These are the liner-notes from Over The Rhine's Drunkard's Prayer CD. The choice these two made in order to save their marriage is so rare today. I want to be available to encourage people that are struggling under the weight that this life so often becomes. To let people know it is so worth hanging in there when the going gets tough. I'm reminded of a line from a song on this recording that is a good bit of advice about living day to day....or actually moment to moment. We all too often get way out in front and conjure up more problems than we need or can bare. Let's learn to live with Jesus where he is....in the moment. The past is dead....the future doesn't exist.
I remember once you said
Lying in this bed
The past is dead
Everyday is a one-act play
Without an ending
I think we all would find that if we do this a little bit at a time this journey is so worth going on?
1. Talk a bit about the band’s goings-on since OHIO.
OHIO got quite a bit of good press and our fans embraced the songs, which was a lot of fun for us, especially since we were a bit unsure how a double album would be received. We threw ourselves into promoting OHIO, because we believed it was some of our best work and still do.
But a few months into our national tour, Karin and I realized that although good things were happening with our music, there was just very little energy or creativity or time left over for our marriage, and it was taking a toll on us. I think we had to learn that putting a long-term relationship on autopilot indefinitely can be dangerous if not fatal. We decided we had to pull the plug on the tour and go home and figure out if being together was something we were still committed to.
We opted to start over, reinvent our own relationship, dig deep and do the homework to see if we could make our marriage sing. We decided to redirect the same thought and energy, that we had been putting into writing and performing, toward our life at home together. We prayed a lot. Our friends prayed a lot. It was the beginning of a wonderful new chapter for us. And hopefully, some of what we’ve learned has not only made us better people, but better songwriters as well.
2. Discuss the making of the record, the decision to record at home, the sonic results and feel.
Part of the challenge of being a working musician is just being away from home so much. On the one hand, it’s a real privilege to be able to perform our songs in front of an appreciative audience. On the other hand, it’s difficult to establish rhythms, be rooted and build a good life at home when we’re constantly coming and going. It’s also a challenge to stay connected to family and friends, to be part of a community. So, we opted to record Drunkard’s Prayer in our living room. We decided to keep it close to home and make a simple record that was deeply connected to this time in our lives.
We limited the palette to our piano and acoustic guitars, upright bass, some cello, a few horns and subtle textures. We didn’t labor over the songs, which tend to be very personal. We’ve found there’s often an undeniable warmth and honesty that comes through in the recordings we make at home.
3. Discuss the origin of the title.
We opted to call the record Drunkard’s Prayer, which was the name of the first song we recorded for this project, a song that sort of set the tone for the record. Maybe that’s why we need songwriters: when we run out of words to pray, sometimes a song will do the trick.
We decided to put a white horse on the cover, because that image has been associated with redemption. The songs on this record tell the story of two people finding their way back home after almost losing everything, each other included.
We also liked the fact that Drunkard’s Prayer sounded like the name of a race horse, a long shot, a horse with little chance of winning, but the one you’ve got all your money on.
4. Provide a few sentences on a few of the tunes: inspiration for, anecdotal info, etc.
Born - When we came home from the tour, we bought two cases of wine and decided we were going to put a bottle on the kitchen table every evening and start talking until nothing was left. The idea was not to get piss-drunk, but to talk face to face deep into the night.
Drunkard’s Prayer - Everybody wants to be drunk on the good stuff--drunk on life, love, music, the wine of God and what not. In the New Testament, when the believers were first filled with the Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues, the onlookers thought they were drunk. It takes some of that same holy foolhardiness to attempt to be an artist, a lover, a true friend, an adopted child of God.
Hush Now - We’ve talked about doing a record someday with just the two of us, and we did a few songs on Drunkard’s Prayer that way.
5. Anything else you’d like to have mentioned?
Quiet music should be played loud.We are not brother and sister.
Questions: Anne Dickens
Answers: Linford and Karin
I remember once you said
Lying in this bed
The past is dead
Everyday is a one-act play
Without an ending
I think we all would find that if we do this a little bit at a time this journey is so worth going on?
1. Talk a bit about the band’s goings-on since OHIO.
OHIO got quite a bit of good press and our fans embraced the songs, which was a lot of fun for us, especially since we were a bit unsure how a double album would be received. We threw ourselves into promoting OHIO, because we believed it was some of our best work and still do.
But a few months into our national tour, Karin and I realized that although good things were happening with our music, there was just very little energy or creativity or time left over for our marriage, and it was taking a toll on us. I think we had to learn that putting a long-term relationship on autopilot indefinitely can be dangerous if not fatal. We decided we had to pull the plug on the tour and go home and figure out if being together was something we were still committed to.
We opted to start over, reinvent our own relationship, dig deep and do the homework to see if we could make our marriage sing. We decided to redirect the same thought and energy, that we had been putting into writing and performing, toward our life at home together. We prayed a lot. Our friends prayed a lot. It was the beginning of a wonderful new chapter for us. And hopefully, some of what we’ve learned has not only made us better people, but better songwriters as well.
2. Discuss the making of the record, the decision to record at home, the sonic results and feel.
Part of the challenge of being a working musician is just being away from home so much. On the one hand, it’s a real privilege to be able to perform our songs in front of an appreciative audience. On the other hand, it’s difficult to establish rhythms, be rooted and build a good life at home when we’re constantly coming and going. It’s also a challenge to stay connected to family and friends, to be part of a community. So, we opted to record Drunkard’s Prayer in our living room. We decided to keep it close to home and make a simple record that was deeply connected to this time in our lives.
We limited the palette to our piano and acoustic guitars, upright bass, some cello, a few horns and subtle textures. We didn’t labor over the songs, which tend to be very personal. We’ve found there’s often an undeniable warmth and honesty that comes through in the recordings we make at home.
