Mark Heard released 13 studio albums in his lifetime (as Mark Heard & Ideola) also 1 album with Infinity Plus Three), and produced and performed with many other artists as well, such as Daniel Amos, Sam Phillips, Pierce Pettis, Phil Keaggy, Vigilantes of Love, Peter Buck of R.E.M., John Austin, The Choir, Randy Stonehill and Michael Been of The Call. Heard produced part of Olivia Newton John's The Rumour, which also included a cover of Heard's "Big and Strong".
On July 4, 1992, Heard suffered a heart attack on stage while performing with Pierce Pettis and Kate Miner, at the Cornerstone Festival, near Chicago, Illinois. Heard finished his set and went to the hospital immediately afterwards. Two weeks after being released from the hospital, Heard had a cardiac arrest and died in August of 1992. Sadly, this happened at a time when Heard's musical career never looked brighter. Not only had he just released three albums (Dry Bones Dance in 1990, Second Hand in 1991, and Satellite Sky in 1992) that many hailed as his best work to date, but he had also just been included on a sampler from Windham Hill's High Street label.
Heard's early work was often marked by strong, poetic lyrics; but musically he lingered in a generic folk/folk-rock style. But Heard continued to experiment musically; his most extreme was perhaps the elaborately-produced electronic rock on the album Tribal Opera, which he released under the name iDEoLA. With Dry Bones Dance, however, Heard's music blossomed into an intense folk-rock fusion, marked by driving rhythms, virtuosic instrumentals, passionate vocals, and interwoven elements borrowed from styles such as Appalachian folk, zydeco, bluegrass, and country (though Heard's music is none of those). Second Hand returned to a more acoustic guitar-based folk sound, but retained the energy and creativity discovered through Dry Bones Dance. His final official album, Satellite Sky, was again more like the latter.
Mark Heard's lyrics are deeply grounded in a Christian view of the world, though explicitly so only half the time. He was often critical and had an eye for emotional pain and spiritual desolation, yet he remarkably avoided cynicism. When his lyrics turned to expressing hope or joy, they were powerful. As a poetic lyricist, Heard cultivated verbal sound (e.g. with internal rhyme), strong images and elaborate personae, while avoiding the cheap punch-line metaphors popular in much contemporary folk music. Some of his images, most notably "bones," can be found repeated and richly varied in their meaning across years of songwriting.
In 1994, many artists came together to record a tribute album called Strong Hand of Love. Artists lending their talents to the project included Victoria Williams, Chagall Guevara, Buddy Miller, Julie Miller, Daniel Amos, The Choir, Rich Mullins, Bruce Cockburn, and the Vigilantes of Love. The project was later reissued as a 2 CD set with additional tracks and retitled Orphans of God.
A Friend
Mark Heard Lyrics
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To stick close beside him through thick and through thin
And through all that encompasses those born again
Hasn't he always needed a friend
To help tend his wounds in the war against sin
And encourage him daily each battle to win
When such a companion seems so far a way
Isn't it right when the friend comes to stay
And the Lord leads on
Hasn't he always hoped for a friend
To help and deliver protect and defend
And to live in the days of the life without end
The lyrics to the song "A Friend" by Mark Heard describe the longing and desire for a friend who will be steadfast and supportive through the ups and downs of life as a Christian. The opening lines express this desire, emphasizing the need for someone who will be present through all the experiences that come with being "born again." The following lines describe the difficulties of sin and the constant battle against it, highlighting the importance of having a friend who can offer support and encouragement in these struggles.
As the song progresses, the lyrics address the feelings of loneliness and the sense of separation and distance that can arise when a friend is not present. The chorus offers a hopeful perspective, acknowledging that when such a friend does come, it is a source of comfort and strength that can only come from the Lord. The final lines of the song express a hope for a friend who can help navigate the challenges of life and ultimately share in the joys of eternal life.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the meaning and importance of friendship in the life of a Christian, emphasizing the need for companionship and support as we strive to follow Christ.
Line by Line Meaning
Hasn't he always wanted a friend
He feels a desire to have a close friend.
To stick close beside him through thick and through thin
The desired friend should be loyal and supportive, no matter the circumstances.
And through all that encompasses those born again
The friend should be someone who shares the same faith and beliefs as he does regarding salvation and redemption.
Hasn't he always needed a friend
He feels a strong necessity for a helper and supporter.
To help tend his wounds in the war against sin
The friend should serve as a confidant and offer counsel in his struggle against wrongdoing.
And encourage him daily each battle to win
The friend should offer motivation regularly to help him overcome obstacles and win the fight against sin.
Isn't it night and isn't it day
He ponders his need for a friend throughout all times, whether good or bad.
When such a companion seems so far a way
Despite the strong yearning for a friend, he feels there is no one around to fulfill his desire.
Isn't it right when the friend comes to stay
He recognizes the kindness when someone offers to be his friend.
And the Lord leads on
God guides his life and will direct him to the right people to become his friend.
Hasn't he always hoped for a friend
He has always wished to have someone to whom he can confide in.
To help and deliver protect and defend
The friend should be someone who demonstrates qualities of support, safety, and protection.
And to live in the days of the life without end
The friend should be someone who shares the same desire for eternal life.
Contributed by Mila G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.