Lyrics - Rich Young Ruler

We were out later than expected last night which prevented me from posting on more of yesterday's lyrics. However, being out late brought another set to mind... but first things first.

After The Grind (soundtrack: Witch Hunt) and a quick shower I was off to Regent College. I needed to register for fall classes, and hook up with my friend Ron, who was out there taking an Alister McGrath class. (I'm taking two classes this fall: Introductory Greek with Dave Diewert, and World Religions with John Stackhouse.)

On the way back home from school I intentionally drove through the Downtown Eastside, which is my habit now. As I passed through the intersection of Hastings and Gore, I looked again at the big abandoned building on the corner. When my family lived here briefly in the early 70's, it was our church. In the 80's, as the neighbourhood continued to "deteriorate", the denomination sold the building (to the Buddhists) and moved out to the suburbs. The building is now owned by the city, and is used to store city government furniture. Apparently they would sell it for about $3 million. There's an "oil problem" in the basement that would take another $1 million to fix. Then, there are renovations proper to be done.

I keep looking at that building and wonder what might be, if it wasn't for something as inconsequential as a lack of money.

Anyway, as I drove past the building, I had Derek Webb in the CD player. No word of a lie, this is what Derek had to say as I made my way through the DTES. Pay close attention to some of the words, given the history of this particular building I'm talking about:

Rich Young Ruler
Derek Webb

poverty is so hard to see
when it’s only on your tv
and twenty miles across town
where we’re all living so good
that we moved out of Jesus’ neighborhood
where he’s hungry and not feeling so good
from going through our trash

he says, more than just your cash and coin
i want your time, i want your voice
i want the things you just can’t give me

so what must we do
here in the west we want to follow you
we speak the language and we keep all the rules
even a few we made up
come on and follow me
but sell your house, sell your suv
sell your stocks, sell your security
and give it to the poor

well what is this, hey what’s the deal
i don’t sleep around and i don’t steal
but i want the things you just can’t give me
i want the things you just can’t give me

because what you do to the least of these
my brother’s, you have done it to me

‘cause i want the things you just can’t give me
i want the things you just can’t give me