Pros: Honest songs that well up from a spring of faith
Cons: You got to be kidding me
The Bottom Line: Caedmon's Call is one of the best Christian bands out there. They write and sing truly heart honest songs that deal with faith and life. Get them!
LifeStar's Full Review: Caedmon's Call by Caedmon's Call
At long last I’ve finally arrived to writing my review on Caedmon’s Call first public released album! As you can guess, it is also called Caedmon’s Call, named after the band itself. If you have been reading my reviews, you know that I love Caedmon’s Call. You can apply them in either context, I love them for their deep lyrics, sound, and overall style, and I also love them because they are dear brothers and sisters in Christ. You may be wondering though, “Okay Mr. LifeStar, how in the world were you ever introduced to them?”
Thus begins the affair
I was introduced to CC by the CCM countdown that used to be hosted by Gary Chapman many years ago. It was a golden age for me as I was still very young in my faith (and still am), and I was just starting to get into Christian music. Funny enough though, my sister (Yes, her again!) introduced me to the christian radio station that I still listen to occasionally and she also introduced me to christian music.
The first song I heard from CC was the first song on this album, Lead Of Love. Ever since I heard that guitar intro and the moving lyrics, I’ve been hooked, and I am a big big advocate for CC anytime, anyplace!
Background:
Caedmon’s Call is what many call the overgrown coffeehouse band. What that means is they’re usually associated with close surroundings and their music is best heard live. CC has demonstrated over the years that they are most comfortable when they are given the freedom to be in live settings where they can be as “unplugged” as can be. Even their name, Caedmon’s Call has significance towards their style.
Caedmon’s Call, as I learned from the band itself, is based on the story of an old time saint named Caedmon. Apparently, Mr. Caedmon never liked the way his voice sounded and he thought he couldn’t sing a note even to save his life. The funny thing is people always asked Mr. Caedmon to sing, but every time he would run away like a duck with its feathers on fire! This all changed one day when Caedmon heard God speak to him and commanded him to sing! Once Caedmon obeyed, the sound of heaven just flowed off his lips and God’s power was exercised in the timid singer named Caedmon.
Onto the songs!
Lead of Love - We are greeted immediately by the first song with a slow acoustic intro. This immediately tells the listener that the song will neither be heavy rocking, nor will it be a slow ballad. This is reinforced once the other instruments join in, especially the organ!
The point of this song is about the lessons that many of us will learn over time as we walk with over Lord. If you believe that the Christian life is an easy journey, I am sorry to disappoint you, but it isn’t. Being a Christian can mean at times that we will go through more hardships because God will use those trials to build our character and to test the purity of our faith. This song speaks off the hard times that we all must go through. We will encounter the rocks and the jagged edges, but it’s all worth it once we get to the top of the mountain to see all that was before us. It is an amazing song as it so aptly and cleverly expresses what I’ve experienced so many times in my life as a Christian. The hard times are never wanted, but I also know that to shun them will deny me the triumph and the joy that comes from getting to the mountaintop.
Looking back I can finally see
How failures bring humility (I’d rather have wisdom and pain)
Brings me to my knees (Than be a comfortable old fool)
Helps me see my need for thee
Close of Autumn - After getting our feet wet and roughened with Lead of Love, we are now ready for one of CC’s meditative songs! These kinds of songs are harder to understand as it does take several listen throughs for one to get the message of the song. Unlike Lead of Love, it isn’t an in-your-face preaching song, rather it’s meaning is right now the surface of the words of the song.
Close of Autumn, as I understand it, seems to be a song that deals with the struggles that all believers go through when embracing the new life found in Christ. When you really do grasp for that new life, you also must let go of the old life. It is a painful experience as all the things that we have grown so accustomed to, so used to saying and doing, must stop and laid to rest in the cemetery of the old life.
Throughout the song, singer (Danielle), mentions so things such as vanity, fighting, struggling with God that one can see why the song is named the way it is. Just as the autumn closes, it’s an acknowledgement that no matter what, nature must go though it’s course, and things must end in order for the life new to spring up.
When I’m cold and alone all I want is my freedom
And a sudden gust of gravity
I stop wailing and kicking
Just to let the water cover me
Not the Land - Do not be deceived by the slow intro in this song. Derek sings this song, and usually his style is not as slow as this song begins with. Once we hit the chorus, the tempo picks up and the sound becomes grittier. The basic gist of this song is how the singer has been frustrated with the way that things are in his life and with this world. It’s a constant reminder to him that he truly doesn’t belong to this land and that he is simply a traveler with his foot on the pedal, moving through this desperately sad and confusing land that he’s found himself in.
