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Stranger in
a Strange Land
Song Reflection:
Leon Russell |
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By Tom Gilbert — January
2008
Stranger in a Strange Land
Song written by Leon Russell and Don Preston
Lyrics printed for reference only-all rights reserved by
owner
How many days has it been since I was born
How many days until I die
Do I know any ways that I can make you laugh
Or do I only know how to make you cry
When the baby looks around him
It's such a sight to see
He shares a simple secret with the wise man
He's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land
Tell me why he's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land
How many miles will it take to see the sun
And how many years until it's done
Kiss my confusion away in the night
Lay by my side when the morning comes
And the baby looks around him
And shares his bed of hay
With the burrow in the palace of the king
He's a stranger in a strange land
Tell me why, he’s a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land
Well, I don't exactly know what's going on in the world
today
Don't know what there is to say
About the way the people are treating each other
Not like brothers
Leaders take us far away
From ecology
With mythology
And astrology
Has got some words to say about the way we live today
Why can't we learn to love each other?
It's time to learn a new faith
To the whole world wide human race
Stop the money chase
and Lay back
Relax
Get back on the human track
Stop racing toward oblivion
Oh, such a sad, sad state we're in and that's a thing
Do you recognize the bells of truth when you hear them
ring?
Won't you stop and listen to the children sing…Won’t
you sing it children?
Won't you come on and sing it children (He's a stranger
in a strange land) Whoa, sing it one more time, I didn’t
hear ya
(Just a stranger in a strange land)
(He's a stranger in a strange land)
(Just a stranger in a strange land.)
Leon Russell is a colorful
character, but also an amazing musician (piano and guitar)
and songwriter.
He has been around for a long time and still tours and
occasionally records. The end of 1960's into the early
1970’s
put Leon in the spotlight as he toured with Joe Cocker
(Mad
Dogs
and
Englishmen) and played in The Concert for Bangladesh (benefit
concert organized by George Harrison).
The gospel influences of his Oklahoma roots combined with “get
down and shout it out” rock n’ roll flamboyance was a
hit with rock fans. But underneath the showmanship is a serious songwriter.
This song, Stranger in a Strange Land (from
the seminal Leon Russell and the Shelter People album), has a message – equal
parts political, social and spiritual – that is pertinent today.
The song opens with a few plaintive notes on the piano and Leon soulfully
moaning,” whoa, oh, whoa”. Then the great opening lines,
something each of us should ask. Do you consider how long it’s
been since you were born or how much time before you die? And how
are your relationships? Are you making others laugh and/or cry? We
all need some self-inventory from time to time.
The references to a baby, one that shares a bed of hay and also the
secrets of the wise man, brings to mind the Jesus as an infant. God
incarnate. How often did Christ feel like a stranger in a strange
land?
In the song Leon identifies with the baby.
He’s confused about the way people treat
others. He bemoans the state of affairs in
the world and the lack of true leadership.
He wonders why we don’t learn to love
each other. Yes, the message of the Christ
still calls us out and the world knows Him
not.
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The song encourages us to learn a faith
that is real and timeless. The Gospel message comes through
in lyric and music. Stop and listen to the children sing.
Sing it children! It’s always the children who can
show us what it is like to “be here now”, to
embrace innocence and to “recognize the bells of
truth when you hear them ring”.
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More song reflections:
Los Lonely Boys
- "Heaven"
read
Bob
Dylan - "Shelter From The Storm"
read
Switchfoot
- "Dare You to Move"
read
Carrie
Underwood - "Jesus, Take the
Wheel"
read
Lifehouse
- "Hangin' By a Moment"
read
Rascal
Flatts - "My Wish"
read |
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