End of The World, Part 2

Everybody’s having a good laugh about the prediction that Saturday will be the End of the World. And yes, we’ve snickered about it right here. But look around – there’ve been tornadoes, tsunamis, wildfires and floods, maybe that’s a sign of the End Times.

All of our heroes – Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, Newt Gingrich, Arnold Schwarzenegger – are crumbling before our very eyes. Justin Timberlake and Lady Gaga are on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend – another sign?

You can’t ignore these signs. You definitely cannot laugh them away. I’m getting a case of beer on Saturday morning, just in case, and hoping I don’t have a hangover the morning after.

More signs of the coming apocalypse

MP3: “Earth Died Screaming” by Tom Waits

MP3: “In The Year 2525” by Zager & Evans

MP3: “Southern Comfort” by Terry Allen

MP3: “Jesus Is Coming Soon” by the Dixie Hummingbirds

MP3: “Are You Afraid To Die” by the Louvin Brothers

MP3: “The End of The World” by the Carpenters

MP3: “Soylent Green” by Carbon Silicon

MP3: “Until The End of the World” (live) by U2

MP3: “My Apocalypse” by Metallica

MP3: “Gimme Shelter” by the Rolling Stones

MP3: “The End” by the Doors

MP3: “Party At Ground Zero” by Fishbone

Church

A while back I had a freelance assignment to photograph George Foreman at his church in Houston.  As it was easier to get him after Sunday morning services, I settled in and absorbed a sermon from this fascinating figure.  Even though he opened a Bible and occasionally made reference to the Scripture, George talked about all sorts of things one wouldn’t normally consider church stuff.

“Don’t ever tell anyone how much money you make,” he said at one point.  “They can take advantage of you.”  Another time he said, “Always listen to your Momma.”  Very little talk of Jesus, and sin – and a lot of plain old good common sense. 

That’s what I get too, from the church of rock and roll.  When blues and rock artists turn their attention to the spiritual, it’s often more honest and illuminating than a month worth of Sundays in a church building.  And the work of the great black gospel artists is just as good.  Not only did they sincerely express their faith in an entertaining way, the earlier music contained elements of blues and R&B as well as the DNA of true rock and roll.  As George Foreman would say, “Just listen; the music of God is all around you.”

Amen, brother.  Let’s go to church.

MP3: “Didn’t It Rain” by the Blind Boys Of Alabama

MP3: “John The Revelator” by Son House

MP3: “I Talk To Jesus Every Day” by Johnny Cash

MP3: “Gotta Serve Somebody” by Mavis Staples

MP3: “Man Of God” by Neil Diamond

MP3: “Jesus Christ Is Still The King” by Billy Joe Shaver

MP3: “Dragnet For Jesus” by Sister Wynona Carr

MP3: “How Great Thou Art” by Elvis Presley

MP3: “Jesus Is Coming Soon” by the Dixie Hummingbirds

MP3: “Jesus Christ” by U2

MP3: “Farther Along” by the Byrds

MP3: “Southern Comfort” by Terry Allen