This song, from Eric Peters’s Chrome is a perfect compliment to the discussion in yesterday’s post about Magnolia. It’s about pain, and anger, and regret. And it’s beautiful. It also features a reference to one of my favorite lines by Frederick Buechner:
“The story of any one of us is in some measure the story of us all.”
Both that quote and this song, called “I Had To Tell You”, are wonderful illustrations of why art that’s painful and difficult is worth grappling with. Thanks for the great song, Eric.
(Chrome by Eric Peters is available in the Rabbit Room Store.)
I’ve had chains wrapped around me for the last seven years I crowned myself Messiah since Messiah was not near I shook my fist at heaven, I told God to go to hell There was so much that I had to say but had kept it to myself
I had to tell you how I hated you that day But I had to learn how hard it was for me to say It hurts even now to know those words came from my mouth But I had to tell you
Though I walked in the darkness, the darkness was disguised All the stars before me were a homemade set of skies Then a window opened and the sky burst into flame I could not bear to face you, I was naked and ashamed
So I had to tell you how I hated you that day But I had to learn how hard it was for me to say It hurts even now to know those words came from my mouth But I had to tell you
Now standing in the ruins is a lily undisturbed Owning nothing but its life and a humble place on earth Born to bear beauty unto the great and to the small Its story, in some measure, is the story of us all
I had to tell you I had to tell you