Kudo's to Larry Norman... the big daddy of Christian Music and a huge influence on my own life.
christian rock
larry norman
legend
adrianjpratt
Story behind the song
Back in the early 1970's I had started to attend church and felt like a square pin in a round hole. Then came a chance to see Larry Norman play at the Liverpool Philharmonic. Soon as he walked on stage and began to sing I began to feel that there could actually be room in the kingdom for true non-comformists.
Lyrics
Ode to Larry
Adrian J Pratt 2007
I think the year was around 1974,
Things were going in me that I could not ignore,
I started going to church I was trying to fit in,
And that’s where the problems started to begin.
Living near Liverpool I loved those ‘Stadium’ bands,
Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, I was there amongst the fans
Then on Sunday morning I’d be sitting in the pew,
Trying my best to be myself and join the holy crew.
My hair was down my back, my shoes were full of holes
Apart from an old T-Shirt I wore denim head to toe
I had an old guitar, I really loved to play
Had a message in my heart I was trying to give away.
My mind was being stretched by the preaching of the Word
I was soaking up the hymns and I loved what I heard
A nagging little voice and misplaced hostile stare said;
“We’d like to help you son but you don’t belong here”
Then one day there’s a concert art the Phil
Some Christian from California is heading up the bill,
I was expecting Pat Boone or some guy twice my age
I was more than surprised when Larry Norman walked on stage
His hair was down his back, his shoes were full of holes
He wore an old T-Shirt and denim head to toe,
He had an old guitar, he really loved to play,
Had a message in his heart he was trying to give away.
He said he was a servant waiting for the call,
And questioned why the devil should have anything at all,
Said there was ‘One Way” we should hold our heads up high
And c’mon let the tape keep rolling for we’re going to our home in the sky.
So here’s to Larry Norman
A servant who helped me see
That the kingdom of God
Had room for people like me!
My hairs not down my back, my shoes aren’t full of holes
I still wear T-Shirt’s and denim in my wardrobe
I’ve got that old guitar, I still love to play
Still got a message in my heart and I’m still giving it away.
So thank you Larry Norman for all you’ve done!