Young and Lanois
“Something’s going on right now. We’re in the middle of a huge change or turn-around, but I don’t really know what it is. But you can feel that something’s going on. We’ve had enough of whatever it was. People have had enough of it. They’ve seen it over and over again. It defies real description of what’s really going on. We won’t know for a little while.”
Such are the words of Neil Young from an interview in the Los Angeles Times along with Daniel Lanois, producer for (among others) U2, Bob Dylan, and Peter Gabriel. Young and Lanois are teaming up for Neil Young’s latest project, “Le Noise,” and the Times interview explored some of the unique characteristics of this new collaboration.
The quote struck me as vaguely prophetic in that Young had a sense of dissatisfaction and change, even though he could not be any more specific than that.
I happen to believe that all artists are prophetic to one degree or another, in that they dabble in the divine via inspiration, and the Holy Spirit is no respecter of persons. He will illumine anyone who comes near enough to receive. Nor is faith a requirement for receiving a message. It is for this reason that we need to realize that revelation can come through a variety of sources.
So if Neil Young says that we are on the verge of some major societal shifts, I would tend to believe him and look for the implications of these changes on our plans, and ask the Holy Spirit to prepare us to receive them. Don’t turn off your spiritual ears just because you are out in the world. You are just as likely to hear from the Lord there as anywhere else.
“Why did we get into all this to begin with?” said Daniel Lanois. “We did it because we thought that our heroes knew something that we didn’t… We’re not saying we’re better than anybody, just that some people have the gift to receive information, and it’s their job as troubadours to pass it on and let the word be heard.”
See… he knows.
John Fischer The Catch 
This rung a chord with me {no pun} intended. My wife and I were talking the other day, and with thelections coming up here in Illinois, it is sad. For a more years than I care to think of, I have never really voted for anyone, more, voted against someone. Lately, I have been stymied. It seems nothing is out there. I think we are that way as a society. We have chased our heroes and been disillusioned. The evangelical church jumped into bed with a secular {republican}, and is now feeling like the morning after the fling. John, you hit the nail on the head with the view of the artistic seeing or hearing things that others don’t. I am a machinist by trade, but also a musician and have stred writing also. The Spirit whispers to those “who have ears”. We do live in changing times, not just socially, but also spiritualily. The Spirit has been crying in the streets, but non one i tseems in the bride ahs been listening.. so he will go elsewhere to have His will known.
Many thanks…Dick
It is interesting how many Christians tune out everything around them not labeled “Christian”. In my youth I endured many sessions of why we should destroy our albums, (like the Eagles). Seems instead of looking for positive inspiration as you mention we were taught to look for the devil in everything but the church.
Thankfully I kept my albums but imagine my shock when someone tried to get my son to destroy his.
Now I don’t endorse vulgarity nor do I encourage others to listen to it but that is not what we are talking about.
Lately, I’ve been thinking
’bout daddy,
And how he always
made things work,
when the chips were down,
And I know
I’ve got something inside me
There’s always a light
there to guide me
To what can’t be found. ~ Neil Young
Well said. These are interesting times, we live in. There is a growing sense of something much more that politics that is in a state of change. Like Neil I wonder wonder what the dimensions are of this pending change.
Anyone with a sense of history can see that we live in a culture that is fundamentally not sustainable. I just want to be ready for the change that is toward Jesus and not away from him.
“When the wind blows Lord, let it blow me closer to you.”
Thanks for reminding us to listen all around not just in church. I was writing the other day about being real so I will be here. I tend to block out secular people even though I know better. I know God speaks to us from lots of different ways. I guess it is easier to fall back to childhood patterns. Like Tim said I was taught to look for the devil in everything but the church. Should have been warned to look for him there especially but that’s another subject.
I like that about the prophetic in the artistic person. It rings true. I know sometimes an artist will speak up and say something needs to be done here. They seem to speak out on subjects the chrisitians are being silent on. For instance there is a rapper saying Detroit needs help, that people are dieing there that children need protection there. And I have always thought that Eminem sees hurts and wants them changed. Interesting John. As always you leave us thinking. Good job.
I have been a Neil Young fan for years. I’m not sure if he’s prophetic so much as having an uncanny gift for capturing snapshots of the social mood at the moment. When he composed “Ohio” very shortly after the Kent State shootings, most people interpreted the song as simply an anti-war protest. But I believe one of the most telling lines of the song was, “What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground?”, followed by “how can you run when you know.” I believe the genius of Neil is in his cutting observations and asking the hard questions, forcing us all to confront our own demons, and wondering how we will respond. I can’t wait to hear the new project, although Neil seldom does “feel good” music.