The Grace of British Folk Music

Last updated on: December 28, 2009 at 11:40 am by Dave Dunham

The Grace of British Folk Music 2009-12-28T11:40:24-07:00 Dave Dunham

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When King Solomon said that there was nothing new under the sun he had obviously never heard of Mumford & Sons. Of course I am speaking tongue in cheek, but this British folk band represents something that (while not being entirely new) is hard to find in the music world. They play on subtlety and the understated in a beautiful way.

As you listen to the various tracks on their only full album “Sigh No More” you get a sense that they are speaking of love, yes, but of something so much more too. Their lyrics represent an idea of love that seems very Biblical (a definition almost unheard of today, even in “Christian” music). But more than that they write, with subtlety and understatement, about a love that has its roots in something greater than human relationships. So, for example, in “Winter Winds,” they write:

The shame that sent me off from the God that I once loved

Was the same that sent me into your arms

And pestilence has won when you are lost and I am gone

And no hope, no hope, will overcome

These lyrics seem to suggest that love that is temporal only has no lasting power. Think too of these lyrics, from “Roll Away Your Stone”:

It seems that all my bridges have been burnt

But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works

It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart

But the welcome I receive with the restart

There are countless lyrics like these two examples that suggest of a possible deep love and affection for Christ, and yet it cannot be certain simply from listening to the music. It may sound strange to some, but that is in fact precisely why I love this album: the subtlety and even ambiguity of the lyrics (along with the amazing musical quality). Lyrics like those found in the opening lines of “White Blank Page” are the kind that stir me to contemplate deeper affections:

Can you lie next to her

And give you her your heart

Your heart, as well as your body

And can you lie next to her

And confess your love

Your love, as well as your folly

And can you kneel before the king

And say I’m clean, I’m clean

What does that mean? I am not certain, but I hear it and I think to myself: can I love my wife in such a way, can a dating couple love in such a way as to remain pure before the King? Now I’ll grant that “Little Lion Man” drops the “F-bomb” and many Christians will be appalled by that, and understandably so. But there is so much thoughtfulness and understatement in this album that I can’t help but appreciate it.

Whether Mumford & Sons turn out to be in fact speaking of Christ or not this album’s subtlety does represent the grace of God. And not only because they speak of grace in a Biblical way (as in the lyrics listed above), but because all truth is God’s truth (we call this Common Grace)…even truth found in British folk songs.

Featured

Headline

Music

Previous Post

December 23, 2009

Christ and Pop Culture's Guide to Christmas

Next Post

December 30, 2009 'The Road' Goes Ever On

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz