Poets and Truth

Sometimes we learn a lot from our detractors. Don Henley is an outspoken critic of those who call themselves Christian. In “Frail Grasp on the Big Picture” he and Glenn Frey lambast the “American way” and the “God is on our side” mentality that is so prevalent in both America and Canada. Has North American culture lost its way? Are we headed for a new “dark age?” Is there truth in the words of these prophets?

Frail Grasp on the Big Picture
Written by Don Henley and Glenn Frey; published by Pivet Songs/Red Cloud Music (BMI)

Well ain’t it a shame ’bout our short little memory
We never seem to learn the lessons of history
We keep making the same mistakes – over and over and over and over again
And then we wonder why we’re in the shape we’re in

Good ol’ boys down at the bar
Peanuts and politics
They think they know it all
They don’t know much of nothin’
Even if one of ’em was to read a newspaper, cover to cover
That ain’t what’s going on
Journalism dead and gone

Frail grasp on the big picture
Light fading and the fog is getting thicker
Frail grasp on the big picture
Dark ages

And you, my love-drunk friend
All that red wine and candlelight
Soulful conversations that go on until the dawn
How many times can you tell your story
How many hangovers can you endure – just to get some snogging done
You’re living in a hormone dream
You don’t have the slightest notion what long-term love is all about
All your romantic liaisons don’t deal with eternal questions like:
“Who left the cap off the freakin’ toothpaste?” “Whose turn to take the garbage out?”

Frail grasp on the big picture
You keep on rubbing that, you’re gonna get a blister
Frail grasp on the big picture
I’ve seen it all before

And we pray to our Lord, who we know is American
He reigns from on high
He speaks to us through middlemen
And He shepherds his flock
We sing out and we praise His name
He supports us in war
He presides over football games
And the right will prevail
All our troubles shall be resolved
We hold faith above all
Unless there’s money or sex involved

Frail grasp on the big picture
Nobody’s calling them for roughing up the kicker
It’s a frail grasp on the big picture
Heaven help us

Frail grasp on the big picture
All waiting for that miracle elixir
Frail grasp on the big picture
I don’t wonder anymore

Frail grasp on the big picture
You brought her here, so go ahead and kiss her
It’s a frail grasp on the big picture