94. Rock Goes The Gospel - Oasis "Go Let It Out"

"Go Let It Out" is a song written by Oasis's lead guitarist, and chief songwriter, Noel Gallagher. It was released in 2000 as the first single from their fourth studio album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. The song peaked at #1 in the UK Charts and was later certified Silver. The song was the 36th best selling single of 2000 in the UK.  The Blues song "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" by Johnny Jenkins was a big influence on this. Jenkins was a renowned left-handed Blues guitarist, who helped launch the career of Otis Redding. His flamboyant technique preceded Jimi Hendrix, who used some of Jenkins' tricks in his stage show.  This was the first Oasis product to be released via their own Big Brother record label.

Paint no illusion, try to click with whatcha got
Taste every potion cos if yer like yerself a lot
Go let it out, go let it in, go let it out

Life is precocious in a most perculiar way
Sister psychosis don't got a lot to say
She go let it out, she go let it in, she go let it out
She go let it out, she go let it in, she go let it out

Is it any wonder why Princes & Kings
Are clowns that caper in their sawdust rings
And ordinary people that are like you and me
We're the keepers of their destiny

I'm goin' leaving this city, I'm goin' drivin' outta town
Your comin' with me the right time is always now
To go let it out, go let it in, go let it out
To go let it out, go let it in, go let it out

Is it any wonder why Princes and Kings
Are clowns that caper in their sawdust rings
Cos ordinary people that are like you and me
We're the builders of their destiny
We're the builders of their destiny
We're the builders of their destiny
We're the builders of their destiny

So go let it out - go let it in
Go let it out - don't let it in
Go let it out - go let it in
Go let it out - don't let it - don't let it in

It's a song that appeals again to the working classes. this is what Oasis are good at echoing and articulating what people on the ground feel about life. There is a struggle in the lyrics about ordinary people keeping in power those who have the power. And ordinary people that are like you and me We're the keepers of their destiny. This was written for there 2000 album standing on the Shoulders of Giants but in the run up to the elections in 2015 I've heard the same things said of the politics of our own time. That it off the backs of ordinary people that politicians are crafting their game. We become complicit in their power and influence because by default "we voted them in". Now this is not a political rant form me. But you can see the link. These politicians come along with their manifestos that represent their party and what they would do if they got in power. (It's right to ask the questions - http://www.leedsforchange.org.uk/pick-your-top-ten-questions/)

Now Jesus was not a politician but his own politics were on display for all to see. He chose to speak of his manifesto on a hillside and not in the place of power and among the people of power. He made his manifesto known among the people who had no power. This manifesto has been called the Beatitudes (Matthew 5) and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) For the hearers of Jesus the manifesto was tantamount to nailing his colours to the mast.

The Beatitudes are the eight declarations of blessedness spoken by Jesus at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-12), each beginning with "Blessed are..." It is debated as to exactly how many beatitudes there are. Some speak of seven, nine, or ten beatitudes, but the number appears to be eight (verses 10-12 of Matthew 5 being one beatitude).

The Greek word translated “blessed” means "spiritual well-being and prosperity." This refers to the deep joy of the soul. Those who experience the first aspect of a beatitude (poor, mourn, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure, peacemakers, and persecuted) will also experience the second aspect of the beatitude (kingdom of Heaven, comfort, inherit the earth, filled, mercy, see God, called sons of God, inherit the kingdom of Heaven). The blessed have a share in salvation and have entered the kingdom of God, experiencing a foretaste of heaven. Another possible rendering of each beatitude is an exclamation of: "O the bliss [or blessedness] of..."

The Beatitudes describe the ideal disciple and the true citizen of the kingdom of God. We also find a description of rewards, both present and future. The person whom Jesus describes in this passage has a different quality of character and lifestyle than those still "outside the kingdom." As a literary form, the beatitude is also found often in the Old Testament, especially in the Psalms (1:1; 34:8; 65:4; 128:1) and in the New Testament as well (John 20:29;14:22;James 1:12; Revelation 14:13).

The Beatitudes are the politics of the margins, they highlight the need to see, listen and create a society where the last, least, and the lost are at the table as equals and those who have been on the receiving end of mercy and justice. Re think your response, to those in power and those who are powerless.