3. Discuss the origin of the title.
We opted to call the record Drunkard’s Prayer, which was the name of the first song we recorded for this project, a song that sort of set the tone for the record. Maybe that’s why we need songwriters: when we run out of words to pray, sometimes a song will do the trick.
We decided to put a white horse on the cover, because that image has been associated with redemption. The songs on this record tell the story of two people finding their way back home after almost losing everything, each other included.
We also liked the fact that Drunkard’s Prayer sounded like the name of a race horse, a long shot, a horse with little chance of winning, but the one you’ve got all your money on.
4. Provide a few sentences on a few of the tunes: inspiration for, anecdotal info, etc.
Born - When we came home from the tour, we bought two cases of wine and decided we were going to put a bottle on the kitchen table every evening and start talking until nothing was left. The idea was not to get piss-drunk, but to talk face to face deep into the night.
Drunkard’s Prayer - Everybody wants to be drunk on the good stuff--drunk on life, love, music, the wine of God and what not. In the New Testament, when the believers were first filled with the Holy Spirit and started speaking in tongues, the onlookers thought they were drunk. It takes some of that same holy foolhardiness to attempt to be an artist, a lover, a true friend, an adopted child of God.
Hush Now - We’ve talked about doing a record someday with just the two of us, and we did a few songs on Drunkard’s Prayer that way.
5. Anything else you’d like to have mentioned?
Quiet music should be played loud.We are not brother and sister.
Questions: Anne Dickens
Answers: Linford and Karin
9 comments:
These guys are so great :)
Good stuff lately Kent. A lot to chew on - the previous Ellul quote I'm kinda half digested :)
Did I mention how damn fine I feel? I can't explain how horrid it's been, being basically wiped off the earth for a couple of months, and that only after I had FINALLY gaind a bit of equilibrium from the marriage breakup. And then to fall into hell again ... but now I'm back out the other side again and oh, man, it's all beautiful, I'm back in touch with myself again and it just ROCKS. SO. MUCH. :)
Anyway, enough about me. How rude, lobbing onto people's blogs and just crapping on about yourself. But there you go :)
Sue, you don't need to appologize to me. I love hearing what is going on in other's lives. I am glad you are feeling better.
That Ellul article in the previous post is full to the brim of things to ponder. I'm finding that living freer everyday is possible and is becoming a reality. My mind is being cleared of much of the clutter. I am glad OTR and Ellul found a way into my life.
Kent
It's a story of redemption that few people take the time, the energy to engage in. That is the reason for the end of so many marriages. It's not a magical moment that makes things right ... it's a lot of work ... and maybe a bit of wine.
Thanks.
Cynthia
Kent,
Yes, freer and freer
I was pondering some of the previous Ellul post as I sat waiting for the train. He articulates so well so many things that I ponder as I sit waiting for trains :)
Living freer - for me at the moment the main thing is being free to just live right in the moment without worrying about anything other than what I am doing. It's just amazing how everything pans out. I have been virtually unable to do this the past few months while sick, for some reason. Control issues I am sure. But oh, the bliss to return to this lovely place. I missed it so.
I feel so gushy today :) I'm even finding myself singing daggy old ELO songs (I'm Alive, from the Xanadu soundtrack - how embarrassing to admit but there yu go, I just did :)
I used to love ELO....WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER...LOL. But don't sweat it, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
Cynthia, as you know, relationships in general are a lot of work...especially when we try to do it from the land of bondage. That is where I lived most of my 20 years of marriage. I just can't stress enough and mention enough the changes that began to happen in me last year. From our conversations I get the feeling this is what is happening in you and Sue both.
I had it on my heart last night to revisit this story of Linford and Karin to be an encouragement for people who are making it through the difficulties of marriage and for those who's marraiges have ended up in the "junkyard of love." I wish no one ever had to feel the pain of broken relationships but that is just not reality. Which brings me back to Ellul and how he descibes the life of freedom. Over The Rhine speaks so passionately about the experiences of life also and they seem to speak from experience when it comes to the pain we all suffer under at times because of the broken places we so often attempt to live from. I think it is the broken places that turn out to be the doorway of hope.
During that time last year so many things were coming apart and one of them was what I had lived "thinking" freedom was. Turns out it was none of the things I had lived believing. Then a dear brother that had also been so helpful to me during that time mentioned Ellul to me. As I began to read the things he has written it began to confirm in me so many of the things I had began to see when it comes to freedom...violence...christendom...power...money...and how living in the land defined by the effects of man grabbing for that which God had not given shapes us to think and then attempt to live. Nothing from that place is ever about freedom and it is never life.
So, we continue to walk on with Jesus who is committed to opening our eyes and ears so we can see and hear and live free....in that new place love and harmony in relationships not only becomes a possibility, it becomes a reality. And all the while the systems we live can't ever make that happen. They actually work against it.
Hey Kent ...
Did you have Josh Garrels in your music sidebar before I posted about him? If so, I am scratching my head as to how I missed that.
He has been there ever since Jennifer had posted that video on her blog several weeks ago. So yes, he was there but he is pretty new to me.
"I used to love ELO....WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER...LOL. But don't sweat it, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus."
Haha you smartarse.
Kent, yes you're right that Father is expanding my horizons yet again. This has been a process that he began in earnest six years ago. It's funny how you experience a certain level of freedom in an area and it's easy to kind of dust your hands off and say, "Well, that's THAT little problem dealt with!" in our silly human way that we do - and Papa is saying, "Darling child, I have just begun. There is more, more to come."
That's about where I am at the moment with certain things, with walking in spacious places. He is so good.
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