicted to alcohol during his successful solo years of the 1970’s. He eventually says he hit ‘rock bottom’ in 1987. Following rehab, he “surrendered to God” and his life eventually came together again. He writes, “In the privacy of my room, I begged for help. I had no notion who I thought I was talking to, I just knew that I had come to the end of my tether … and, getting down on my knees, I surrendered. Within a few days I realized that … I had found a place to turn to, a place I’d always known was there but never really wanted, or needed, to believe in. From that day until this, I have never failed to pray in the morning, on my knees, asking for help, and at night, to express gratitude for my life and, most of all, for my sobriety. I choose to kneel because I feel I need to humble myself when I pray, and with my ego, this is the most I can do. If you are asking why I do all this, I will tell you … because it works, as simple as that.”'
It was also Delaney Bramlett 'as much as anybody who coaxed [Clapton] to sing and explained the mechanics of phrasing and how to use his voice ... Delaney told Eric, “God has given you this gift, and if you don’t use it he will take it away.” In his autobiography, Clapton said, “I’ll never be able to repay Delaney for his belief in me.”'
Other tracks of particular interest include Holding on, the second US chart topping single from the album 'Roll With It' and State of Grace. a track from Traffic’s 1994 reunion album ‘Far From Home’. Real Love from his 1997 solo album ‘Junction Seven’ is another song brimming with spirituality, while Someone Like You, also from ‘Junction Seven’, is a deeply reflective song with Christian imagery referring to answered prayer.
Steve Turner began writing for BEAT INSTRUMENTAL as features editor and has subsequently written for NME, ROLLING STONE, Q and countless newspapers. His books include Conversations with Eric Clapton (1976), Hungry for Heaven (1988), Cliff Richard: The Biography (1993), Van Morrison: It's Too Late to Stop Now (1993), A Hard Day's Write (1994), Jack Kerouac: Angelheaded Hipster (1996) and Trouble Man: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye (1998). He is also a well-regarded poet.
Following Presence of the Lord, Clapton wrote and recorded a significant number of spiritually inspired songs, some original, some covers. These include: We've Been Told (Jesus Is Coming Soon); Give Me Strength; Heaven Is One Step Away; Tears In Heaven; Holy Mother; My Father's Eyes; and Prayer of a Child, among others.
Steve Winwood joined Blind Faith on the back of success in the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic. He went on to enjoy a successful solo career with a string of hit singles and albums in the 1980’s. Many of his earliest musical influences came from the Anglican Church in Birmingham. He has said: 'I was brought up a Christian in the Church of England. As a young boy I was a choir boy and a server at St John’s Church, Perry Bar… and in fact many of my musical influences come from Hymnals, Psalters and organ music from the English church.' However, like many, he drifted away from the Church although always being 'interested in anything religious and spiritual'.
Ralph Burden writes that: 'Things changed for him in 1985 after meeting Eugenia Crafton. She was a dedicated Christian. Thoughts of a new marriage and starting a family directed Steve back to his Christian roots and brought a fresh zeal for music. He says, “It wasn’t until I met Eugenia in 1985 and began to think about a family that I became again interested in Christianity.”
With the 1986 album ‘Back in the High Life’ and the 1988 album ‘Roll With It’ came a new level of success. The renewal of his Christian faith and the positive, spiritual themes in these two particular albums are more than coincidental. Writing of the 1986 album, the music information contributor ’Rockportraits’ notes,
“The acoustic-based title track, ‘Back In The High Life’, seems filled with resolve and self-assurance. ‘My Love’s Leavin’ comes from this album as does the horn-infused neo-soul of ‘Freedom Overspill’. However, the most important track is ‘Higher Love’. Bolstered by backing vocals from funk diva Chaka Khan, this is a prayer of soulful aspiration:
“Think about it, there must be a higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is wasted time…”
Lyricist Will Jennings (who also had a church background in the United States) seems to be tapping into Steve’s own renewed Christian faith. ‘Wake Me Up On Judgement Day’ has a deep spiritual overtone.”' (‘Rockportraits – Steve Winwood’ – 2014)
Steve Winwood joined Blind Faith on the back of success in the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic. He went on to enjoy a successful solo career with a string of hit singles and albums in the 1980’s. Many of his earliest musical influences came from the Anglican Church in Birmingham. He has said: 'I was brought up a Christian in the Church of England. As a young boy I was a choir boy and a server at St John’s Church, Perry Bar… and in fact many of my musical influences come from Hymnals, Psalters and organ music from the English church.' However, like many, he drifted away from the Church although always being 'interested in anything religious and spiritual'.
Ralph Burden writes that: 'Things changed for him in 1985 after meeting Eugenia Crafton. She was a dedicated Christian. Thoughts of a new marriage and starting a family directed Steve back to his Christian roots and brought a fresh zeal for music. He says, “It wasn’t until I met Eugenia in 1985 and began to think about a family that I became again interested in Christianity.”
With the 1986 album ‘Back in the High Life’ and the 1988 album ‘Roll With It’ came a new level of success. The renewal of his Christian faith and the positive, spiritual themes in these two particular albums are more than coincidental. Writing of the 1986 album, the music information contributor ’Rockportraits’ notes,
“The acoustic-based title track, ‘Back In The High Life’, seems filled with resolve and self-assurance. ‘My Love’s Leavin’ comes from this album as does the horn-infused neo-soul of ‘Freedom Overspill’. However, the most important track is ‘Higher Love’. Bolstered by backing vocals from funk diva Chaka Khan, this is a prayer of soulful aspiration:
“Think about it, there must be a higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is wasted time…”
Lyricist Will Jennings (who also had a church background in the United States) seems to be tapping into Steve’s own renewed Christian faith. ‘Wake Me Up On Judgement Day’ has a deep spiritual overtone.”' (‘Rockportraits – Steve Winwood’ – 2014)
Other tracks of particular interest include Holding on, the second US chart topping single from the album 'Roll With It' and State of Grace. a track from Traffic’s 1994 reunion album ‘Far From Home’. Real Love from his 1997 solo album ‘Junction Seven’ is another song brimming with spirituality, while Someone Like You, also from ‘Junction Seven’, is a deeply reflective song with Christian imagery referring to answered prayer.
It is fascinating that two of those involved with Presence of the Lord later came to faith and wrote powerfully and movingly about that experience.
Hungry for Heaven: Rock and Roll and the Search for Redemption is his acclaimed account of the relationship between religion and popular music. In Turn! Turn! Turn!, Turner, takes an in-depth look at the lyrics and cultural context of 100 of the greatest songs from the 1930s to today to reveal an often overlooked or ignored strand of influence in popular music―the Bible. Indeed, some of the “greats”―including Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Bono, Johnny Cash, Sting, and others―have repeatedly returned to the Bible for such sustenance, as well as musical inspiration and a framework with which they can better understand themselves. From The Byrds’ Turn! Turn! Turn! to Marvin Gaye’s Wholly Holy, some of the best loved and least likely songs reflect the Bible. Looking at the songs in the context of the time it was written, its influence on the culture, and the way that it incorporates or reflects the Bible will give a different perspective on many of the most loved songs of our time.
My co-authored book The Secret Chord explores aspects of a similar interplay between faith and music (and the Arts, more broadly). Posts related to the themes of The Secret Chord can be found here.
Check out the following too to explore further:
Check out the following too to explore further:
- Damien Jurado and David Bazan
- Body Piercing Saved My Life
- The Ocean Blue, Denison Whitmer, Innocence Mission and Sufjan Stevens
- ROCK OF AGES: JESUS IN POPULAR SONGS
- International Times: Dark Intense MusicDavid Ackles and After the Fire
- David Ackles, Chris Bell, Bryan Maclean
- God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You
- Jesus Music - 1 & 2
- The Jesus Rock Revolution and the Jesus Movement
- When Jesus Met Hippies
- A Rough Guide to Christian Art
- Looking down the wrong end of a telescope
- Pop's holy rollers
- Perhaps the most underrated band ever
- Rock gets Religion
- Ed Kowalczyk and Scott Stapp: Angels on a razor
- Hidden Gems - Bill Fay & Michael Morley
- Electric Eden and the New Folk Revival
- Salt and Sweetners
- The mystery at the heart of music - 1 and 2
- Inspiration from the Psalms
- 'Tryin' to throw your arms around the world' click here - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blind Faith - Presence Of The Lord.
No comments:
Post a Comment