So many miles behind
Still I drive with the pedal down
I was off the map hours back…
This World - Here is another classic from CC! Yes yes, you can tell this is one of my most favorite songs from CC, and it fits very well with the last song’s message too! This song is gritty at all. It starts with a dual acoustic intro and then Danielle and Cliff (who later become husband and wife may I add) join in. The tempo and the sound are pretty much consistent throughout the duration and it has a catchy beat.
The song, if you haven’t already guessed, is about the singers’ realization and declaration that this world is indeed pale and poor. No matter how you may cut it, this world is a pale reflection of the beauty that it once held. It also deals with how the singers struggle with the ways of this world as they acknowledge that the world has influenced their actions and thinking at times. The grand conclusion at the end is that they have woken up and it’s time to make up for all the time that had been wasted in following the rules of the world.
This world is making me drunk
On the spirits of fear
So when He says who will go
I am nowhere near…
This world has nothing for me
Bus Driver - I have asked many people who also love CC about this song. The most common response is, “I know that this song is deep and there’s a message, but I have the foggiest clue to what it is!” I, therefore, will try my best to unravel the mystery behind this song. I still am dicing this song up, even after all these years!
The song style is banjo style if I’ve heard one! We are introduced to a simple bus driver who’s been working at this job for 14 years at least. He’s a simple man and he’s very prompt and does things in an orderly manner. We are then greeted to his passengers, an old lady who works at a bank and a retail salesman at an appliance store. At the conclusion of the song, the bus driver ponders to himself whether his job really matters to people. Would people ever notice if he existed or not? Most likely not he thinks out loud, but he does know that the bank and the retail store would never be the same…
WOW! This song at one level is a song about a bus driver. On a deeper level, I believe this song discusses the reality that each of us does have an effect of other people’s lives. The very fact that the bus driver has great conversations with the bank lady and the salesman shows that if he never existed, something would be missing from these people’s lives. Now, on a much deeper level, the bus driver could be a pseudo representation of Jesus! How? Well, he’s always on time, he takes people to where they need to be, he has conversations with them, plus he ponders, just as Jesus did, would people ever care if he comes back or not. How about that?
Standing up for nothing - Here we again are met with a song that deals with the human heart and choice. Derek leads us off and sings about life as a simple 10 year old as I imagine in my mind’s eye. We are shown the internal struggle that a believer goes through when faced with temptation. Often times it’s so easy to not do things that are “bad”, but not know why we are doing it. That’s why the song’s called Standing up for nothing. Is the 10-year-old boy standing up for nothing? If he is, then why doesn’t he just go and play with the guy outside (who is the devil)? Well, at the conclusion of the questioning, he comes to realize that the light that he has inside is the reason why he doesn’t go outside. Thus we finally hit the triumphal statement that, “I ain’t standing up for nothing!”
So You lead I’ll be close behind
So You speak I’ll hang on Your Words
You’ve got to lift me from this harden tree
‘Cause I ain’t standing up for nothing
Hope to Carry on - One of the most simplest songs on this album. This song was originally written and performed by the late Rich Mullins. CC have often described themselves as little Rich Mullins, so thus it makes sense that on their first public release that they do a rendition of one of his songs.
Hope to Carry on is a dual acoustic, drums, and bass & electric driven song that is fast and simple. It simply states that the singer can see Jesus doing the things that only our God can do. Only Jesus could forgive those who nailed Him to the cross. Only Jesus could die on the cross for our sins. When we reach the ending, instead of Jesus, the singer sees Peter. Not that Peter was on the cross, rather the change in Peter’s life because of what Jesus did. He no longer uses his sword, but rather his life as his weapon from that point on. Thus, the conclusion is, because they were able to do such amazing things, we have a hope to carry on with our lives from that point on!
I can see Peter puttin’ away his sword
I can see Peter puttin’ away his sword…
He won’t fight no more
I gotta carry on
Stupid Kid - This song was a little confusing when I first heard this. It has an irregular beat and it is hard to sing to. I think that might have been the point. This song appears to be a lamentation of a child who just doesn’t want to go outside. He doesn’t want to leave his comfort zone because his fear is that he’ll do something dumb, and that he would lose the love and respect of his father.
You can see the immediate spiritual context huh? I have known, and even have been one at times too, Christians who know that they should go out into this world and take a risk. Take a step of faith, do something that may seem nuts at the time. Our fear though is that we would foul up, make a royal mess of things, and just as the child in the song cries out, would his dad still love him if he was just a stupid kid.
Would you love me just as much
If I was just your stupid kid
I Just Don’t Want Coffee - If you’ve read my review on CC’s third album, Long Line of Leavers, you no doubt remember that I mention about Derek’s love problems. Well, this song is another one of those, but something that I personally have dealt with before internally.
