One of Narrow Road's favorite venues, back in the day, was the Methodist Student Union at the University of Central Arkansas: We were welcomed back multiple times; they were very warm and receptive, and we established genuine friendships there with many.
It was at this venue where we found ourselves, playing to a packed house, in the middle of our acoustic set. The opening chords to our thought provoking song, "Behind Prism Bars," permeated the atmosphere.
"Behind Prism Bars," 1993 Studio Version
All was calm and quiet: The crowd had settled in and were seated, listening intently to the melodic music. There is a line in the song which says, "Thank God, The Lord even loves Gentiles..." Sung live, the song was typically delivered as in the studio version heard above.
Being the lead vocalist and the band's primary songwriter, the meaning behind each song stirred a lot of passion within me. I often tried to convey a message or bring a point home.
So there I was, singing this soft, lilting song, when an inexplicable notion occurred intending to drive the point home. I sang, "Thank GOD The Lord even loves Gentiles..." with a soft delivery, though when I sang "God," I shouted His Name into the microphone.
The crowd that was listening in thought, seated and soothed, instantly reared back in fright at what had just occurred. Their eyes were as wide as saucers; they were startled and shaken. I didn't bring the point home to them; I drove the point through them.
No disrespect was meant to the Name above all names. That was certainly not my intent. I was young, and my passion often got the better of me back then. One would be hard pressed to forget that experience; I only hope the song's meaning wasn't lost on anyone.
Would I have delivered the song differently if I found myself back at the Methodist Student Union in 1993? Yes. I can't help but smile a little and shake my head, however, when thinking back on this... Another crazy band story.
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- K -
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