Released by Blind Faith in 1969, written by Steve Winwood. Can't Find My Way Home" appeared on Blind Faith's 1969 album.Which was to be their only album. Rolling Stone Magazine, in a review of the album, noted that the song featured "Ginger Baker's highly innovative percussion" and judged the lyric "And I'm wasted and I can't find my way home" to be "delightful". Blind Faith was made up of Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, and Ric Grech.
Somebody must change
You are the reason I've been waiting so long
Somebody holds the key
Well, I'm near the end and I just ain't got the time
And I'm wasted and I can't find my way home
Come down on your own and leave your body alone
Somebody must change
You are the reason I've been waiting all these years
Somebody holds the key
Well, I'm near the end and I just ain't got the time
And I'm wasted and I can't find my way home
Whilst there has been speculation about the true meaning of ‘Can’t Find My Way Home’, Steve Winwood declared in an interview that the song was about a close friend who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. Rumors have circulated that the ‘friend’ was actually one or more of the band’s own members.
Towards the dissolution of his band Cream, Eric Clapton spoke about his drug use to Rolling Stone Magazine’s Robert Palmer. “Yeah, we did a lot of acid, took a lot of trips in our spare time. And we did play on acid a couple of times.”
The lyrics “Come down off your throne and leave your body alone. Somebody must change. You are the reason I've been waiting so long. Somebody holds the key,” are said to reflect advice to a drug addict. ‘Somebody’ is the addict - the only person who can help him, is himself. The lyric “Can’t find my way home”represents the addict’s struggle to get back on track and back to being himself.
“He (Winwood) said he wrote it (the song) as if it were himself struggling – he was having a discussion with himself. ‘Come down off your thrown and leave your body alone. Somebody must change’ – this signifies the struggle between physical addiction and spiritual awakening. ‘You are the reason I've been waiting here so long’ - again, he has been waiting to return from addiction. The addict is not himself (whilst on drugs).”
Despite there being only one verse the lyrics are complex and deep. They reflect a decision to change not unlike the story of the prodigal in Luke 15.
Luke 15:11- 32 "11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
This story too is about a son who is far from home. He too has a moment of decision "When he came to his senses" He made the turn around and found his way home. He returned not to derision or a beating but to a welcome of hospitality from his father. A place back in the bosom of his family. A place were he was once again a son. RESTORED. This the dream that the song is based on a place of restoration. This is also the heart of God for each one of us. That however far away we have travelled from the heart and companionship of Jesus he will have us back and will restore our lives to a better place than they once were. May you know the restoring grace of God in your lives today.
No comments:
Post a Comment