Biography:
Talbot was born into a Methodist family with a musical background in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and started learning to play the guitar at an early age. At age 15 he dropped out of school and was performing as a guitarist for Mason Proffit, a country folk-rock band formed with his older brother Terry.
Talbot embarked on a spiritual journey that led him through Native American religion and Buddhism to Christianity. At this point he and his brother, Terry, joined the Jesus Movement, recording the album Reborn which was re-released by Sparrow Records (originally released as The Talbot Brothers on the Warner Brothers label).
Two solo albums followed for Talbot: John Michael Talbot (1976) and The New Earth (1977). Both of these were produced by Billy Ray Hearn.
Reading the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to begin studying at a Franciscan center in Indianapolis. He became a Roman Catholic and joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1978. He started a house of prayer, The Little Portion.
Talbot moved The Little Portion to Eureka Springs, Arkansas on land he had purchased during his Mason Proffit days. He founded his own community, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, at Little Portion Hermitage as an "integrated monastic community" with celibate brothers and sisters, singles, and families. By 1989, Talbot had married Viola Pratka (with the permission of the Catholic Church). Pratka was a former Incarnate Word Sister who had come to the community in 1986.
Per the community's General Constitutions, Talbot's title is "General Minister and Spiritual Father". For many years, he has promoted the work of Mercy Corps.
The hermitage suffered a fire in April 2008 in which the chapel, library and many common areas were destroyed.
On April 10, 2010 the Bishop of Little Rock, Anthony Taylor, dedicated the new buildings. On October 2, 2010 the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage celebrated the opening of the new monastery church and common center.
Holy Man
John Michael Talbot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The skydeep blue above
Stars seem so close he could touch the sky
And touch the face of God
He sleeps alone in the desert tonight
So every soul he will know
Renouncing all that he calls wealth
To find a heart of gold
Monos
A holy man in the forest tonight
The night sounds all around
He sits serene and meditates
He sits on holy ground
The lion looms but does not prowl
Sensing the holy pease
The violence of this fallen world
Waits for its release
A holy man in the city tonight
The homeless sleep on the street
The face of God in the rich and the poor
Beggars, robbers and thieves
An orphan child, a widow alone
A prisoner trapped in the cell
Come out into the freedom of God
And follow the holy man
Monos
Monos
Come out into the freedom of God
Follow the holy man
(Monos)
Follow the holy man
(Monos)
Follow the holy man
(Monos)
The song "Holy Man" by John Michael Talbot speaks about a man who has chosen a life of holiness and detachment from material possessions in order to find spiritual enlightenment. In the first verse, the holy man is depicted as being in the desert surrounded by a sky deep blue with stars that seem within reach. The desert represents a place of solitude and lack of distractions, where the holy man can meditate and connect with God. The line "renouncing all that he calls wealth to find a heart of gold" refers to the holy man's rejection of material possessions and worldly desires in search of a more valuable treasure: a heart filled with goodness and holiness.
The holy man is also depicted in the forest, where he sits on "holy ground," meaning that he recognizes the sacredness of all creation and respects it accordingly. The mention of the lion that looms but does not prowl suggests that even the wild animals sense the holy man's goodness and peaceful nature. He is described as being serene and meditative, which indicates that he understands the importance of quiet and stillness in achieving inner peace and communion with God. The holy man's detachment from material wealth and his ability to find holiness in the natural world reflect a deep understanding of spirituality and the interconnectedness of all things.
Overall, "Holy Man" by John Michael Talbot is a beautiful and inspiring song that encourages listeners to seek out a life of holiness and spiritual enlightenment. It is a reminder that we can find God not only in the beauty of nature but also in the faces of those around us, whether they are rich or poor, beggars or thieves. The holy man is a symbol of the potential for holiness within each of us, and a reminder that we can choose to live a life of goodness and love.
Line by Line Meaning
A holy man in the desert tonight
A man devoted to God is alone in the desert under the vast, blue sky.
The skydeep blue above
The sky is very blue and seems endless.
Stars seem so close he could touch the sky
The stars are gleaming and appearing so near as though he could reach them.
And touch the face of God
The holy man feels an intimate connection with God.
He sleeps alone in the desert tonight
He sleeps alone in the desert out of his devotion to God
So every soul he will know
The holy man aims to know every soul, to understand them.
Renouncing all that he calls wealth
He has given up all worldly possessions for his beliefs and devotion to God.
To find a heart of gold
To pursue a heart filled with love and purity.
A holy man in the forest tonight
A man devoted to God is in the forest, surrounded by the sounds of the night.
The night sounds all around
The sounds of nature create a peaceful atmosphere.
He sits serene and meditates
He sits peacefully and meditates with his thoughts about God.
He sits on holy ground
The forest is sacred to him and he approaches it with reverence.
The lion looms but does not prowl
A lion stays nearby, yet doesn't attack or threaten the man because he senses the holiness and peace around him.
Sensing the holy pease
The lion feels the tranquillity and calmness that emanates from the holy man.
The violence of this fallen world
The brutality of the materialistic and sinful world.
Waits for its release
The sinful world is waiting to be saved from the darkness and brought into the light.
A holy man in the city tonight
A man devoted to God is in the city and sees the impoverished and the affluent living side by side.
The homeless sleep on the street
The Holy Man can see that some people are homeless and are struggling to survive.
The face of God in the rich and the poor
God's presence can be found amongst the financially wealthy as well as the impoverished.
Beggars, robbers and thieves
In the city, there are beggars, robbers, and thieves who seek help from the Holy Man.
An orphan child, a widow alone
There is an orphan child, a widow suffering alone amongst the sea of people in the city.
A prisoner trapped in the cell
There is a prisoner who is confined in a cell, seeking the forgiveness of God.
Come out into the freedom of God
The Holy Man encourages people to step out of their darkness and into the freedom and light of God.
And follow the holy man
The Holy Man wants people to follow him as he follows God.
Follow the holy man
The Holy Man is calling out for people to follow him in his spiritual journey on this earth.
Writer(s): TALBOT JOHN MICHAEL, TALBOT TERRY NOLAN
Contributed by Adalyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.