An Unlikely Influence

Anyone who is a regular follower of my blogs will know that I like to keep an eye on what the music industry is pumping out.  It’s important to be aware of the filth the world is pumping our way. Recently I was surprised to see an unlikely influence in a musical genre not normally associated with baser things.  If I was to blog about Satanic overtones in Rock music or sexual perversion in R&B then who would be surprised, however, on this occasion I feel I need to warn people about folk music.

Folk music? I hear you cry. Unlikely indeed but I’m never surprised these days. Folk music has always been the poor second cousin of the music industry, it certainly has never really had a ‘cool’ image, well at least it’s been that way until now.

Recently a folk band from England has found previously unheard of mainstream popularity with their high energy modern take on ‘folk music’.   I speak of course of ‘Mumford and Sons’.  I have never actually listened to Mumford’s music but I have been aware of their rise to prominence just from listening to the media. I note that they are Grammy winners and I have seen media clips of them packing out music festivals. Somewhat unheard of for a folk band!

I always get suspicious when I see such a rapid rise to stardom, I always wonder are they getting a little extra help from the musical maestro himself, Lucifer.  I saw an advert on TV a few weeks ago for their new album and its name sent off alarm bells in my mind. I refer of course to their recent album, ‘Babel’. I am interested to know why a band would choose a Bible word associated with rebellion against God for the name of their album.

The word Babel comes from the ‘Tower of Babel’ as recorded in Genesis 11. God had told man to spread through the earth, but when man reached the land of Shinar they decided to disobey God and build a city to stay together and there they built a tower. God was displeased with them and confounded their languages so that they no longer understood each other and went their separate ways. In this way God’s purpose was fulfilled in that the people spread through the earth as God had originally commanded.

‘Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.’ Genesis 11 v9

So why would Mumford associate themselves with rebellion against God in the name of their album?  Well perhaps the lyrics of one of the tracks of the album will shed some light on the subject.

Whispers in the dark

You hold your truth so purely

And swerve not through the minds of men

This lie is dead
And this cup of yours tastes holy

But a brush with the devil can clear your mind and strengthen your spine
But fingers tap into what you were once

And I'm worried that I blew my only chance
Whispers in the dark

Steal a kiss and you'll break your heart

Pick up your clothes and curl your toes

Learn your lesson, lead me home

Spare my sins for the ark, I was too slow to depart

I'm a cad but I'm not a fraud, I'd set out to serve the Lord
But my heart was colder when you'd gone

And I lost my head but found the one that I love

Under the sun, under the sun
But fingers tap into what you were once

And I'm worried that I blew my only chance

Fingers tap into what you were once

And I'm worried that I blew my only chance!

But my heart was colder when you'd gone

And I lost my head; let's live while we are young

While we are young

While we are young

Interesting Lyrics! I think you’ll agree they are certainly very spiritual in nature.

Now I’m not sure exactly what was in the heart and mind of the songwriter as he penned these lyrics but they do seem to describe a man who once served God, ‘I’d set out to serve the Lord’ but had an encounter with evil ‘But a brush with the devil can clear your mind’. It seems that the songwriter is now living by a new worldly philosophy ‘Let’s live while we are young’. This is certainly the maxim of the godless. The child of God, like old Abraham, is looking for a city whose builder and maker is God but the worldling is only interested in enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season.

Something else sheds a bit of light on the subject. Band member Marcus Mumford is from an Evangelical Christian background. This song almost seems to be a public renouncing of his former faith. He speaks of thinking about going back ‘lead me home’ but by the end of the song he appears to have decided on the life of sin. Sad!

It’s worth having a look at some of their other songs, they certainly make interesting reading. Have a look for yourself and see what conclusions you come to.