I love the blues. Not the feeling. The poetry/musical style that gives the feeling voice. Basically the blues are modern psalms of lament. Like the Psalms, the blues both musically and poetically dredge deep into the heart and soul and express emotions that are hard to find words for. The blues focus on heartbreak and betrayal and the need to be heard and justice to be served. And they’re usually simple expressions. You don’t have to dig for meaning. And sometimes when you’re feeling low you don’t have the energy to work that hard.
For today’s Sunday Psalm I thought we needed a simple lament and a plea for God to hear us. I hope it speaks for you.
Lord,
I woke up this mornin’
Looked round for You
Lord, I have those low down
Desperate prayin’ blues.
Lord,
Don’t know what this day holds
I can’t see out
Of this deep ol’ blues hole.
Hear what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.
Lord, I’m standing in the need
Of mercy undeserved
From your healing hand
Love’s flow unreserved
Through the Son of Man
Lord, I’m standing in the need
Of hearing your sure Word,
Help me take a stand
Against this luckless world,
From this sinking sand.
Lord,
I woke up this mornin’
Looked round for You.
Lord, I have these low down
Desperate prayin’ blues.
I’m standing in the need
Of more than daily bread,
Manna floatin’ down,
Be raised from the dead.
Lift me up off the ground
I’m standing in the need
Of eyes can see clear
To the gates of heaven.
Of ears can please hear
Your Spirit’s soft breathin’.
Lord,
Don’t know what this day holds
I can’t see out
Of this deep blues hole.
Hear what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.
Lord,
I’m down on my knees
Beggin’ asking, please.
It’s not just me, Lord
This whole damned world
Stands in need of release.
Lord,
I woke up this mornin’
Looked round for You
Lord, I have those low down
Desperate prayin’ blues.
One more thing, Lord,
“I need you to hear my cry.”
Listen to my sad song.
Raise me from the floor.
To Jesus I belong,
All I need and no more.
Jesus,
I woke up this mornin’
Looked round for You.
I know you understand
And hear my prayin’ blues.
Inspired by the blues songs Keep Praying by The True Believers and Walkin’ Blues by Robert Johnson.
The great blues artist Taj Mahal said, “Particularly with the blues, it’s not just about bad times. It’s about the healing spirit.” Thank you for this. I have never connected Psalms of lament to the blues..so cool. Great fan of Taj Mahal and Robert Johnson. Your Psalm is yearning for a great 12 bar Blues progression. As an aside I joined the Presbyterian Church I emailed you about. It is nice to be home
Grace and Peace my friend
You’re welcome. We saw Taj this fall with Van Morrison at Fiddlers Green. He was amazing. I’d like to see him at a more intimate setting. Decent and in order, fellow Presbyterian. And take care.
always a good prayer ~ “help me, Lord!”,…
My most consistent prayer!
Speak the truth… Amen and amen
Thanks, Elna. Fun comment.
The evening of Sunday 2/6, our church had a Service of Lament, featuring Psalm 13. We were handed instructions for crafting a personal lament:
Stanza One: Line 1: Who I know God to be right now. Line 2: The cause of my lament — why I cry out. Line 3: What the situation makes me feel about God. Line 4: What I long to see happen in this situation.
Stanza Two: Line 5: Repeat line 2 of Stanza One. Line 6: Say anything you’d like to say. Line 7: Repeat Line 4 of Stanza One. Line 8: Say anything you’d like to say.
Stanza Three: Line 9: Repeat Line 6 of Stanza Two. Line 10: Repeat Line 3 of Stanza One. Line 11: Repeat Line 8 of Stanza Two. Line 12: Repeat Line 1 of Stanza One.
Makes for a lament of personal significance. I’ve yet to give it a try. How about you?
I’ve not seen that kind of outline. I’d like to try it. While I’m writing these psalms, I am watching for ideas and patterns like that. Thank you for the idea.
This is a week of learning to accept. Be thou my strength……
Amen. Praying that for you.