Happy Wednesday all. I invite you to download and listen to my album, out today: “Hymns & Homilies” — an eclectic collection of songs for worship and musical sermons. Pay-what-you-will — your support for my work of music ministry is a blessing!
 | Hymns and Homilies, by Seán McMahon Seán McMahon 9 track album |
Notes: The Holy Spirit is described in scipture as a sword proceeding from the mouth of the faithful. A sword is also sort of like a gun, therefore I’ve got a gun for a mouth. This song is a how-to on devil takedown!
Lyrics:
I don’t have a story, but I just wrote some songs
That bore me now, so gather ‘round
If you’ve never tasted glory, don’t you worry cause I’ll
Feed it straight into your mouth ‘til I run out
Let me stoke the flames of division with some carelessly assembled information
I’m proud to introduce my new project
I’m the first human being with a gun for a mouth
Bang bang here it comes! Bang bang hear my gun!
Bang bang here it comes! Bang bang
The devil is the dragon with the stinkiest breath
And a trebuchet can’t take him down, but listen now
First you take your brain, stuff it into your heart
And now that it’s closer to the ground, it’s a humble crown
Now the king can ride the donkey into the deepest depth of the city of monkeys
In the catacombs you’ll find the dragon, you can choose to delete him, defeat him, or flag him
He’s gonna try to sleep on your couch, yea
Bang bang here it comes! Bang bang hear my gun!
Bang bang here it comes! Bang bang hear my gun
Bang bang
Notes: “Whether We’re Awake or Asleep” is a musical meditation on 1st Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 — Christ’s reconciling love for all beings which encourages us toward faithful unity and mutual understanding. This is another experiment in melodic hip hop sermonizing inspired by Tobe Nwigwe and Father Dave Swantek, the rapping Catholic priest.
Lyrics:
He died for us so that whether we’re awake
Or asleep
We will live
Together with him
Together with him
So build up your brothers and your sisters
God does not pick and choose
He loves all, not just a few
sends his rain on the just and unjust
What he does, we too must
Because his love in which we trust
Binds together all of us
Into a covenant, a government
Of merciful judgment
He is our King, he is our friend
He descends to meet us at our deepest depths, no regrets
No shame, no hate, can break the bond of love he was sent to make for our sake
So sleeper, awake
He died for us so that whether we’re awake
Or asleep
We will live
Together with him
Together with him
So build up your brothers and your sisters
No matter your past
No matter your present
It’s never too late
This is your moment
The one you’re waiting for
No matter what came before
And if you can believe it, then children receive it
This is the moment, the longing of your soul and
If you can receive it then everything that Jesus promised you is yours
And if you should fall — down or asleep
Or wander astray onto the wrong street
Don’t despair of defeat
God’s grace, can’t be beat
Just pray for release
And let your faith move your feet
Today the bottom, tomorrow the peak
Don’t ever say anything is out of reach
Never turn away and never ever retreat
Our God’s grace is ever on the increase
So children have peace
Children have peace
Roll the stone away and awake from your sleep
He died for us so that whether we’re awake
Or asleep
We will live
Together with him
Together with him
So build up your brothers and your sisters
Notes: The late Pope Francis declared 2025 a Year of Jubilee -- a year of grace and hope. In the Bible, a “jubilee” was a year of release for the captives of slaveholders and debt, and at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus proclaimed a grand jubilee from the captivity of sin and death. This song is full of my hopes and prayers for this year, and all years that lie ahead.
Lyrics:
This is the year of the jubilee
this is no drill, this is the real thing
This is our return to sanity
The triumph of truth and meaning
Francesco said so at the Holy See
This is the year of the jubilee
This is the year of the jubilee
When we get back all our property
When we rebuild our families
And restore the bonds of fraternity
With justice and charity
This is the year of the jubilee
This is the year of the jubilee
The deaf will hear and the blind will see
The lame will walk, the dumb will speak
And when you knock, you’ll find what you seek
If you’re in debt, you’ll be released
In the year of the jubilee
This is the year of the jubilee
When new mountains arise from the sea
When fire devours our enemies
To purge hatred with mercy
The condemned will be redeemed
In the year of the jubilee
This is the year of the jubilee
the least will be crown’ed the chief
Our despair will turn to relief
Out of darkness, let light be
The dead will Rise and take back the streets
This is the year of the jubilee
Notes: This is a rap about self-discovery, soul retrieval, and theosis in the spiritual life of Christian mysticism. I’m been a huge fan of Beck for years, so I suppose it is inevitable that I would try my hand at rap. My Christian rap was inspired by two artists I recently discovered, Tobe Nwigwe and Father Dave Swantek, the rapping Catholic priest.
Lyrics:
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I’m amazed at my life, praise God for my health
For my babies and my lady she’s so very good to me
And I wanna pay it forward so I’m aiming it straight toward you
You, who are you that to yourself you may be true?
You, you are you — Behold the old’s gone, now you’re new
Enemies, venomous — we pray for ‘em, they torment us
Reciprocity, if you could see, is the activity of the divine energies pouring out for me and you
Soaking right on through
Everything you do
It’s really done by the one who lives in everyone
In whom we live and move and have our being
But not all see him
Cause they dreaming
Deep sleeping
Drunk from drinking
Sour power
From the wrong tower
Little children it’s the final hour
honey bee’s here for the honey from the flower
And that’s you
You, who are you that to yourself you may be true?
