It is not often I encounter an artist whose faith walk parallels my own such that similar experiences create several significant touch points. For me, such an artist is Don Francisco. The lyrical artistry of his songs has delighted me for over 25 years. He is an inventive wordsmith, but he is also a troubadour to my soul. There have been particular times in my life when the poignancy of his music, especially his autobiographical songs, gives profound expression to my own heart. Such has been the case recently, as I have been enjoying a personal revival of Don Francisco music. I've chased back a few tears when I listen to ...Still Your Soul in Silence
Don Francisco
In the lives of those that follow there is going to come a time
When rhythm starts to stumble and singsong swallows rhyme
When imaginations crumble, false foundations turn to dust
Towers fall to piles of stones and girders into rust
Til you let the blood of Jesus wash the rubble from your mind
And your eyes again can see the one you almost left behind
When theology's in tatters and reason is absurd
Still your soul in silence and listen for His word
So many turns, so many ways, so many voices cry
Standing at the crossroads watching time go flashing by
Indecision paralyzes, it's the fear of choosing wrong
But waiting is a step itself, and your wondering too long
So again you search the scripture, and again you ask your friends
But last of all the One who knows the beginning from the end
In the clamor and confusion and the blindness of your choice
Still your soul in silence, and listen for His voice
Rome is full of ruins, Babylon is gone
The temple's just a memory that some still dwell upon
But deep within a place that sword and veil had once denied
A tree of life is growing, living waters flow beside
Far beyond all human reason and words upon a page
His glory lightens all who fret their hour upon this stage
To know Him is our freedom, to hear Him is release
To fix your heart and soul on Him is rest and perfect peace
9 comments:
Beautiful! I know the name and have heard a couple of songs somewhere or another. I'll have to check him out. Thanks!
As I read the words it occurred to me that they fit perfectly to a beautiful melody by Bob Dylan--"One too many Mornings and a Thousand Miles Behind" It's like the two were made for each other.
A couple of years ago we had Don in Rockaway (Twin Rocks Friends Camp) for a Men's weekend. Many of the guys were challenged and refreshed by his brutal honesty. Some were shocked. I was more encouraged by his informal sharing between numbers than by the songs themselves.
He did a small concert here in Newport a few years ago. I think I understood then why he never quite broke into the big-time CCM scene. But its just as well he didn't, I think.
Cliff,
Like a child's husband here. I actually listened to Don Francisco as a child and have loved his music since that time. This song is also one of my favorites. I attended one of his concerts as a child sometime in the mid 1980s. I have all of his original albums on cassete (there weren't even CDs at the time). His lyrics and "worsmithing", as you say, are truly remarkable. I wish his albums were available on CD or itunes but I have not had any luck finding them. Are you aware of any source? Very cool to see someone else that appreciates DF's music!
LAC's husband,
I have this number on a CD. Don't remember where or when I came by it.
It has always been a mystery to me why Don Francisco is not more widely known, that he never seemed to make it in the CCM "big time". Maybe it has to do with how he has struggled with life, and how honest he is about those struggles. (These things commend him to me!) Or it could be that he does not seem to have a strong stage presence in his live concerts (I've been to one, and though I love his songs, he does not project his person well to the audience, imo).
When I listen to "Still Your Soul", I think mostly about my own journey. But your wife is a major reason I posted it here. I think about her faith struggles often. I empathize. And I think of her often when I listen to this song.
If you already own this song on vinyl or cassette, I'd be happy to send you an MP3 if you'd like.
I really resonated with the lyrics to the song. I know my husband would love the mp3 - send it to likeachildscience at gmail dot com!
ps. We are homeschooling now (at least through the end of the school year). I may write about it in a future post, if not I'll update you here sometime. I've been glued to the computer for week researching curiculum materials, so my time for blogging has been cut down severely:(
Cliff:
"It has always been a mystery to me why Don Francisco is not more widely known, that he never seemed to make it in the CCM "big time". Maybe it has to do with how he has struggled with life, and how honest he is about those struggles. (These things commend him to me!) Or it could be that he does not seem to have a strong stage presence in his live concerts (I've been to one, and though I love his songs, he does not project his person well to the audience, imo)."
Hmm... It may have been the dynamics of the concert. During the Men's Summit in Rockaway, he had time to talk with a bunch of the guys, and opened up quite a bit on stage between songs. He really connected with most of the men there. But I wouldn't recommend him for sensitive or immature types who have problems with his choice of words. Not quite what would be considered acceptable in the typical evangelical congregation on Sunday morning. I suspect he would be more accepted in the typical tavern on Saturday night.
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