Hudson Taylor
THE LOCUST GROVE
Genre - Acoustic soft rock
Number Of Tracks - 10
Length - 31:45
Lui Pina - Bass
Charlie West - Guitar, vocals
Chris Flynn - Drums
Jorge Perez - Percussion
1995 - Woodchuck Publishing
Best Songs - Brother Calvin, Doom Room, Dirge
I bought this CD not knowing a single song on it because Charlie West was
on it. Charlie West has led worship at my youth group camps for a while now,
and he's excellent. Before starting a worship band, he led this band called
Hudson Taylor, who I must say has a very unique style. They are all acoustic,
but with interesting vocals and drums to be modern rock. The vocals are cool
because at first you think to yourself, "Now these vocals don't fit the
music at all!" But at the end of the CD, you realize that they fit perfectly
all along. Overall, the style is very unique and creative, but unfortunately
there isn't much place to go with it. Another CD would have been tough to
build on the style. But for this CD, it works well. It's soft and soothing
to a certain extent, but also somewhat hard at the same time. Not a lot of
people are going to really like this sound. But even people who don't like
it will have to admit that it shows some talent. Especially when it comes
to Charlie West. He writes good music and does a great job singing it. I like
the slight differences in songs. For example, Brother Calvin is a pretty upbeat
song that has lots of strong guitar. But right after it is Doom Room, a pretty
deep and bassy song that doesn't emphasize the guitar much at all. In that
same way, many of the songs on this CD stand out fairly well. Towards the
middle of the CD and again at the very end, the songs blend together a bit,
but other than that, they are cool.
The lyrics are downright fascinating. I don't see lyrics like this very often.
Almost all of the songs are very Old Testament-based. Throughout the CD booklet
are scripture references, many pointing to the Old Testament or parts of the
New Testament that refer to the Old Testament. A common theme is Israel, Abraham,
and Jacob. Everything fits together pretty well. Falling to Pieces is about
life falling apart, but the scripture references refer to God disciplining
those he loves. Brother Calvin is about the trial of Michael Servetus, where
John Calvin gave 38 reasons for executing the heretic. The scripture reference
is about Jesus. Doom Room is about the end of the world, with people rejecting
God and going to hell. Martyr is a confusing song. The lyrics seem to deal
with being a martyr and solving problems at hand, but the scripture is about
having one wife. I don't know. Canaan's Land is about following God without
knowing where you're going. The scriptures refer to the same idea, and also
indicate that God will make the promised land good. Jacob is about a friend
that abandons you, and the scriptures reinforce what he's saying. Dirge is
about Jacob who wrestled with God and was renamed Israel. The scriptures refer
to war and this event. The lyrics also seem to refer to the continuous battle
between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. Happy is about Abraham's song Isaac,
whose name means "Laughter". The scriptures talk about how Abraham
had to go into the desert with Sarai. Locust Grove is another confusing song.
Promised Land is about working towards a goal, and the lyrics are really cool
because they draw a parallel between plowing a desert field and Abraham working
to have a son on infertile ground.
FINAL SCORE
91
Falling To Pieces
Seems like the sky is falling
Rain upon my head
Outside the sun is shining
Broken upon my bed
Wicked ground beneath me
Merciless sun
Fair weather friends around me
Now there are none
Pieces, yeah
I'm falling to pieces, yeah
Blessed hope where are you?
I can't see
Darkness all around
Hold tight your promises to me
Brother Calvin
How many reasons do you need to kill a man,
My brother Calvin?
I heard that you had forty, save two
Was it History that tried to justify
Your ends and your means
Time will surely tell that it was the worst thing you could do
How many reasons do you need to kill a man,
My brother Calvin?
Did God grant you the calling
To decide another's fate?
And if ignorance is bliss, you must have pleased a happy world
They were impressed with the way you dressed
And wowed by your hip array
Please excuse my brother Calvin
He's not sure what he was doing
Were you convinced that it was wrong
To burn him at the stake?
I heard that you (tried to) blow out the match,
But you sharpened up the blade
What would have been the best for him, and your convictions prove
To pretend and to contend (my friend)
That you were him and he was you
(Take his place and let him loose)
Doom Room
I heard somebody said
That we live in a world that's haunted
Spins around once every day
Chained and blindfolded
And if I had the freedom to speak my mind
And you would take the time to listen
Then I'd verify
That these facts indeed are true
And if I closed my eyes
Would the doom room disappear
If I shut my mouth
Would you want to hear?
