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.
Gimme Mine
Mark Heard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching all the grownups shaking on the money tree
You know that everybody's got their places
Everyone fits just fine: all except me, Lord
Now when You gonna gimme mine?
All across the nation (everywhere) people do their things (pulling their hair)
Pushing on buttons and pulling on different strings
You know that everybody's got their places
Now when You gonna gimme mine?
Now when You gonna gimme importance
When You gonna gimme wealth
When You gonna make me like everybody else?
I got to get me a high position, got to get me a Cadillac
Got to get me a raise, I got to get me a heart attack
You know that everybody's got their places
Everyone fits just fine all except me, Lord
Now when You gonna gimme mine?
Oooh working at the Neiman Marcus, working at the five and dime
Got to have the money gonna make it in the nick of time
You know that everybody's got their places
Everyone fits just fine all except me, Lord
Now when You gonna gimme mine?
The lyrics to Mark Heard's "Gimme Mine" discuss feelings of inadequacy and frustration with societal expectations. The song begins with Heard reflecting on his childhood and the pressure to determine what he wanted to be when he grew up. He observes adults shaking the money tree, implying that money is the driving force behind many people's career choices. Heard then identifies a sense of displacement, feeling like he doesn't fit in with everyone else who seems content with their place in life. The chorus repeatedly asks "Now when You gonna gimme mine?" demonstrating Heard's desire for something more.
The second verse describes the pervasive nature of societal expectations. People everywhere are trying to find their place in the world, using different means to get there. Heard repeats the sentiment that everyone else seems to have figured it out except for him. The bridge then sums up the desires that Heard wishes for, the importance, the wealth, and to be like everybody else, to fit in.
The final verse is more specific about the kind of success Heard seeks. He wants a high position, a Cadillac, and a raise. He seems to be willing even to risk his health. The song ends with the chorus once again asking for the same thing, for Heard to receive whatever he is entitled to.
Overall, "Gimme Mine" is a commentary on the pressures placed upon individuals in society to conform to certain standards, especially standards that equate financial success with personal fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Ever since I was a young boy I wondered what to be
Since my youth, I have always pondered my purpose in life and what career path to pursue
Watching all the grownups shaking on the money tree
Observing adults scrambling for money and wealth
You know that everybody's got their places
People have found their roles and positions in society
Everyone fits just fine: all except me, Lord
I am the only one who feels out of place and unfulfilled
Now when You gonna gimme mine?
I am asking the higher power for my destiny and purpose to be revealed
All across the nation (everywhere) people do their things (pulling their hair)
People are frantically trying to succeed in their ventures, causing stress and anxiety
Pushing on buttons and pulling on different strings
People are trying different tactics to climb the ladder of success
Now when You gonna gimme importance
I want to feel significant and valued among my peers
When You gonna gimme wealth
I desire financial prosperity and security
When You gonna make me like everybody else?
I want to fit in and be accepted by society
I got to get me a high position, got to get me a Cadillac
I need to attain a prestigious job title and material possessions to feel accomplished
Got to get me a raise, I got to get me a heart attack
I am willing to sacrifice my health in pursuit of my ambitions
Oooh working at the Neiman Marcus, working at the five and dime
I am willing to work any job and any hours to achieve success
Got to have the money gonna make it in the nick of time
Time is of the essence, and I believe money is the key to achieving success
Contributed by Amelia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.