Mark Heard passed away too early in 1992, in his early 40s. Already at that point, he had released a ton of music. The thing about his poetry, though, was that even though it was released to the Christian market, it wasn't explicitly christian (small "c"). The lyrics aren't rah-rah cheerleading like carman, but far more thought provoking. The music is surprisingly good for a thoughtful poet (unlike Bruce Cockburn, whose poetry is fantastic, but music spotty at best, or maybe it's his voice?)
Anyway, here's one song, Lonely Moon, which was covered by Kevin Max for the Strong Hand of Love Tribute. This isn't the Kevin Max version, but the original, by Mark Heard:
Lonely Moon
Was a child and a newcomer to the ways of the world
Eyes ablaze with the light of high noon
Just to love and to be loved was all he wanted
By the light of the lonely moon
They taught him to capture and tame wild pathos
Sold him distractions and made every day seem the same
Caught the Holy Ghost lurking in his cellar and threw Him out
Leaving just a lonely name
Soon they took everything that he lived for
So he asked them to please take his life too
They denied him existence but they let him live
In a lonely room
He would suckle at the bosom of Mother Earth
But his experience poisons that thought
He falls prey somehow
To the silence of the deep-space dark
Of this lonely blue rock
Now his path is lit only by the light of falling stars
The embers fall to scorch and cut his face
He wants to believe in his unbelief
In a lonely place
But they buried his conscience
Near to the grave of God
Sealed his soul up in a tomb of tears
And they scattered his ashes East of Eden someplace
On a lonely breeze
Was a child and a newcomer to the ways of the world
Eyes ablaze with the light of high noon
Just to love and to be loved was all he needed
By the light of the lonely moon
By the light of the lonely moon
Written by Mark Heard © 1991 Ideola Music/ASCAP
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