Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Sounds So Simple

In my previous post, I referred to a song by the musician Pat Terry. He is still active as a songwriter and performs now and then.

His LP Humanity Gangsters never caught on with the Christian audience, but lyrically it was very progressive in Christian terms (it probably helped that Mark Heard produced it). The concept behind the album title is explained in the liner notes:

Could you comment on some of the songs on your album, "Humanity Gangsters?" ... Could you summarize your thoughts about it?


Yes, I wanted to find a title that said something about the theme of the album in a graphic kind of way. In one of the songs there is a line that says, "Humanity Gangsters, there stealing our compassion away," and I think that puts the idea behind the album in a nutshell. It's like were being robbed of all the things in life that are beautiful and we don't realize it. So, the album is just a kind of plea for people to be aware of that battle, and to find their own individual ways to fight it. I think it's also an album about faith that walks hand in hand with reason ... faith with substance.

The song Sounds So Simple is a song that appears to contrast unbelief with the often shallow thinking of Christians.

Sounds So Simple

Love is alive up in heaven tonight
And life goes on in this crazy mixed-up world
If we could bring some down
Well, I know it would be alright
Sounds so simple
Don't it girl

The rest of the world
Now they don't believe it
And I don't blame them
For the example we gave
It's hard to understand
Much less receive it
When the way they see it
Is through the way we behave

The sleeping masses
They just go on dreaming
While we keep swimming
On our surface world
I'd like to dive into the depths
And come up screaming
Sounds so simple
Don't it girl

Love is alive up in heaven tonight
And life goes on in this crazy mixed-up world
If we could bring some down
Well, I know it would be alright
Sounds so simple, don't it girl
Sounds so simple, don't it girl
Sounds so simple, don't it girl

***Update***

Pat Terry e-mailed me back after I informed him of the post. Here is what he said:

Fred,

Thanks for dropping a line, and for posting "Sounds So Simple" on your blog. It's been a long time since I'd looked at those lyrics. I think I'll pull it out and start performing it some when I go out and play. Thanks for the reminder.

Unfortunately my albums have not been re-released on CD or any other current media. I'm working on it and hope I can work out a licensing deal that will allow me to make them available. Word Inc. owns the actual master tapes. I appreciate your interest.

All the best,

Pat Terry

Pat also has a MySpace site where some of his new material is played. Here is the site:

The Real Pat Terry

5 comments:

P M Prescott said...

Humanity gangsters is so appropriate. Playboy had a contest to more appropriately describe the Christian Coalition and settled on the Moral Mafia, they passed over my submission of Frozen Chosen.

OkieLawyer said...

"Frozen Chosen" is the sometime term of endearment of Episcopalians.

Doug Floyd said...

I'm glad to here of the possibility of Pat's music being rereleased on CD. I miss his music, and it good to hear that he still performs.

Thanks for the post Fred.

Warren said...

Hooray for Pat Terry! I'm glad he's still around!

I loved his records & wish they could be re-released on CD.

There should be some rule that says if Word refuses to release the music themselves, rights should revert to the artist, within five years of the album being unavailable.

Warren

Anonymous said...

Such a great song. Sad to hear it's not available. Thanks for posting the lyrics.