September 2008 Offering Of The Month:
"New York Reflected"
Melody and Lyrics by Matthew Beckham
Music & arrangement by Matthew Beckham and Edward Jerlin
© 2008 Matthew Beckham/Everlasting Arms Records & Publishing - All Rights Reserved
We previously featured the music of Matt Beckham
last June.
This month, we're featuring another poignant song of his,
purposefully timed to coincide with the 7th anniversary of 9/11/01.
Recorded live in the studio, Matt is singing, accompanied
by EJ on the piano. Matt has also put together a video that
goes with the song, which you can see below.
In Matt's words:
This song speaks to the unique qualities of New York City. It can
be a hard town. Many New Yorkers weren't born here, they come for
opportunity; actually realizing that opportunity is a whole other
thing. There is something carnivorous about NYC. I think it boils
down to this: Many people in varying degrees of desperation are
seeking the very same thing.
In the bridge our singer pleads for God to "shape this storm". I
guess I've found that to be my prayer; that God will shape the
storm that is New York, the storm that is life. That he will
make them into instruments that will shape me to the good. By
kissing concrete and bending our knees we find the humility to
let New York and Life pour through us like water. Shaping the
hard rock that is our heart; shaping it but not destroying it.
The song reminds me not to fight life every step of the way and
to remember that God put me here to be shaped. He didn't put me
here to die and stay dead. He put me here to die little deaths
to my self every single day and each day to be born again.
"New York Reflected"
New York drowned my heart beat
In a syncopated pace
Taught me how to bend my knee
Like a drunk man sayin' grace
Oh she kept those lights of Broadway
just a shinin' in my eye,
Till the Saints of 42nd street
They lost their will to try
But I wasn't born in New York City
In New York I won't die
Fell down on a ferry
goin' Staten Island way
Must have frightened Lady Liberty
'Cause she almost flew away
But the ghosts on Ellis Island
They all begged that she would stay.
So I guess she changed her mind
Baby keep your torch held high
But I wasn't born in New York City
In New York I won't die
Oh can you give me shelter
Oh can you shape this storm
Oh can you Hold me close and
Give me hope to carry on, carry on
I came here as a pauper
But no rag could I find
To build myself a fortress
so I built one in my mind
But when my lips kissed concrete
A certain benediction did I find
When you find your feet of clay
Learned to drink red wine and grace
But I wasn't born in New York City
In New York I won't die
Oh can you give me shelter
Oh can you shape this storm
Oh can you Hold me close and
Give me hope to carry on, carry on
Matt:
