Dane Ralph

Contrary to how it looks this was not filmed during an earthquake. It was, however, filmed right after I dropped the camera and didn’t realize the focus was still shaking it off. Sorry bout that.

“Revelation when applied to religion, means something communicated immediately from God to man. No one will deny or dispute the power of the Almighty to make such a communication if he pleases. But... It is a contradiction in terms and ideas, to call anything a revelation that comes to us at second-hand, either verbally or in writing. Revelation is necessarily limited to the first communication; after this, it is only an account of something which that person says was a revelation made to him; and though he may find himself obliged to believe it, it cannot be incumbent on me to believe it in the same manner; for it was not a revelation made to me, and I have only his word for it that it was made to him.”

The Age of Reason (pg. 6-7) / Thomas Paine

Lyrics:

If you’ve a word for me don’t have a word with me
I don’t need to know the revelation you see
If God has something to say I’m listening
If you’ve a word for me don’t have a word with me

Revelation is necessarily limited
To the one who says they received it
And it ain’t my duty to believe it
Especially when you’re known to play pretend

If you’ve a word for me don’t have a word with me
I don’t need to know the revelation you see
If God has something to say I’m listening
If you’ve a word for me don’t have a word with me

“Necessarily Limited” written by Dane Ralph

The result of a friend saying to write a song without rhyme.

“And Atlas through hard constraint upholds the wide heaven with unwearying head and arms, standing at the borders of the earth before the clear-voiced Hesperides; for this lot wise Zeus assigned to him.”

“Theogony” / Hesiod

Lyrics:

Where’s Medusa when you need her
I’d like to look in her eyes
It would lighten my burden
If my heart wasn’t the only stone

Where do you go when you’ve lost the war
And the only family you’ve ever known
I hear my mother on the wind and she’s singing
Be still
Still be

I got universes on my shoulders
And I found purpose in your punishment
My greatest act of resistance is that I’m still standing

“Still” written by Dane Ralph

I’d never do what you did.

“Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.”

Genesis 50:20 (NRSVUE)

Lyrics:

I can admit I’m playing the victim
But you were real quick to try on my costume
I can admit playing my part in it
But I’d never do what you did

I curse you to the moon
He hates you too
Exchanged places with the sun in the sky
In the cold night
You hoped I died
In the warm daylight you run and hide

So I’ll climb to the top of the mountain
And you’ll ride the waves of my turning tide
I’ll fly to new heights
And leave my shadows behind
They’re no brothers of mine

Original song “Shadows” written by Dane Ralph

God is more concerned with sincerity than rule following.

“And Aaron spoke to Moses, ‘See, today they offered their purification offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and yet such things as these have befallen me! If I had eaten the purification offering today, would it have been agreeable to the Lord?’”

Leviticus 10:19 (NRSVUE)

Lyrics:

You’ll keep clinging to those old familiar things
And I’ll keep saying you don’t know what you’re missing
Just ‘cause it’s how it’s been don’t mean it’s how it ought to be
Death ain’t the wages of sincerity

We’ve lost a lot already why give it all we’ve got
Ain’t nothing wrong with cutting a loss

You’ll keep clinging to those old familiar things
And I’ll keep saying you don’t know what you’re missing
Just ‘cause it’s how it’s been don’t mean it’s how it ought to be
Death ain’t the wages of sincerity

Original song “Sincerity” written by Dane Ralph