148. Rock Goes The Gospel - Stevie Ray Vaughan ‘Pride and Joy’

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘Pride and Joy’ took a long and legend-assisted path to our Top 100 Classic Rock Songs countdown. After a blistering performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982, the guitarist, a complete unknown at the time, left the gig discouraged, thinking the audience reception was less than favorable. Little did he know that David Bowie and Jackson Browne were in the audience. Shortly thereafter, two generous offers from those stars followed that help launch Vaughan’s career. Bowie offered to employ Vaughan to play on his 1983 album ‘Let’s Dance,’ and Browne offered Vaughan studio space to record his own debut ‘Texas Flood,’ which ultimately led to a recording contract.

By the time that year was over, Vaughan could be heard on six different hit singles, four from Bowie’s album and two from his own, including ‘Pride and Joy.’ Once the “Sweet little thing” groove of ‘Pride And Joy’ was heard across the airwaves, everyone took notice. Vaughan and his band Double Trouble were delivering the blues and better still; pop-rock radio put it in rotation, which was very uncommon at the time. Some believe that Vaughan single-handedly revitalized the blues genre, introducing it to an eager new audience. ‘Pride And Joy’ became a Top 20 hit in the U.S. and helped kick off an amazingly successful career that was tragically cut short by his 1990 death in a helicopter crash.

Well you've heard about love givin' sight to the blind
My baby's lovin' cause the sun to shine
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy

Yeah I love my baby, my heart and soul
Love like ours won't never grow old
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy

Yeah I love my baby, she's long and lean
You mess with her, you'll see a man gettin' mean
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy

Well I love my baby like the finest wine
Stick with her until the end of time
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy

Yeah I love my baby, my heart and soul
Love like ours will never grow old
She's my sweet little thing, she's my pride and joy
She's my sweet little baby, I'm her little lover boy 

 

Stevie Ray Vaughan sings about having pride and joy in a person. This is really where joy comes from. Being in relationship and knowing that no matter what happens you will be there for one another. "Love like ours will never grow old"   In the world in which we live we increasingly are told that joy and happiness comes to us the more "STUFF" We have. This is the latent that comes to us through our TV's and advertising. "You wont be truly happy till your have this". We are also encouraged never to be unhappy, we have to be smiley happy people all the time even when times are hard. This is difficult to keep up and sometimes the cracks appear.

The difference for the followers of Jesus is an awareness amidst all of the difficulties of life, that our God will always take care of us. Even though our life may be filled with all manner of trials and burdens, we know that, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Remember, that morning may not come until our entrance into God's heavenly kingdom; but that will truly be a morning of great joy.

Perhaps one of the greatest difficulties for all of is in this, the 21st century, is that we have lost the truth that true joy is found in simple things. All of the trinkets of this generation will pass away, and though they may give some momentary pleasure, they will certainly not give us lasting joy. But simple faith in Jesus has proved to me time and time again to be worthwhile and to bring Joy into my life

As  a follower of Jesus, I am at times dazzled by the things of this world, and often find my heart led astray by the same temptations that affect all. What are we to do; how can we insulate ourselves from these unending temptations. By the grace of God we should content ourselves with what God has given us in his word. (I personally have found this a great comfort in recent times.) Let us continue to read, study, and pray. Our strength never was and never will be in ourselves, but rather our only strength lies in the blessing of knowing Jesus and his power in us.

 

Let us, like the Psalmist, look to Jesus, for in Him alone is found joy, peace, and love. Only in Him will we have everlasting joy both in this life and in the life to come!

The Psalmist concludes this Psalm with these words, "Weeping may tarry for the night, but Joy comes in the morning" May God give you joy in the midst of life's burdens. May you know unceasing Joy in your life.