Fourth of July - Conversations with God

One of the great pleasures in my life, and two of my most treasured possessions are playing the guitar and the two guitars in this photo. Discerning readers will notice that both guitars are Fender Telecasters – specifically, the red one (that’s “midnight wine”, I’ll have you know!) is a Mexican Standard telecaster which I bought from Hickies in Reading around 25 years ago. The yellow one (that’ll be “butterscotch blonde”, of course) is a U.S.A. Original 50s series bought more recently, also in Reading. The reason for my delight in both “Salma” (the beautiful Mexican) and “Marilyn” (the original 50s blonde) can be traced back forty years ago, to this very day, as I write…  July 4th, 1985.

Can you remember where you were on that day in history? I certainly can! My mate Dave Taylor and I, two wide-eyed Chester boys, both 17 years old, got a train to London (never having been there before) and then a tube to Wembley… where we waited on a hot sunny day (a school day, mark you!) for hours outside the old Wembley stadium. About 7pm we were in, and over the next four hours or so we were enthralled as we sang along with 82.000 other people – and the first song we sang was called… “Independence Day” – how very appropriate for two truants on the fourth of July!

This was my first trip to London, my first concert, and, by the way, when we left to get the last train home, the place was still rocking – because you didn’t get 90 minutes of so with Bruce Springsteen and the legendary E-Street band, you got about four and half HOURS. No breaks, no support… just four and a half hours of magic.

It’s a special and beautiful thing to be able to write a song, and to share it with people. I’m truly blessed that I am able to sing a bit and play a bit (street party last Saturday, church this Sunday) and I can only imagine what it must be like to fill stadia and have people singing your songs back to you – magic is the title of one of Bruce’s albums (and a really good one!) and it’s the word he uses to describe what’s going on at a concert – that special something, seemingly created out of nothing, that fills the air when someone sings a song to someone else (or thousands of someone elses!).

I recall writing a theology essay once about how there can be a touch of the divine in music. In worship music that’s obvious, but you can catch glimpses of God in all sorts of songs that are notionally secular. My theory is that God is in conversation with the songwriter and that something of God finds its way into the finished work. Then when a song is shared, God is in conversation again with the listeners, and with the artist as they perform. Songs can mean different things to different people – the words are the same, but perhaps God is translating things for each individual a little differently. There’s far more than mere words, notes and chords going on here… there’s magic, and the magic comes from God’s interaction with people.
Bruce’s lyrics are steeped in his Catholic upbringing and in his autobiography he describes his iconic guitar as “a piece of the cross”, I think because it – or rather, his music – has in a sense blessed him, saved him, redeemed him. One of my favourite lyrics on the Magic album (the song is called “I’ll Work for Your Love”) uses the same imagery –

Now our City of Peace has crumbled
Our book of faith’s been tossed
An’ I’m just down here searchin’ for my own piece of the cross…
 
Back in 1985 I was captivated by Bruce and many concerts and many albums later I remain hugely grateful for the influence he has had on me, which I hope extends a little way beyond the acquisition of biceps and a couple of Telecasters! From the Glory Days of 1985 at Wembley, to today, I’ve been so blessed to listen to, and play and sing (and even sometimes sing to other people!) some of Bruce’s songs – not just because they’re great songs and I love to sing and play, but because God’s in the mix too – bringing solace, wisdom, joy, understanding and all the rest, through the magical medium of music. Thanks Bruce – and thank you, God!