Tongue-in-cheek song about being useful to God. This one actually has a worthwhile "story-behind-the-song" to read, especially in light of the release of "End of the Spear."
Contemporary Christian Acoustic Folk Country
Singer Songwriter
Click on the word "music" above and listen-- thanks!!
Meredith and her husband, Bob, are Word of Life missionaries in Jos, Nigeria. To find out more, vist their Blog (not that we update it very often):
http://www.devoes.blogspot.com
Story behind the song
The same year that Jim Elliott was speared in Ecuador, Harry Bollback was in Brazil. After caneoing up the Amazon for several weeks, they made contact with the Xivanti, who had never had a friendly encounter with whites. There was a tense moment, then the chief took a necklace off his neck and put it on Harry's. Harry reached in his pocket, just hoping some useful thing would be in there- and he found a red kerchief, clean and folded; he tied it around the chief's neck and they were friends. That was the beginning of a contact that opened the way for the tribe to hear and accept the Gospel message (which kept many of them from falling prey to the ills brought in later by the oil and lumber concerns which invaded the area). Today men who once speared their own brothers and children are preaching the Gospel.
What struck me about the story was the insignificant little red handkerchief that may have changed history, because it was useful, available, and clean... like we can be.
Lyrics
Let me recieve all your tears, grow softer through the years,
Be the belt about your waist, keep the hair out of your face,
In your pocket, in your hand, around your head as a headband,
There when you reach for me. ready to be what you need.
I am a red bandana.
There to wrap your treasures in, to mark the place where you have been,
There to give to make a friend, in your backpack, in your hand,
There to clean away the dirt, to bandage you when you are hurt,
There to wave when you cheer, to hide your face and dry your tears.
I am a red bandana.
I just want to be there, be anything you need.
The more you use me, the less there is of me.
I am humble, I am small, I am the least of all,
let me be ther for your hands, always at your command.
I am a red bandana.
Jesus, I am in your hand, ready to do your commands,
Use me for what you will. Let me become softer still.
Let me be your banner tall, or hide me in a pocket small.
We me with the tears you cried, the blood you shed when you died.
Let me be your red bandana.
