Commitment is never easy. But I am ready to commit. I am announcing my all time favorite song. After years of thought, Ulysses by Josh Garrels is hands down my favorite song. Not to mention that Love & War & the Sea in Between is the most played album in my home.
Ulysses is a song of hopeful yearning. The song begins, “I’m holding on to the hope that one day this could be made right.” But continues in the second line, “I’ve been shipwrecked, and left for dead, and I have seen the darkest sights.” This song acknowledges that this world is broken and lifeless. Ulysses has been kicked and beaten, and seen terrible things just like many of us in this world. Yet there is hope that one day it will all be renewed.
Garrels writes from a Christian perspective, though it is not always explicit in his lyrics. Ulysses can be seen as a metaphor for the Christian life though Garrels may not have intentionally tried to do this. Personally, the line that kills me is, “Sirens call my name, they say they’ll ease my pain, then break me on the stones.” There are idols that lie, saying they will be better than Christ. Then they break me.
Furthermore, there are times when I ask the Lord to just get me home, just like this song pleads:
So tie me to the mast of this old ship and point me home
Before I lose the one I love, before my chance is gone
It is like saying, “I give up Lord, you have to take me the rest of the way.” Even NPR picks up on this theme and says it is, “a lyrical, haunting exploration of what it means to be a Christian.” The song reminds me that I am to believe and trust in Christ first and foremost. I pray that in times of strength and times of weakness, the Spirit would push me towards home. We all long for the day when it will all be made right.
To listen you can download the album here.
If you like this, here are some more interviews and resources from Josh Garrels:
- NPR Article
- Interview about the album – he explains the story behind the song
- A Review discussing The Odyssey theme
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Nevertheless, I would not recommend something if I did not think that it was a good product or service. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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