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.
Epistle
Mark Heard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm amazed, I'm feeling better
What is written in the soul
Seem ever-fresh, and wasted never
Words, when seen by more than eyes,
(I slowly start to realize)
Though the song is very new
I only wish that I could see you
Sometime soon
The opening lyrics of Mark Heard's song Epistle speak of the healing power of words, particularly those written from the heart. The singer is reading a letter, and as he absorbs the message, he feels a positive change in his mood. He recognizes the profound impact that words can have, as they are able to touch the soul and leave a lasting impression. The line "What is written in the soul, seem ever-fresh, and wasted never" suggests that the message contained in these words is timeless and valuable, never losing its relevance or impact.
The next few lines of the song seem to acknowledge the musical quality of language. When the singer says, "Words, when seen by more than eyes, (I slowly start to realize) Compose a tune," it seems as though he is recognizing that words hold a musical quality that transcends their literal meaning. The idea that words have a rhythm and melody when read or spoken aloud suggests that they can create an emotional resonance that is unique to each individual.
Overall, Epistle is a song about the power of communication to connect with others on a deep and meaningful level. Whether it's through letters or conversations, words have the ability to heal, inspire, and enrich our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
As I sit and read this letter
In my current state of very simply reading this message
I'm amazed, I'm feeling better
I am feeling astonishment and an improved emotional state in response to what I'm reading
What is written in the soul
The innermost being of a person's thoughts and emotions
Seems ever-fresh, and wasted never
This message has an endless quality of feeling authentic and valuable
Words, when seen by more than eyes,
Text has an effect beyond just visual perception
(I slowly start to realize)
I am gradually comprehending this concept
Compose a tune
These words create the possibility for a melody
Though the song is very new
The melody would be unique and not yet heard
I only wish that I could see you
It would be desirable to have a physical encounter
Sometime soon
At a hopefully near future date
Contributed by Jonathan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.