We are given a song with a simple guitar, drums, bass, an organ, and Derek leading off with Danielle as a ghostly backup singer. The premise of the song is about a love relationship that was never meant to be and never ever started, even though the two regret it. Derek’s voice conveys the heartache and the struggle that has come with his decision. The girl and he have been friends ever since childhood, but a meeting at a coffeehouse pushed the relationship to a deeper level. However, it seems the problem lies in the possibility that the girl doesn’t share the same faith that Derek does. Both know they’ve hit a breaking point in their friendship, and both are disappointed by Derek’s choice. He just can’t go on with a relationship that isn’t grounded in the same faith, which he mentions the girl just wouldn’t or couldn’t understand why.
It’s a sad scenario, but a common one for those of us (including myself), who have decided that indeed our love affair with Jesus means more to us than anything else, including a possible significant other. If that person can’t share that same love, then the possibility will never come to be reality. This is a personal choice, so please no flaming! However, it is a choice that is biblically grounded and a step of faith for the person doing such a thing.
So sue me (Can’t see me)
So sue me (Can’t see me)
If I just don’t want coffee tonight (It’s not suppose to be)
Not Enough - Now I don’t know why I didn’t hear this song on the radio or on the CCM countdown. This is one of my favorite tracks off this album. The only reason I could think of why this never got to airplay, at least where I live, is probably because it’s either too shrouded in word imagery, or evangelicals didn’t like the idea of “working for God.”
Whatever.
Live out your faith, that’s my motto. Anyhows, the gist of this song is simple. It’s a simple declaration that no matter what we do, it will never be enough to pay off the debt of love we owe to our Savoir! It’s not a bad thing! There isn’t any despair or grief on this singer’s part, it’s actually a joy! To strive, to run for, to reach for the impossible, to want to hit perfection, but knowing we will never hit it in this life, now that’s AWESOME! It’s the weird tension when one strives for God in this life. We know we will never do enough for God, nevertheless we give Him all we can, all the time, anywhere, anything! Praise God!!!
The other great thing about this song is that it rocks (musically)!!!
So I paint a portrait of You
As if You had human disguise
With oil and canvas to be clay
To open up their eyes
Like you opened up my eyes!
Center Aisle - After the rocking guitar sounds of Not Enough fade away, we are greeted with a very simple song. It’s a song that was written by Derek for a girl who had committed suicide. Her name was Anne Elizabeth Szescila, the Derek’s friend’s sister. The mood is quiet as it is only him with his acoustic.
The premise of the song is convicting and sad. He questions what was it that push this girl over the edge. What kind of sins did she commit that she felt she couldn’t be forgiven off and had to take her life? We don’t know and neither does he. The pointly question though, is when he asks in the song, why is it she couldn’t come to the people who attended the funeral for help? Did they or should I say “we” not do something to help her, to give her hope that maybe she could be forgiven?
What crimes have you committed
Demanding such a penance
That couldn’t wait for five more minutes
And a cry for help
Coming Home - Coming Home has a very similar sound to Lead of Love. Actually, according to one of musically gifted friends, they both have similar chords! So it does do a fitting end to a great work of art. Just like Lead of Love, we are greeted with all the combined efforts of CC. That includes the vocals, the instruments, and other sounds that make this song a very moving, upbeat, yet honest song for the listener.
This song is basically what I could imagine the “Prodigal son” would be singing as he got out of the mudpit and stared at those pigs. “How did I end up here? All this dirt and sickness? I want to go home! Daddy, please take me home! Heck! I will go home!” Thus the song is a confession song of our inability to fend for ourselves, and that we were idiots in the first place to leave our Father’s plan. It’s time to go home.
Another note is that this can be so applied to the end goal of every believer. One day we will go home, truly go home, cuz this world really isn’t our home. Our Father’s embrace, that is where home is … forever!
Will You run to me?
Will You come to me?
Will You meet me?
Will You greet me?
Will You drag me home?
Cause I’m still a long way off
Conclusion
As you can tell, I really love this album! This album and the other CC albums are the prize jewels of my CD collection. They are an honest band, but musically and vocally talented. In the midst of bands where their only good part is either the girl is pretty, or the electric guitarist can jam, or the lead guy singer is cute, it’s a comfort to know that there are bands such as Caedmon’s Call who have indeed a calling in life.
This album is really a compilation of their best songs over the years they have ministered before they publicly came out. They have a strong following of listeners before this album ever appeared and it’s just a testimony of how diverse and God-gifted these people are! Blessings.
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