Derek Webb got his start as a part of Caedmon’s Call before going solo a few years ago. He is passionate about Jesus and his lyrics often sting as you listen to them because he is a bit of a prophet to the American Christian church. He often reveals our sinful tendency to abuse Christianity for our own benefit instead of exalting Christ and His gospel of redemption and restoration.
His latest CD is Stockholm Syndrome and it’s been controversial. Apparently his lyrics are too strong to be labeled Christian, or so we are to be led to believe. He’s made the release a treasure hunt, using his website to display coded emails that give you the song Spirit vs. Kick-drum, which is awesome if you’ve listened to it. He has placed “artifacts” in various cities that look like the image above that point to the next city, check paradise is a parking lot for your secret clues. It’s an awesome way to build buzz over a CD release and DW fans are quite anxious for it’s release.
I’ll post again soon to track the progress of Derek’s album and show you how to decipher the code to find the next city.
Below are the lyrics to the other song that has been released, titled Heaven.
I was killed in a shopping cart.
Turned upside down and left for dead
I saw a clown try to speak to me
As I floated over him.
I found my way to a familiar place
I swear I’ve been some time before
I would have thought it was the marketplace
But I could not find the door
Oh I have been to heaven
And I have walked the streets
Cause I couldn’t find the hand to hold
To keep me on my feet
So paradise is a parking lot
A spot up front is your reward
All the rest walk down streets of gold
To the house they could afford
I got lost in swelling crowd
And I could not afford to eat
You only have what you came in with
So I’m living on the street
Oh I have been to heaven
And I found no relief
Cause I couldn’t find the hand to hold
To keep me on my feet
I heard Jesus Christ was there
He had a car that’s bulletproof
That way everyone is safe
From the man who tells the truth
Oh I have been to heaven
And I have walked the streets
But I couldn’t find a hand to hold
To keep me on my feet
I couldn’t find a hand to hold
To keep me on my feet
That’s Heaven off of Derek Webb’s Stockholm Syndrome. What do you think it means for you? For the church in America?
