Bennett's music is very much a expression of his life experiences from the point of view of his faith. From his difficulties to forget past hurts to his divorce to the discovery of 'small graces' that keep him rooted in the love of his Lord. Bennett has a wonderfully smooth voice and plays a simple but effective guitar.
Voices
Bob Bennett Lyrics
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W/M: Bob Bennett & Michael Aguilar
Voices
I can hear voices
Voices of the homeless and crying
Voices of the starving and dying
Like a nightmare
These voices
Voices
Voices
I can hear voices
Voices of the sonless mothers
Voices of so many others
Who cry from the ground
Like Abel's blood
These Voices
Voices
I don't care what they tell me
There is a brotherhood of man
My brother starves in India
My sister in Iran
And God help the faithless if He pays us back
With judgment equal to the love we lack
Choices
I've got to make choices
I live in this world or I don't
I'll reach out my hand or I won't
It's these nightmares
Intruding on my dream world
These voices
(February 1983)
In Bob Bennett's song "Voices," he is expressing his deep awareness and empathy towards the suffering and cries of various individuals from all over the world. He hears the voices of the homeless, starving, dying, and sonless mothers, who cry out for help and justice from the ground. These voices are so powerful that they are intruding into his dream world, causing him to wake up and face the reality of the struggles and pain of humanity. Bennett recognizes that there is a brotherhood of man, and despite the invisible borders and differences that separate us, we are all connected and responsible for each other's well-being.
Bennett acknowledges the existence of choices that he must make. He could choose to ignore the voices and go back to his dream world, ignorant of the pain and suffering of others. However, he knows that it's not a viable option. He accepts his responsibility to reach out his hand and make a difference where he can, to alleviate pain and bring justice to those who suffer. The song concludes with a powerful message that if we don't show love and compassion to those who cry out, we might face judgment equal to the love we lack from God.
Line by Line Meaning
Voices
The song is about the different voices that the singer can hear.
I can hear voices
The singer can audibly hear the voices of different individuals.
Voices of the homeless and crying
The voices that the singer hears belong to people who are homeless and in need of assistance.
Voices of the starving and dying
The voices that the singer hears belong to people who are hungry and approaching death.
Like a nightmare
The situation of these individuals is dreadful, as if it's a nightmare.
Intruding on my dream world
The voices of these individuals are violating the singer's own sense of security.
These voices
Reiteration of the voices the singer can hear.
Voices of the sonless mothers
The singer is hearing the voices of mothers who have lost their children in some way.
Voices of so many others
The singer is hearing voices from a wide range of people.
Who cry from the ground
The individuals represented by the voices are in a state of despair.
Like Abel's blood
The blood of Abel is a Biblical reference to innocent and unjust deaths that cry out for justice.
I do not care what they tell me
The singer doesn't care about any excuses that people may have for not helping others.
There is a brotherhood of man
The singer believes that all humans share a bond of kinship.
My brother starves in India
The singer identifies himself as connected to people who are suffering in faraway places.
My sister in Iran
The singer further emphasizes the global reach of human suffering.
And God help the faithless if He pays us back
God will hold people accountable for their actions, particularly those in positions of power.
With judgment equal to the love we lack
Those who have power, influence, and resources must use them to show love and compassion to those who are suffering.
Choices
The singer must choose what to do with the information and experiences that he has gained.
I have got to make choices
The singer is conscious of his own agency and responsibility to act.
I live in this world or I do not
Life is about making choices to engage with the world or to retreat from it.
I will reach out my hand or I will not
The singer must decide whether to help those who are suffering or turn a blind eye.
It's these nightmares
The situations of those who are suffering are likened to nightmares because they are distressing and difficult to face.
Intruding on my dream world
The suffering of others may challenge one's own cherished beliefs and way of life.
These voices
Reiteration of the voices the singer can hear.
Writer(s): Bob Bennett, Michael Aguilar
Contributed by Reagan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.