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.
Look Over Your Shoulder
Mark Heard Lyrics
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Tell me, what is the bogey that you're so afraid of?
The eyes in the back of our heads can persuade
That just for the moment mercy has swayed
Look over your shoulder and tell me what's coming
Look into your sad eyes and tell me what you see
What is left of the child who is hiding behind them?
Who knows that the morning will follow the night?
Look into your sad eyes and tell me what you see
If you must be afraid be afraid of yourself
For being afraid of the fear you have felt
You will weather well in a climate of love
It takes more than your passion and more than your pain
For the rock of forgiveness to melt in the rain
Look over your shoulder and tell me what's coming
Look into your sad eyes and tell me what you see
Look over your shoulder and tell me what's coming
The song "Look Over Your Shoulder" by Mark Heard is a reflective piece about facing one's fears and taking ownership of one's emotions. The title itself serves as the refrain and the opening lyrics encourage the listener to take stock of their surroundings and identify the source of their anxiety. The eyes in the back of our heads are symbolic of intuition and the feeling that something is not quite right. The song acknowledges that sometimes we are powerless in the face of danger, but for the moment we are aware, we can find grace and mercy.
The second verse delves deeper into the emotional landscape of the song. With sensitivity, Heard reveals a sense of sadness in the listener's eyes. The question of what's left of the child hiding behind them evokes a sense of vulnerability and innocence. In this verse, the song addresses the longing for joy and the hope that comes with resilience. The morning following the night is not just a natural order of things but a metaphor for the promise of redemption.
The final verse of the song is a call to action. Heard declares that if one must be afraid, then be afraid of oneself. The song suggests that true courage comes from acknowledging one's fears and not being afraid to feel emotions. Forgiveness is not an easy process, however, Heard suggests that it is possible to weather the storm of life because one is surrounded by love.
Overall, "Look Over Your Shoulder" is a song about the power of introspection, the importance of acknowledging emotions, and the promise of redemption through love.
Line by Line Meaning
Look over your shoulder and tell me what's coming
Ask yourself what you are afraid of and what potential danger lies ahead. Face your fears and be prepared for what may come.
Tell me, what is the bogey that you're so afraid of?
Identify the source of your fear and understand why you feel threatened by it.
The eyes in the back of our heads can persuade
That just for the moment mercy has swayed
Our instincts can help us sense impending danger and make us believe that we have been spared for the time being.
Look into your sad eyes and tell me what you see
Examine your own emotions and see what is causing you pain or sadness. Acknowledge your feelings and identify their source.
What is left of the child who is hiding behind them?
Who longs to be laughing in places of light
Who knows that the morning will follow the night?
Remember the innocence and optimism of your inner child, who knows that joy is possible even in the darkest moments, and trust that happiness will return.
If you must be afraid be afraid of yourself
For being afraid of the fear you have felt
You will weather well in a climate of love
Recognize that it is okay to be scared, but don't let your fear control you. Instead, turn to love, both for yourself and others, as a source of comfort and strength.
It takes more than your passion and more than your pain
For the rock of forgiveness to melt in the rain
Forgiveness requires more than just strong emotions like anger or sadness. It takes time and effort, but ultimately can bring healing even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Contributed by Anna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.