Two songs were the basis for controversy. The first was Wedding Dress in which Webb compares Christians who seek fulfillment in things outside of Christ to a person committing adultery. An introspective tune, Webb writes that "I am a whore I do confess / I put you on just like a wedding dress". The second song that generated controversy was Saint and Sinner where Webb wrote" "I used to be a damned mess but now I look just fine, 'Cause you dressed me up and we drank the finest wine". The word damned was removed from the final version of the album, at the request of two major Christian retailers.
His second solo studio record, I See Things Upside Down, generated mixed reviews. All marketing to the typical Christian music stations used by his first solo album and his albums with Caedmon's Call was stopped, though the album still has explicitly Christian lyrics. In comparison to Webb's previous work, this album has what's been referred to as an "experimental" style to it, and has been compared to the music of Wilco in that respect. His third studio album, titled Mockingbird, was released on December 26, 2005. On September 1, 2006 he decided to offer the Mockingbird album, for free to download, at http://www.freederekwebb.com/. "|He| want|s| people to have a chance to listen to mockingbird and engage in the conversation (many sensitive issues including poverty, war, and the basic ethics by which we live and deal with others). So this is why, on september 1st, |he| launch|ed| freederekwebb.com, a place where anyone can go online and not just hear but actually download, keep, and share 'mockingbird' completely free. In addition, freederekwebb.com will give you an opportunity to invite your friends to download 'mockingbird' in order to get them in on the conversation as well." This website is no longer running, but Derek Webb has expanded on this idea at www.noisetrade.com, where you can download both his and other artists albums for free or a donation.
Webb's fourth proper studio album The Ringing Bell was released May 1st, 2007. In what many have noted to be Webb's penchant for shifting radically in terms of style from album to album, The Ringing Bell recalls very clearly Beatles-esque pop in a concise, 30 minute, package. It was received with wide praise, with Paste Magazine's Deputy Editor Jason Killingsworth giving the album five out of five stars (The Ringing Bell would prove to be the only album of 2007 to officially receive a perfect score), and receiving placement on their best of list.
In April 2008, Webb released The Ampersand EP. Webb recorded the six-song EP with Sandra McCracken, his wife. The songs focus on the couple's relationship, and Webb and McCracken duet on many of the songs, including a cover of Bob Dylan's "If Not For You." It marks the first time the couple has produced an album together, because even though their styles are similar, "[W]e approach songwriting from completely opposite directions. I'm very conceptual and abstract," McCracken said. "And Derek is very meticulous and intentional. Down to each and every conjunction."
Free album dowmloads: www.noisetrade.com
Website: http://derekwebb.musiccitynetworks.com/
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/derekwebb
T-Shirts
Derek Webb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They'll know us by the way we point and stare
At anyone whose sin looks worse than ours
Who cannot hide the scars of this curse that we all bare
they'll know us by our picket lines and signs
They'll know us by the pride we hide behind
Like anyone on earth is living right
Not to make us think we're right
when love, love, love
Is what we should be known for
Love, love, love
It's the how and it's the why
We live and breathe and we die
they'll know us by reasons we divide
And how we can't seem to unify
Because we've gotta sing songs a certain style
Or we'll walk right down that aisle
And just leave ‘em all behind
they'll know us by the billboards that we make
Just turning God's words to cheap clichés
Says “what part of murder don't you understand?”
But we hate our fellow man
And point a finger at his grave
they'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
They'll know us by the way we point and stare
Telling ‘em their sins are worse than ours
Thinking we can hide our scars
Beneath these t-shirts that we wear
In Derek Webb's "T-Shirts", he points out the hypocrisy in how Christians often present themselves to the world. He sings that outsiders will judge them not by their love, which is the most important message of Christianity, but instead by their clothing, signs, and actions. The picket lines and signs he references are those that display judgmental messages towards people with different lifestyles, which often lead to more significant division than unity. He calls out the need to stick to certain song styles or follow extreme beliefs that make it difficult to unite inside Christian circles. The idea is that Christians spend more time judging, imposing, and putting themselves above others, preaching to be right, while, in reality, they often do the opposite of what Jesus' teachings taught - love and compassion.
The chorus then brings out the heart of the song, pointing out that instead of the negative behavior, Christians should make love their defining trait - love that is unconditional and selfless. It is what the religion is all about. While the lyrics are honest and sobering, they are meant to provoke insight and reflection explicitly among Christians.
Line by Line Meaning
They'll know us by the t-shirts that we wear
Our outward appearance and clothing choices will be what people use to judge and identify us.
They'll know us by the way we point and stare
We are quick to judge others and their actions, while hiding our own flaws.
At anyone whose sin looks worse than ours
We only criticize others who we deem to have committed worse sins than us.
Who cannot hide the scars of this curse that we all bare
Everyone has their own share of scars and struggles that they cannot hide, but we still judge them.
They'll know us by our picket lines and signs
We are known for our protests and public demonstrations.
They'll know us by the pride we hide behind
Our protests and demonstrations are fueled by our own pride and sense of self-righteousness.
Like anyone on earth is living right
We act as if we are the only ones with morals and values, ignoring the fact that everyone makes mistakes.
And isn't that why Jesus died
Jesus died not to make us believe we are perfect, but to show us love and forgiveness despite our imperfections.
Not to make us think we're right
Jesus didn't die to give us a sense of superiority, but to teach us humility and compassion.
when love, love, love
Love should be what we are known for.
Is what we should be known for
Love is the most important aspect of our faith that we should express to others.
It's the how and it's the why
The way we show love and the reasons behind it are what truly matter.
We live and breathe and we die
Love is the essence of our existence and the ultimate purpose of our lives.
they'll know us by reasons we divide
We are known for the reasons we create divisions among ourselves.
And how we can't seem to unify
Our inability to come together as a community and see past our differences is what sets us apart.
Because we've gotta sing songs a certain style
We argue and divide over trivial matters like musical preferences and style.
Or we'll walk right down that aisle
We would rather leave a church or community than compromise our own preferences.
And just leave ‘em all behind
Our narrow-mindedness causes us to abandon those we deem different or unworthy of our time.
they'll know us by the billboards that we make
Our public displays of faith are what people use to identify us.
Just turning God's words to cheap clichés
We cheapen the message of God by oversimplifying and overusing popular phrases and verses.
Says “what part of murder don't you understand?”
We use righteous anger to justify our own hatred and condemnation of others.
But we hate our fellow man
Our actions and words reveal an underlying hate and disregard for others.
And point a finger at his grave
We blame and shame those who have passed, using them as a way to make ourselves look better.
Telling ‘em their sins are worse than ours
We use other people's sins to deflect attention away from our own faults.
Thinking we can hide our scars
We believe that we can hide our own struggles and flaws by pointing out the faults of others.
Beneath these t-shirts that we wear
We try to cover up our own failures and scars with the outward trappings of religion and piety.
Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: ANDRE HARRIS, ANGELA RENEE BEYINCE, BEYONCE GISSELLE KNOWLES, GARRETT R HAMLER, KELENDRIA TRENE ROWLAND, MICHELLE C WILLIAMS, VIDAL DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind