All songs written by Paul Poulton except "A Note From Mr God" by Larry Norman
1 Massive
An untruth – big or small – God in heaven - hates them all
A lying tongue – haughty eyes – a false witness who pours out lies
You’re in league with the destroyer – illicit goods from your employer
Stolen bread tastes sweet – but leaves gravel in your teeth
To you it’s nothing – laid back and passive
It may look small but to me its massive
Commitment is skin deep - a little slumber a little sleep
Folding of hands – courting grief – poverty comes like a thief
Stay true – be strong – receive the good - reject the wrong
Falsehoods in disguise – no such thing as little white lies
To you it’s nothing – laid back and passive
It may look small but to me its massive
Hey friend – don’t you know there’s something wrong with me
I need help – from an idiosyncrasy
I’ve got a blemish and a spot
I know it doesn’t look a lot
But my soul will rot
If I don’t address it
There’s no way God can bless it
I really need to confess it
Vinegar – was wine – little foxes, spoil the vine
Dead flies, wreck perfume – Little things take all the room
To you it’s nothing – laid back and passive
It may look small but to me its massive
Hey friend – don’t you know there’s something wrong with you
You need help –now I don’t want you to misconstrue
Where do I begin
To explain original sin
That we all have within?
We need to address it
There’s no way God can bless it
We need to confess it.
‘Cos we don’t want to possess it
2 My Heart
If I think about the suffering
If I think about the pain
My heart shuts like a clam shell
Considering the state I’m in
Dragging my ball and chain
My heart can get as heavy as a barbell
But God’s grace gives me a fresh start
And melts the hardness of my heart
When I feel that I disagree
With friend or foe
My heart puts on its suit of armour
I’m ready for the battle
Even with people I don’t know
My heart needs a snake charmer
He who soothes the savage breast
Removes this tension in my chest
He who rolled away the stone from death and darkness
Can roll the hardness from my soul
His arm is not short
He’ll pull me out of this blackhole
When I think about my failings
from my youth up
My spirit flies at half-mast
And I feel like I’m drinking
from a poisoned cup
My heart feels so downcast
He who rescues has also told
Not to consider the things of old
If I think about the trouble
That I’ve been in
My soul sinks like a millstone
The accuser of the brethren
Points to my sin
And it seems as if I’m heading from the drop-zone
That’s when the Saviour of my soul
Says his blood has made me whole
3 Your Love
Sometimes I might be wrong
Sometimes I’m not so strong
But your love
Covers me
You’re the sinner’s perfect plea
Even when I am cold and my heart seems
Overgrown
Your words touch my soul
And my pride is overthrown
And when I’m feeling weak
But then I hear you speak
Your words
Strengthen me
I move forward fearlessly
I have prized, your voice, more than my,
daily bread
I need your words
When all is done and said
Men can shout - and talk
They’re clutching at hay and straw
Blessed are - those who walk
According to your law
Sometimes I’m feeling low
I know not where to go
Your Spirit counsels me
The door is locked but you have the key
Cause you perceive and you can guide me through what lies ahead
So my soul why are you so disquieted
4 This Mess I’ve Made
I’ve been trying to stay away from danger
I’ve been laying down low
But when I look into the rearview mirror
Trouble follows where I go
I can’t escape its claw
Is it a spiritual law
I’ve confessed, I have prayed
Come and look at this mess I’ve made
Things have a way of starting out so smooth
But then the way gets tough
The infrastructure starts to rock and sway
Around the edges it looks rough
I try to stay on course
But I’m fighting an unseen force
Lord, my good intentions got delayed
Come and look at this mess I’ve made
Any day
Can end in a quagmire
So I pray
Please be my purifier
With holy fire
My justifier
I’m looking for someone to take the rebuke
Someone who’s other than me
To take the rap for my misdemeanours
And let me off scott-free
Is there such a man
Who will carry the can
Lord, I have wandered, I have strayed
come and look at this mess I’ve made
I always begin with enthusiasm
I take the stress and strain
But over time it’s my attention
That begins to wane
I need a push and a shove
I need strength from above
Lord, my resolve needs first aid
Come and look at this mess I’ve made
Any day
Can end in disarray
So I pray
Please remove this decay
Throw it away
Break it like china clay
5 Serious
Making alibis, turning up with lies, won’t hide us.
Shuffling in our seat, and heading for the street, is dumb
Slipping and a sliding, wherever we are hiding – it’ll find us
Dashing through the gate, even turning up late, but it’ll come
The reason I am pressing is because
The situation is too serious
Had a good run, don’t think it’s just fun, it won’t help us
With the tangled web we weave the chances of reprieve are slim
Ducking and a diving, scheming and conniving won’t save us
We’ll be found out without a doubt from sin
You may think I’m delirious
Don’t you know that it’s so serious
It doesn’t matter how much you scream and shout
Be sure your sin will find you out.
We don’t like, one more strike against us
It goes against the grain, of a worldly vein, I know
Shilly and shally, dilly and dally but it’s coming
Judgement’s on its way, like a bobsleigh in snow
Please don’t think it’s mysterious
We reap what we sow, and it’s serious
You cannot point to your importance or your clout
Be sure your sin will find you out
God’s good grace, will keep pace with rebels
You can push, squeeze and crush to the wire
Tick tock, the doomsday clock’s against you
People pay if they play with fire.
Please don’t be imperious
It’s simply far too serious
We can be sure and there’s no room for doubt
Be sure your sin will find you out
6 A Note From Mr God
Well I was so down
My chin on the ground
Wondering what to do
Then suddenly I was surprised from out of the blue
The birds sang their song as I walked along
I suddenly felt quite odd
'Cos out of the sky fell a note from Mr God
And it said
“You got the blues but you can shake it
If you have faith you can make it
You have a chance
You must take it while you can
You have a choice but you must choose it
Don't give up hope
Never lose it”
That's what it said on the note from Mr God
I was in town
Just hanging around
Wondering what to do
Then suddenly I was surprised from out of the blue
So if you feel down
Your chin on the ground
And suddenly you feel odd
Just look around for that note from Mr God
And he’ll say
“You got the blues but you can shake it
If you have faith you can make it
You have a chance
You must take it while you can
You have a choice but you must choose it
Don't give up hope
Never lose it”
That's what it said on the note from Mr God
7 All You Need Is Money
Dumb, if you think that all you need is money
Fool, if you think it’s all you need to be free
Cash may get you friends and matrimony
But will it work out – well there’s no guarantee
Life consists in what a man confesses
Not in the abundance of what he posses
You’ll wonder why you fussed
When it all turns back to dust
We need wealth that lasts eternally
Wise if you know the root of all evil
Smart if you watch for every form of greed
The love of wealth and money can be lethal
Commit your plans to God that they may succeed
Ill-gotten gain makes you complicit
Blessed are the poor in spirit
You’ll look back through the years
When it all disappears
There’s only one thing that we need
Take one look at cash
It can go in a flash
In a financial crash
Take care
Sign deals attached with strings (but remember)
Riches can sprout wings
So both men and kings
Beware
Bright if you know the righteous live by trust
Sharp if you know the principle of living
Lessons that we learn cannot be rushed
Learning it’s not taking but in giving
The distribution is on merit
And it’s the meek who will inherit
True wealth will start
For the pure in heart
When their aim is thanksgiving
8 That’s What People Do
If you abuse it - you may well lose it
If you dig it - you may fall in it
Evil grows from where it sprang
It comes back like a boomerang
If you push it – you may well crush it
If you roll a stone – it may recoil and crush your bone
That’s the biblical world view
Shame – for that’s what people do
If you plant an evil seed
It will yield a bitterweed
And you will reap what you have sown now
These are principles that have been
Placed into the overall scheme
If you ignore it – or deny you saw it
You curtail your own sight – Into the dark of the night
Your denials will backfire
And you will fall on your tripwire
You will affect it – if you disrespect it
You can’t work on it – if you prey upon it
Gentleness is what we need
Love and grace should be our creed
Take care of who you love
They’re a gift from above
Take care not to hurt or misuse
Don’t take love lightly
With a strong grip hold tightly
Cos what you’ve got you may well lose
So please don’t hurt it – or disconcert it
Relationships – disappear in drabs and drips
The disregard that you have shown
Will dig right down into the bone
If you plant an evil seed
It will yield a bitterweed
And you will reap what you have sown now
These are principles that have been
Placed into the overall scheme
9 If Ever
Trouble and woe
Won’t let go
You may not know who’s a friend or foe
Jesus, the one true friend
He stays with us to the end.
If ever there’s a time, for us to stay in line, that time is now
Day or night
Dark or light
You’re never sure if it’s fight or flight
Peace on earth, with goodwill
Hear those words “peace be still”
If ever there’s a time, for a holy paradigm, that time is now
Behold - the darkness covers the world
And men’s hearts fail them for fear
Fiction - or fact – the line’s been blurred
And each voice seems insincere
If ever there’s a time, for the alarm bell to chime, that time is now
Pretence
Bare-faced lies
You’re never sure who’s naïve or wise
There’s one voice that is sure
A Rock that is secure
The earth
will rock and quake
The foundations begin to shake
Removing what’s profane
And what’s holy will remain
If ever there’s a time, for us to stay in line, that time is now