In case you haven’t heard, Jason Gray’s “More Like Falling In Love” is getting lots of radio play these days. (Call your local station and tell them you want to hear it.) But just because he’s got a song on the charts doesn’t mean he’s abandoned his noble folkish roots.
The song of the (tues)day is my favorite off his newest album. It’s called “The Golden Boy & The Prodigal.” Like a good Bob Dylan song, it’s got about 47 verses and I dig that (even if the radio stations don’t.) There are two sides to every person Like the two sides of a dime Heads or tails it depends upon Who’s watching at the time Though I hate to say it Mine is no exception One part is the prodigal The other part: deception
Like the prince and the pauper Like Jacob and his brother Each hide a different heart Each a shadow of the other Me and my doppelganger Both share the same blood One I have hated The other have I loved
One of them’s the Golden Boy The man I’d like to be I show him off in the parades For all the world to see The other is much weaker He stumbles all the time The source of my embarrassment He’s the one I try to hide
The Golden boy is made of straw His finest suit will surely burn His vice is the virtue That he never had to earn The prodigal’s been broken And emptied at the wishing well But he’s stronger for the breaking With a story to tell
I’m not easy with confessions It’s hard to tell the truth But I have favored the golden boy While the other I’ve abused And he takes it like a man Though he’s longing like a child To be loved and forgiven And share the burden for awhile
So take a good look in the mirror Tell me who you see The one who Jesus died for Or the one you’d rather be Can you find it in your heart To show mercy to the one The Father loved so much That he gave his only son…
Get Jason’s Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue in the Rabbit Room Store for just $10.