last night i went to see laura veirs at the cafe de norde in san francisco. for anyone who is unfamiliar with ms. veirs music, i must say it is outstanding. start with either saltbreakers or year of meteors, both albums are great. the live show did not disappoint. she is playing with a band called the saltbreakers, all stellar musicians. it was one of the most genuine experiences i have had lately. there was nothing bombastic or rock starrish about it. it was a pristine example of people who loved to make and play music, and were very good at it. and it was a lot of fun. good times.

if you haven’t yet, check out “the reminder” by fiest and “begin to hope” by regina spektor. anything by these artists is great, but these two albums in particular will blow your mind.

i wrote this song based on an experience i had with a friend the other day in the checkout line of the grocery store. it caused me to think about the disappointments i can feel with christianity as a religion from time to time, and how i contribute to the very things i hate. its intriguing to me how God can speak to us in all sorts of ways if we can listen. even maybe through good hearted people who preach the word without love.

i guy i saw in the store today said jesus died to save me/then walked away and left us standing there/he left me feeling kinda burned without a trace of true concern/he left me with a question for myself

in and out of apathy, a blistering inside of me/what does it really matter what i say/ i jump on all the latest trends and act as if my faith depends on bumper stickers, churches and our songs/to think that all this time i’ve had it wrong

what gives? what gives?/you promised there’d be more than this/is there nothing left to live?

in and out of feeling down enough to spin my head around/and leave me wondering why i tried so hard/another time, another place i could have walked right off this stage/and lived without the pressure to perform/and lived without the impulse to conform

so what gives? what gives?/you promised there’d be more than this/is there nothing left to live?

do i really buy what i am selling?/or is this all a story just for telling?