DBT #219 Love Never Rests - Mike Ward

 

It is fitting that after last weekend's LaCrosse Area ELCA Synod Gathering, and I heard such a memorable sermon that we all have one job, "to LOVE".  (Your neighbor as Yourself)  In today's world when Southern Baptists are disbarring women Pastors, where the Right wages war against Drag Queens and Trans people, and where churches insists you are member believing a conservative doctrine to receive Holy Communion, I loved the weekend to bask in the glow of Jesus from so many people willing to love unrelentlessly. So try not to be a meme.

Which brings me to Mike Ward, and his beautiful testament to love; "Love Never Rests"  Released in April it's been sitting in my library just for the right moment to absorb.  Yep, it's a perfect week.  He obviously has a  Christian background, likely Roman Catholic like myself; and with him lovingly devouring cake with his long time love Angela; they have walked a live kind of similar to Lori and I.

While Mike's professional background is mostly in his past, he's putting his loving effort into very detail song crafting.  Let's start off with the opening track:

1) The Currency of Forgiveness

Mike has written a gospel to all trying to live with each other for a long long time.

listens to the same story told a hundred times waits patiently at the end of the line holding doors…holding tongues it all evens out when our days are done CHORUS worth all you have…and nothing less all the tears and years that you invest there from the moment you met no IOU'S… no repaid debts in the currency of forgiveness

Plus there is this beautiful video:

2) Falling No More

I hope Mike is right, I sense I'll fall a few more times.

Falling off the wagon falling off a bike
One or the other can change your life
There are falls you see coming…falls you endure

3) I Follow

This is one of my favorite songs off the album and where his Catholic background shows, even with the simple reference to "Mass"  I think if you don't listen, please read the lyrics and especially the bridge of embarrassments of life.

I FOLLOW

I followed my sisters and brothers
I followed the temptation of others
worked hard to fit in…inside a different skin
I begged, stole and borrowed…but mostly I followed

morning mass…a heathen acolyte
heaven or hell…well it could be either side
said all my childhood confessions
not sure now about any of those lessons

I followed…the stations of the cross
gave credit for the wins…took blame for every loss
I prayed that those wafers…were actually the savior
cheap wine was the blood I swallowed…I served and followed

cut off jeans and faded t-shirts
six packs, cigarettes.. driving round the outskirts
wasting our lives, our futures, our pasts
hoping to death that the die had not been cast

I followed the dream we were sold
could not tell the truth from lies we were told
tried to outrun…the things that I’ve done
just to make it through tomorrow…oh I followed

Bridge: to avoid detection, hide my own reflection, an acne filled complexion, a guilt ridden erection…falling far short of perfection

now I follow the road less travelled
turn by turn the secret gets unraveled
I will follow a girl…to the ends of the earth
my soul no longer hollow…my heart I follow
oh I follow my heart I follow…oh I follow

4) All We're Hoping For

A little bit of hope is all we're hoping for... nice line, and a gentle push that life will be ok even with all the questions.

6) This Old Life Goes On

Mike hits home with a meeting an old friend... have we all been there especially as we age.

8) Compact Life

My other really, really favorite song on the album.  Mike nails it.  I love the compact build, 5' 6" ha... well I got you beat 5' 8"... shrinking though, will have to do some more stretching.  I think he hits home the reality of being a musician today:

got a compact disc
all it took was to take a few risks
folks who believed in me
all my friends, my extended family
got no vinyl or cassettes…nor many financial assets
can anyone still play this?…I got a compact disc

11) Sunday Morning

I think Mike being the apple did not fall too far from the tree:

A poem written by my mom and found on her computer years after she had passed. It paints a picture of our family ritual and revisits fond Sunday-filled memories.

lyrics

SUNDAY MORNING*
A poem by Marjorie Ward

Sunday to Mass, then home for a treat
Breakfast is special, service is neat

Clean up and pack, beds made by the clock
Yellow car waiting to drive down to the dock

Routine takes over, boys hoist the boat
Girls mind the babies, order by rote

Baskets on board, skipper in place
Motor is started, slow now is the pace.
Slow now is the pace
Slow now is the pace.

Gone is the hurry, no more rush that day
Leisure takes over, we’re under way

Family joy creates a bond
Parents are friends and the children they respond

Now they are gone those joyous days
Love nurtured them, it eased our ways

Those Sundays still live in each members heart
They keep us a family even though we’re far apart.
Even though we’re far apart.
Even though we’re far apart.

credits

Next steps:

- Stop over to the Review page to my other most spinned and loved albums.

- Browse the rest of the blogs by stopping at this "Theme Page."

- Enjoy Tune Tuesday which brings you one song from a past blog post.

- See what other post have been most popular recently with our Stats Page.

- Find out who in the world thinks he has the authority to write this blog in the About.

- Let me answer why you won't find the playlists on Spotify here.

- Finally, the Mission page explains why there is no advertising cluttering the page.

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