You, you are you — Behold the old’s gone, now you’re new
The first son of man lived in the land of Nod
The second son of man was the son of god
in his image God made us all
Out of Egypt was we all called
This world of slavery, captivity
It’s a fever dream, temporary, a short sight
Lord knows it takes might
To fight through the fire and poach the prize
The priceless pearl of a pair of open eyes
Dig into your heart where the treasure hides
There’s death in the depths ready to arise
There’s much more to heaven than a pie in the sky
Your identity is eternity
Your family is the trinity
If you only knew
How the Lord pursued
His Love through Hell
just to get to
You, yea that’s you, so to your divine self be true
Oh you, you are you, behold the old’s gone now you’re new
O you, who are you? You are You, LMNOPQRST-U
Notes: This song is a prayer for Revival, and a proclamation that it is at hand.
Lyrics:
How can I be satisfied if I don’t have the love of the Lord in my heart?
Therefore my soul magnifies the Lord, and this little prayer is all I’ve got
People never ask you no more how goes your walk of faith
Nowadays the world I walk is just not that kind of place
But I know redemption is at hand
I feel the rumbling of the stones awakening all across the land
Revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh)
The devil is on the left and the devil is on the right now ain’t that right
But I’m just facing forward toward the source of all the love and the light
People don’t you ever wonder how it was we lost our way
Maybe this world we built was built to break
But I know redemption is at hand
I feel the rumbling of the stones awakening all across the land
Revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh) revival (oh)
Flock to the shepherd he will shepherd the flock
Give up what you are and give up what you got
Turn around leave it all behind and don’t look back
Cause once you have nothing then nothing you will lack
Walk down the road and knock on the door
The Lord has need of you and you need the Lord
The saints are assembled they await you there
Enter the kingdom and receive your share
Notes: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Matthew 7:13
Lyrics:
Blind men see what they want to see
Taking turns taking the lead
But they’re following the leader, the leader round the place
Sometimes I feel like I’m from outer space
Stranger strangers there have never been
Some strangers have their work cut out for them
Ugly, unwanted, and wicked faces in the rain
Stranger strangers there have never been
Here’s why Jesus had to come
We’re far too blind, deaf, and dumb
But we’re following the leader off a cliff
Loyal lemmings, flailing fish
Stranger strangers there have never been
Some strangers have their work cut out for them
Ugly, unwanted, and wicked faces in the rain
Stranger strangers there have never been
Blind men see what they want to see
Real men reveal reality
Stranger strangers there have never been
Some strangers have their work cut out for them
Ugly, unwanted, and wicked faces in the rain
Stranger strangers there have never been
Notes: “We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.” 1 Corinthians 4:9-13
Lyrics:
I am a warrior-poet priest-king
In the service of the Lord
Riding the realm night and day
With a gun in my belt and a rosary
In but not of the world
Well you might not take me seriously
But I know the Son of God
And I know his Daddy, and his Mama too
Met em down on St. Charles Avenue
We all got drunk like a bunch of outlaws on the blood
Of Jesus, sweet Jesus, Jesus Christ etc
Well I called up Mother Mary
Mama please, put in a good word
Yer boy’s a bit busy and Daddy’s got plans
mysterious ways we don’t understand
but I got high hopes He’ll lend a hand
‘Cause I’m a warrior-poet priest-king
But I ain’t exactly right
dazed for days, heart’s been heavy
my tears are busting through the levy
the night is dark and my soul needs the light and the love
Of Jesus, sweet Jesus, Jesus Christ etc
I am a warrior-poet priest-king
A stranger in a stranger land
Robin Hood to the highwayman
Scourge of every best-laid plan
Forgive em Lord for they do not understand,
oh man.
Notes: “For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up.” Proverb 24:16
Lyrics:
Baby belt out your triumph song
Bulldoze ahead and forget all you did wrong
Aint no blood left to be shed
Every bouquet of roses rains down thorns on your head
I mean, you can’t have no good days with no nights, am I right?
You can’t claim no victories without going down in a few fights
Winning is loss, freedom has a cost
Better read between the lines and leave time to keep your teeth well-flossed
Baby belt it out
Baby belt out your little heart
Ever-y big mistake had a promising start
Lord knows your intentions are good
Keep on keeping on, singalong don’t drop the beat on your foot
If you gotta look back, then look sharp
Because one thing that I have learned about this life is it’s hard, like when
you’re stuck on your past and in your head
Babe you just gotta learn to let the dead bury the dead
Answer the fool in his folly
Meaning don’t play games with the devil and never say sorry
The story, like life, goes on tomorr-y
Don’t get lost in the weeds on your way to the grand finale
Baby belt it out
Notes: “Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” Matthew 5:25-26
Lyrics:
The dream of peace is the art of war
But only the one who wakes up gets to walk on through that door
The sleep is so heavy cause the blindfold is so warm
But don’t you think it won’t work well as shelter from the storm?
He gonna huff he gonna puff he gonna blow your house down
He gona take the lint in your pockets
He got a badge in the shape of a target on your back and a black magic crown
He got your name on his docket
But you as clever as Davy Crockett
Case closed, shake like men
But then you bring it back up again
Cased closed, like a wound my friend
But then it opens back up again
There ain’t no devil that can reach the top
But ain’t no angel gonna catch you when you drop
So count up all them blessings and keep the number to yourself
And hand them out like leaflets to heal the ones who need the help
Cause it ain’t me, no enemy gona get me in his hold
I ain’t gona lift a finger, he gona fall down on his own
He gona try, he gona try try try try try oh, my oh my
Well he can try his best to break me
But he should know I’m crazy
Case closed, shake like men
But then you bring it back up again
Cased closed, like a wound my friend
But then it opens back up again
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