Modern Day Poetry from a Christian Hipster

My new favorite song is Farther Along by Josh Garrels.  It's genius.  Pure poetry.  I'm not much into poetry so don't chastise me if you are a connoisseur.  The way he weaves the words with his unique rhythms is like nothing I've heard.  Go HERE and listen to it.  PLEASE read the words as you listen because if not you'll miss something. 


Yes, he is a Christian Hipster.  Please forgive him he is just a little caught up in this generational fad.  We can all laugh about it together in 30 years but please refrain from your laughter right now because some people haven't realized that it's a fleeting fad.  As I like to say there is a little hipster in all college students.  Think about it, you come of to college and you get to reinvent yourself.  You can change your clothes, hobbies, friends, even the way you talk!   And yet at college everyone loves to be just a little different.  Unique.  Most of us want to go back to our home towns and have the little middle schoolers look up at us and say, "Wow, they are so cool.  They are in college!"   Striving for our distinction in culture and society is definitely a hipsterish mindset.  Just embrace it.  If you are no wondering on a scale of 1 to hipster just how hipster you are go take quizzes online.  Yes...that actually exist.  So go thrown on a dirty scarf, your grandma's old costume jewelry, thick rimmed glasses and listen to this song and watch the video of Words Remain underneath it.  


Farther Along 


Farther along we’ll know all about it
Farther along we’ll understand why
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We’ll understand this, all by and by

Tempted and tried, I wondered why
The good man died, the bad man thrives
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Confusing illusions I’ve seen

Where did I go wrong, I sang along
To every chorus of the song
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates
Leading mice and men down to their fates
But some will courageously escape
The seductive voice with a heart of faith
While walkin’ that line back home

So much more to life than we’ve been told
It’s full of beauty that will unfold
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son
That deadweight burden weighs a ton
Go down into the river and let it run
And wash away all the things you’ve done
Forgiveness alright

Still I get hard pressed on every side
Between the rock and a compromise
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin’ for my soul
And I’ve got no place left go
Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown
More glory than the world has known
Keeps me ramblin’ on

Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall
I’m free to love once and for all
And even when I fall I’ll get back up
For the joy that overflows my cup
Heaven filled me with more than enough
Broke down my levee and my bluff
Let the flood wash me

And one day when the sky rolls back on us
Some rejoice and the others fuss
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
That the son of god is forever blessed
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests
So put your voice up to the test
Sing Lord, come soon 

Here is my other favorite song by him.  Words Remain.  Enjoy!