Tuesday, April 14, 2009

big ideas (in a shrinking world)

A song by Randy Stonehill, written over 25 years ago, that strangely seems more applicable now than ever... and perhaps most particularly for those of us in the "church"...


BIG IDEAS (IN THE SHRINKING WORLD)
Words and Music by Randy Stonehill

The economy is shrinking
Our money is a joke
We should go back to trading sea shells
And just admit that we're broke
And our food supply is shrinking
But we continue happily
Building condos on farm land
And dumping sewage in the sea

Someone's talking 'bout a big idea
Someone's talking 'bout a higher vision
Everybody's on the run
Lookin' out for number one
And your big ideas don't fit
Big ideas in the shrinking world
Big ideas in the shrinking world
Big ideas in the shrinking world
Well you make us real nervous with your big ideas

Our water is shrinking
All the pipes are in decay
But don't think of it as water
It's more like "soup of the day"
And our air supply is shrinking
The sky is turning brown
We're getting cancer of the cancer
Just from walking around

Someone's talking 'bout a big idea
Someone’s pointing to the Savior of the Ages
Everybody's busy just takin' care of business
And your big ideas don't fit
Big ideas in the shrinking world
Big ideas in the shrinking world
Big ideas in the shrinking world
Now we don't wanna hear about your big ideas

Our sanity is shrinking
From Argentina to Iran
It seems like everybody's itching
To get a nuclear tan
And our compassion is shrinking
It's the ultimate crime
'cause we could save the starving millions
But we can't seem to find the time

Someone's talking 'bout a big idea
Someone's pointing to a Light in the darkness
Everybody's trying to keep their heads above water
And your big ideas are rockin' the boat
Big ideas in the shrinking world
Big ideas in the shrinking world
Big ideas in the shrinking world
Well, you make us real angry with your big ideas
Now we don't wanna know about your big ideas
We're too busy to get cosmic with your big ideas

2 comments:

Ben McFarland said...

I'd never heard that before but I can tell it's a classic from just reading it. I just know a few Stonehill albums (he does a PERFECT cover of Brian Wilson's "Love and Mercy" on a tribute album I have). So what album is that song off?

Geoff said...

It's from "Equator" (1983). Same album that has "Shut De Do" on it... remember that one? :-)