A Peek into Matthew Streib's iPod

It finally stopped raining, after 12 straight days. Twelve days! The horror.

But because of the rain, I took so few photographs, even though I was passing through gorgeous terrain. (I am not going to buy a new camera because this one was waterlogged trying to get a photograph of a moss-covered redwood, even if it is awesome.)

So I decided to just give you a few lyrics from my iPod as I approach San Francisco. Throughout this trip, I listen to my iPod a lot. NPR, short stories, books on tape, and a lot of music. I have a playlist of more than 1,000 songs that I’ve gone through more than 15 time. Some of these are religious, from groups that you might not expect. So here are some snippets I like best. (I doubt that many of these groups are the original artists, or even that they wrote the songs, but these are the versions I listen to.)

First, “You Don’t Knock,” by The Detroit Cobras. It’s an upbeat, happy song, showing that love of God can be the best comfort sometimes.

You don’t knock, you just walk on in. The door into Heaven’s inn.
There’s love and joy for you to share the whole day through.
I know my friends are there to rest in the heaven’s nest.
You don’t knock, ring, punch a hole. The door’s wide open a-waitin’ for your soul. You don’t knock, you just walk on in.

I’ve walked life’s winding road ‘cause I’m tryin’ to bear the load.
And I traveled both night and day. So tired I could hardly pray.
Well, Jesus is my light and my guide. He’s ever by my side.
So, I’m walkin’, not a-knockin’, into Heaven with pride.

Next, “The Story of the Grandson of Jesus” by Cloud Cult. This song I like because it talks about going beyond dogma and just looking at the basic teachings of all religions, and how some get caught up in the ritual, but lost the meaning. If you have the right intent, however, you can get to the right outcome.

He said, “Do unto yourself as you do unto your neighbor.
It’s not an eye for an eye, it’s a favor for a favor,
And it’s OK if this world had a billion saviors
Because there’s so many things to be saved.

Take my words with a boulder of salt
Or blame it on your devil,
Always the scapegoats fault.
We all point fingers when it comes to a halt,
Can somebody show us the way?

Then comes “The John Berchman Victory Choir,” by American Music Club. This folksy-sounding, slow ditty evokes earthy images of a county fair and simple pleasures. In fact, that’s the point, to remind you that it’s the simple things that make life worth living, and when you’re depressed, nothing will ever get better if you just sit on your butt.

They only sing about answered prayers
And every word translates as a thank you
There to drown out all the voices of despair
So only Heaven’s music can touch you

Stop haunting your bed
And drop all the chains of the dead
Wake up and tie up your shoes
It doesn’t matter what you do.

For some old school, there’s Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five with “Message II (Survival).” How can you not love the original hip hop legend, with his no-nonsense approach to the difficulties of life. He delves into subjects and sadness so deep that I’ll hopefully never have to experience myself, and yet makes them palatable. If only more people listened more deeply to his lyrics, and less frat boys made mockeries of them.

About to lose your mind because live is hard
And yet you believe in everything but God.
Those pretty women lost of money,
That’s alright but don’t you ever forget the man with the might.
Now get a hold of yourself man, think positive
Because that’s definitely the only way to live.
Don’t let you mind flow, like water from a cup
And don’t you ever let me hear you say that you’re giving up.

Remember: a child is born with no state of mind
He was blind to the ways of mankind
God is smiling on you but he’s frowning too
Because only god knows what you’ll go through.

For even more disillusionment, there’s Bob Marley, with “We and Dem.” I think this is quite self-explanatory on many levels in today’s society.

But someone will ‘ave to pay
For the innocent blood
That they shed every day,
Oh, children, mark my word;
It’s what the Bible say.

But in the beginning Jah created everythin’,
Givin’ man dominion over all things.
But now it’s too late,
You see, men has lost their faith.
Eating up all the flesh from off the earth, eh!

When I’m really sad, I listen to “Revival” by The Soulsavers. The lyrics don’t do this song justice, as the longing in the lead singer’s voice is chilling. This song makes me thing of soapbox preachers of old, and how people would travel hundreds of miles to hear them. Communities were tight back then, in old America. That’s what I dream of when I think of a revival.

Forgive what I have done
It means my soul’s survival.
I need you so, it’s sin
Put an end to my suffering.

I wanna see a revival tonight
Lord, let there be a revival.

I could go on forever, but I’ll end with this one. It’s a simple, happy ditty, and not too deep. (I don’t listen to it too often, though, as it can be infectious and annoying, like any song by Shari Lewis and Lambchop.) It’s “I Love You and Buddha Too” by Mason Jennings.

Oh Jesus, I love you
And I love Buddha too
Ramakrishna, Guru Dev
Tao Te Ching and Mohammed.

Is the universe Your thought?
You are and You are not.
You are many, You are one.
Ever ending, just begun.