Something of an epic this. A talk that I heard at the Greenbelt Festival caught my imagination and I realised that John the Baptist, the man who Jesus said was the greatest who ever lived had a moment of doubt whilst he was in prison. Even though he had baptised Jesus, saw the holy spirit come down like a dove and heard God naming Jesus as his son, he sent word to ask if Jesus was the One. What must it have been like in dark isolation that made John doubt the great things he had seen? This is one of those Salt Solution tracks that has at least one previous musical incarnation before the final version. I include the original lyic here but if you listen to the final recording you will here that the words were rearranged and edited. a little.
Listen to 'Unwilling Guest' from Salt Solution's album 'Arctic Frosties'. - Download 'Unwilling Guest' by Salt Solution for Free! (right-mouse on link; choose 'Save Target As...' to download) and for the curious... Listen to the original recording of 'Unwilling Guest' from the 1983 cassette album by Mervyn Sprocket and the Crankshaft Assembly (later to become Salt Solution) (NB this has been transferred from a cassette and the poor sound quality is only matched by the poor musicianship!)
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'Unwilling Guest' by Martin Day The Darkness The darkness has blinded me, No eyes, no light to see, I've only the memory, But was it as it seemed? Imagination is evergreen. Thoughts are as pictures seen, They're where the past had been. Was it real, or was it dreamed? The Dungeon The dungeon is cold and damp, Cavern without a lamp, Aching from sores and cramp, Herod's unwilling guest. My words were Gods decree, They set my brothers free, But they've only imprisoned me; Prophet under arrest. But, where's His kingdom, where's His crown, How can he bring the empire down, Where's His throne and king's attire? Where's the wind and where's the fire? The Desert In the desert I'd gone to pray, The Lord told me what to say, Return and wash their sins away The Messiah's already here. King of Kings He'd vowed to send, To release and to defend. His kingdom would never end. My message seemed so clear The Doubt But, where's His kingdom, where's His crown, How can he bring the empire down, When He wonders, town to town As meek as any lamb. What kind of strange Messiah? Where's His throne and king's attire? Where's the wind and where's the fire? He says, 'I am who I am.' The Deliverance The lame can walk, the blind can see, For every ill, He holds the key. Excitement reigns in Galilee, He's good news for the poor. My friend's words allay my doubt. The truth drives the devil out. Outside I hear a shout, The guard is at the door... They're here. © M Day 04-Jan-1981
The Darkness The darkness has blinded me, No eyes, no light to see, I've only the memory, But was it as it seemed? Imagination is evergreen. Thoughts are as pictures seen, They're where the past had been. Was it real, or was it dreamed? The Dungeon The dungeon is cold and damp, Cavern without a lamp, Aching from sores and cramp, Herod's unwilling guest. My words were Gods decree, They set my brothers free, But they've only imprisoned me; Prophet under arrest. But, where's His kingdom, where's His crown, How can he bring the empire down, Where's His throne and king's attire? Where's the wind and where's the fire? The Desert In the desert I'd gone to pray, The Lord told me what to say, Return and wash their sins away The Messiah's already here. King of Kings He'd vowed to send, To release and to defend. His kingdom would never end. My message seemed so clear The Doubt But, where's His kingdom, where's His crown, How can he bring the empire down, When He wonders, town to town As meek as any lamb. What kind of strange Messiah? Where's His throne and king's attire? Where's the wind and where's the fire? He says, 'I am who I am.' The Deliverance The lame can walk, the blind can see, For every ill, He holds the key. Excitement reigns in Galilee, He's good news for the poor. My friend's words allay my doubt. The truth drives the devil out. Outside I hear a shout, The guard is at the door... They're here.
The Darkness The darkness has blinded me, No eyes, no light to see, I've only the memory, But was it as it seemed? Imagination is evergreen. Thoughts are as pictures seen, They're where the past had been. Was it real, or was it dreamed?
The Dungeon The dungeon is cold and damp, Cavern without a lamp, Aching from sores and cramp, Herod's unwilling guest. My words were Gods decree, They set my brothers free, But they've only imprisoned me; Prophet under arrest.
But, where's His kingdom, where's His crown, How can he bring the empire down, Where's His throne and king's attire? Where's the wind and where's the fire?
The Desert In the desert I'd gone to pray, The Lord told me what to say, Return and wash their sins away The Messiah's already here. King of Kings He'd vowed to send, To release and to defend. His kingdom would never end. My message seemed so clear
The Doubt But, where's His kingdom, where's His crown, How can he bring the empire down, When He wonders, town to town As meek as any lamb. What kind of strange Messiah? Where's His throne and king's attire? Where's the wind and where's the fire? He says, 'I am who I am.'
The Deliverance The lame can walk, the blind can see, For every ill, He holds the key. Excitement reigns in Galilee, He's good news for the poor. My friend's words allay my doubt. The truth drives the devil out. Outside I hear a shout, The guard is at the door... They're here.
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