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.
Hammers And Nails
Mark Heard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’m hungry for mercy, thirsty for slack,
Out in the outland, flesh and the dust,
Weight of the tired earth breaking my back,
Hope - where I left it under the skin,
Countenance of maidens, stance of the laddies,
The healing of old wounds, trust of my kin,
The voices of children calling me Daddy.
And your love never can fail to pierce me,
Hammers and nails,
Rhythm of passion, louder than Hell,
Thunder of Heaven,
Hammers and nails.
Light in the dark eyes, coal into diamonds,
Shelter from heavy skies, sand into pearls,
Bread for the breathless, cloth for the fresh wounds,
Order and chaos orbit the half-world,
The taste of a colour, flavour of light,
None but a blind man can measure that weight,
I am a deaf-mute, idle as statue,
Music of hemispheres lost in the half-haze.
And your love never can fail to pierce me,
Hammers and nails,
Rhythm of passion, louder than Hell,
Thunder of Heaven,
Hammers and nails.
Hum in the graveyard, whistle in the dark,
Stains on the stained glass, pains in the heart,
In darkened corners, love lies forgotten,
In the heat of the moment it waits to be spotted,
How could I slight you?
How could I turn?
How can you take it when I’m blind to your pain?
The burning of fingers, the smouldering nerves,
How can you take me back over and over again?
And your love never can fail to pierce me,
Hammers and nails,
Rhythm of passion, louder than Hell,
Thunder of Heaven,
Hammers and nails.
The lyrics of "Hammers And Nails" by Mark Heard are very deep and introspective. The song speaks about the struggles and difficulties that the singer is facing in life, and how they are looking for hope and mercy. The lyrics talk about the physical and emotional burden that the singer feels, as he is worn out by the weight of the earth, but is sustained by the hope that he left under his skin.
Despite the struggles, the singer finds hope in the love of someone special. The lyrics depict the intense passion and love that the singer feels for this person, describing it as a "rhythm of passion, louder than Hell, Thunder of Heaven" that never fails to pierce him. The love that the singer receives from this person is compared to the strength of hammers and nails, which can withstand the toughest challenges.
The lyrics also touch upon the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation. The singer reflects upon how he has hurt the person he loves and how he has been blind to their pain. Yet, despite this, the person continues to take him back over and over again, reflecting the true strength of their love.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire in my shallows, sap of my soul,
I am in a state of deep emotional turmoil, with a burning desire that radiates from within me and runs through my entire being.
I’m hungry for mercy, thirsty for slack,
I am in need of forgiveness and reprieve, as I feel weighed down by the challenges and hardships of life.
Out in the outland, flesh and the dust,
I find myself isolated and alone in the harsh and barren wilderness, where I am forced to confront the harsh reality of my existence.
Weight of the tired earth breaking my back,
The burden of life and its struggles is weighing heavily upon me, to the point where it is causing significant physical and emotional strain.
Hope - where I left it under the skin,
Despite my struggles, I still have a glimmer of hope and optimism buried deep within me, waiting to be uncovered.
Countenance of maidens, stance of the laddies,
I find comfort in the familiar faces and postures of those around me, as they remind me of the simpler times and joys in life.
The healing of old wounds, trust of my kin,
The support and trust of my family and loved ones are helping me to mend and recover from past hurts and traumas.
The voices of children calling me Daddy.
The innocent and joyful sounds of children remind me of the love and purpose I have in life, as a father and caregiver.
And your love never can fail to pierce me,
Despite all of my trials and tribulations, your unwavering love and devotion always manages to cut through the darkness and reach my heart.
Hammers and nails,
Your love is strong and durable, able to withstand any challenge and overcome any obstacle.
Rhythm of passion, louder than Hell,
The intensity and fervor of your love is unmatched, transcending even the most extreme emotional states and experiences.
Thunder of Heaven,
Your love is powerful and divine, capable of stirring the very heavens and shaking the earth beneath us.
Light in the dark eyes, coal into diamonds,
Your love has the ability to transform even the darkest and most challenging situations into dazzling displays of beauty and brilliance.
Shelter from heavy skies, sand into pearls,
Your love provides me with a safe haven and protection from the storms and hardships of life, turning mundane and ordinary things into precious treasures.
Bread for the breathless, cloth for the fresh wounds,
Your love offers sustenance and comfort to those who are struggling and wounded, giving them the strength and support they need to carry on.
Order and chaos orbit the half-world,
The delicate balance between structure and chaos in life is ever-present, giving shape and meaning to our existence.
The taste of a colour, flavour of light,
The richness and complexity of life cannot be fully understood or measured by our physical senses alone, but requires a deeper appreciation and understanding.
None but a blind man can measure that weight,
The true essence and value of life cannot be measured or fully comprehended by those who are limited by their physical senses and perceptions.
I am a deaf-mute, idle as statue,
Despite my desire to fully experience and understand life, I feel limited and unable to fully engage with the world around me.
Music of hemispheres lost in the half-haze.
The beauty and wonder of the world is often obscured and overshadowed by the complexities and struggles of daily life, leaving us feeling disconnected and unfulfilled.
Hum in the graveyard, whistle in the dark,
Even in the most somber and frightening moments of life, there is still a glimmer of hope and light that shines through.
Stains on the stained glass, pains in the heart,
Despite the beauty and grace of many aspects of life, there are still heartaches and pains that come along with them.
In darkened corners, love lies forgotten,
Love can sometimes be hidden and forgotten in the most unlikely of places and situations.
In the heat of the moment it waits to be spotted,
Sometimes, it takes a particularly intense or challenging experience to bring love to the forefront of our attention and focus.
How could I slight you?
Despite my recognition of the value and importance of love, I am still capable of taking it for granted or not fully appreciating it in the moment.
How could I turn?
Despite my best intentions and desires, I am still susceptible to turning away from love and its transformative power.
How can you take it when I’m blind to your pain?
Despite my own struggles and hardships, I still fail to recognize the pain and suffering of those around me who love and care for me.
The burning of fingers, the smouldering nerves,
The intensity and passion of life and love can be both exhilarating and painful, leaving us with scars and marks of our experiences.
How can you take me back over and over again?
Despite my flaws and shortcomings, your love continues to persevere and endure, offering me solace and comfort despite my own failings.
Contributed by Kayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.