Athens Creek does an incredible mashup of the songs House of the Rising Sun and Amazing Grace. The first song illustrates the second in a way that is haunting. The House of the Rising Sun is about the life of a young man gone wrong in New Orleans. It warns his mother not to let any of her other children follow in his footsteps. Amazing Grace is about how God’s love overcomes anything we have ever done in this life as God’s mercy and grace forgives us anything when we turn to God in repentance. It was written by John Newton based on his personal experiences of a life that had many twists and turns, not all of them good as he was a slave trader at one point. Let me just say that choosing to sell people for any reason is reprehensible.
I would love to do this for a worship service. It preaches better than anything I could…But then I have a tendency to use secular songs in worship. When the choir or praise band gets a pastor request for music, they always know which ones are mine! I have asked for and they have done “Get Together,” “I Can See Clearly Now,” and most recently Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In the Wind” to name a few. I am a firm believer in the simple fact that there is no secular/sacred divide. That is something we have created much to our detriment. But that is a blog for another day.
Back to the House of the Rising Sun. I didn’t think I could hear a better version of this song than the one the Animals did. I was wrong. This bluesy version is incredible, and the addition of Amazing Grace offers a sermon filled with forgiveness and mercy when you realize that God loves us, even as we are acting terrible. God loves us even when we make horrible choices. God loves us and is waiting to redeem us.
I think if you want to read a scripture passage in light of these two songs, may I recommend the parable of the Prodigal Son. You will find it in Luke 15:11 – 32. Try reading it while listening to Athens Creek’s version of the House of the Rising Sun. You can use this link. You won’t regret listening to it.
Peace,
Pastor Beth
Beth's Blog 