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.
Nothing Is Bothering Me
Mark Heard Lyrics
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Tightening the thumb-screws from day to day
I hear the tale of a distant fray
War is hell but it's half-a-world away
I'm alright
Nothing is bothering me
I'm just trying to keep the weight of this world
From dawning on me
We get the picture from week to week
The rich get richer and inherit the meek
Long since started preying on the weak
Am I the guilty party if I turn the other cheek
I'm alright
Nothing is bothering me
I'm just trying to keep the weight of this world
From dawning on me
Hey now emotion-is that you again
Don'tcha know that warmth and devotion have passed as a trend
Jesus is knocking but don't let him in
He might come like a thief and steal away your sin
I'm alright
Nothing is bothering me
I'm just trying to keep the weight
of this world from dawning on me
The song "Nothing Is Bothering Me" by Mark Heard is a reflection on the current state of the world, taken from the perspective of someone trying to hold onto their sanity in a world fraught with political and social turmoil. The song begins with the lyric "No news is good news but news is here to stay," acknowledging the omnipresence of news and the overwhelming amount of information that is delivered to us on a daily basis, much of it negative or distressing. Heard sings of the tightening of "the thumb-screws," which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the way that society imposes restrictions and constraints on individuals, making it difficult to live a life that is free of worry or hardship.
Heard goes on to sing of war and the way that it is often distant and remote to those of us living in safer parts of the world. He acknowledges that war is frightening and terrible, but suggests that its effects are lessened when we feel that it is happening far away from us. The chorus of the song provides the main message of the song, with Heard repeating the phrase "I'm alright / Nothing is bothering me / I'm just trying to keep the weight of this world / From dawning on me." This can be interpreted as a kind of mantra for the listener, encouraging them to try and remain calm and composed in the face of adversity.
Later in the song, Heard sings of the injustices of capitalism and the way that wealth is often unevenly distributed. He acknowledges that many people are "preying on the weak" and asks if he is "the guilty party" for remaining passive and turning "the other cheek." The song ends with a warning against complacency, with Heard singing that "Jesus is knocking but don't let him in / He might come like a thief and steal away your sin." This suggests that although it may be tempting to ignore the problems of the world and try to remain neutral, it is important to remain vigilant and engaged, lest we find ourselves unprepared for the spiritual or emotional assaults that may come our way.
Line by Line Meaning
No news is good news but news is here to stay
Even though we often say that we don't want to hear negative news, it will always be a part of our lives.
Tightening the thumb-screws from day to day
The pressure and stress in our daily lives continues to increase and can feel suffocating.
I hear the tale of a distant fray
We often hear about conflicts and issues happening in other parts of the world that seem disconnected from our daily lives.
War is hell but it's half-a-world away
War is always horrible, but it can be easy to distance ourselves from its impacts if it is happening far away from us.
I'm alright
Although the world can feel heavy and stressful, the artist reassures themselves that they are doing okay.
Nothing is bothering me
Even though there is plenty to be worried about, the singer is consciously choosing to focus on the good in their life and not let external factors bring them down.
I'm just trying to keep the weight of this world From dawning on me
The singer is aware of the negative aspects of the world, but is making a conscious effort not to let it overwhelm them and bring them down.
We get the picture from week to week
Through media and news, we are constantly receiving updates about the state of the world and its problems.
The rich get richer and inherit the meek
There is a growing gap between the wealthy and poor, with the former benefitting at the expense of the latter.
Long since started preying on the weak
Those with power and money take advantage of those who are more vulnerable or less privileged.
Am I the guilty party if I turn the other cheek
If we choose to ignore these injustices and problems, are we complicit in allowing them to continue?
Hey now emotion-is that you again
The artist is feeling a wave of emotion, potentially negative, and is questioning if they should confront or try to suppress it.
Don'tcha know that warmth and devotion have passed as a trend
The singer is lamenting the loss of emotional connection and kindness in society, which has been replaced by a more cynical and indifferent culture.
Jesus is knocking but don't let him in
Despite the singer's faith or spirituality, they are hesitant to truly connect with a higher power or allow themselves to be vulnerable to the unknown.
He might come like a thief and steal away your sin
If the singer opens themselves up to faith or spirituality, they may find peace and release from their troubles, but this process is uncertain and can feel scary.
Contributed by Mia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.