I heard somebody said
That the way is small and few find it
Many think they can see
But they really don't believe
Martyr
What do you see on my person
That you would like to have?
Is there anything in these pockets
You'd like to see?
And could we solve this problem
Without the weapons in your hand
If possible I'd like not to bleed
And could there be any words of reason
If treason was your name?
Give me a chance I'd like to speak with you
I will be content if you send my soul to heaven,
Knowing that you didn't approve
Man of Sin, I'll be your martyr
Martyr, martyr
And what's behind door number 1
Is it a lion's roar?
Is the choice for number 2 any better?
Are you the one who plants the farmer's fields
And the joker who makes me laugh
Have you stabbed my heart
With a blade of pleasure
Canaan's Land
All of my belongings
Are in boxes wrapped with tape
Except for a few things that I need
Searching for lost dollars
In a check I must have misplaced
With or without it I'll be fine
Can't see the forest for the trees
Within this wilderness
Just a pilgrim on my way
To my intended rest
A few more months away
From Canaan's land
I can feel it in my soul
I don't know where I'm going
But when I get there I'm sure I'll know
Jacob
Jacob why did you lie to me?
You were loved like my own soul
It tells me what you think of me
You lied to me and I didn't know
You were like a wild, wild flower
You didn't toil and you didn't spin
But something was wrong and I couldn't tell
Behind those eyes that I knew so well
Jacob why did you lie to me?
I thought you were my friend
Jacob you were my dearest friend
You drank my wine and you stole my bread
I don't believe one thing you said
Oh Jacob you were my dearest friend
Though you're gone you know I still love you
Even though I hated all the things you did
Makes me sad and I wish you were here
As I play this song you will never hear
Dirge
Rice, drink, and 2 vain things
Are these three reasons why people go to war?
Does God withhold the rain
Because of the sin of man?
Rulers hold their children captive
By the sword, yeah
Why don't you look at the man who is limping
He did struggle for a night
He wrestled long with God himself
Could've damned his soul to Hell
Wrestled long with God himself
Could've damned his soul to Hell
Call me Israel
And I'll call you Adam
A decree came from heaven we must learn
Listen to it softly, if you do you might find life
Fold your hands, stop your heard
Hear the words
To the dirge
What does it matter anyway?
They're the ones condemned
I'm a million miles away
It'd be different if I was them
So sleep tonight my dear son Reuben
Don't you worry about a thing
Cause your daddy loads his gun
To bring you
Rice and drink and 2 vain things
Happy
Look at the face of Abram
It's been beaten by time and the wind
He's waiting for his promise
Looks like he's wondering when
I'm so glad that he held on
Even though it took so long
Cause I want to be happy
I really want to be happy
How long until my laughter comes
I'm waiting on laughter
Look at the face of this clown
Underneath my smile there is a frown
Excuse me, Abraham
Is that a tear in your eye?
Does the desert God put you in make you cry
Make you cry?
Locust Grove
Grace was hidden
But only for a season
Or was it just covered my
A thin and darkened veil
And it was sometime and somewhere
But of whom I don't remember
But only after careful years
They learned a secret they could tell
And I remember the former days
Of innocence and peace
But now we are scarred by the bites
Of rattlesnakes and bees
Don't be alarmed I've seen it before
At least 23 times, and again
Just betray your superstition
It's the way God deals with man
In the spring of the fall
The locust grove: they start to bloom
What's been dead since so long ago
The locust grove: they start to bloom
The Promised Land
Man of sand do you struggle with the things you have to trust
In the things that you cannot see
Oh the wind it blows it comes and goes
But you can't predict the breeze
And the season God forbid could all be in vain
If the rain He doesn't send
Just put your hand to your plow now
Don't worry about the green my friend
Just go and come, come and go again, again, again, again
Go and come, come and go again, yeah
Go and come, come and go again, again, again, again
Till you're ground in your promised land
Man of sand sleep tight on your bed of brass
Say goodbye to your pagan fears
And don't commit a sin against the good Lord's hand
By plowing on the seventh year
Cause I've seen locust groves bloom in the desert
And I've seen Abraham receive his baby bow
Just put your hand to your plow now
Faithful tears might make your gardens grow, come and go
