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.
On Turning to Dust
Mark Heard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What will you do when it's gone
What will you do when you can't play no more
Wood is surely rotting now
Strings will surely rust
And fingers that are picking turn to dust
My, my--how the thoughts slip by
How nice if everyone would carefully use a looking glass
What will you do with an age-old song
If I make it sound brand new
Ten years from now will it be in grips with you
What do you hear when the sound dies down
Are you left with a songless song
Have you comprehended what's going on
My, my--how the thoughts slip by
Who has seen them pass
How nice if everyone would carefully use a looking glass
What will I do if you go away
Leaving these songs sitting here
What is the use if you've not cared to hear
Time and again I will pray this prayer
Loved saved and crying away
"Lord let the Truth reach hearing ears today."
My, my--how the thoughts slip by
Who has seen them pass
How nice if everyone would carefully use a looking glass
In Mark Heard's "On Turning to Dust," he reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the impermanence of material possessions, such as the old guitar mentioned in the first verse. Heard wonders what one will do when they are no longer able to play due to the decay of the guitar strings and the rotting of the wood, ultimately leading to the fingers that once picked the guitar turning to dust. He then moves on to consider the significance of age-old songs and questions whether they will still hold emotional weight a decade from now. Heard urges listeners to truly comprehend the message of songs and the passing of time before it's too late.
In the final verse, Heard turns to God and pleads for the salvation of listeners, praying that they will hear and understand the truth before it's too late. The repetition of "my, my--how the thoughts slip by" highlights the theme of the impermanence of life and the fleeting nature of time. Heard hopes that by reflecting on these ideas, individuals will make a conscious effort to use a "looking glass" to carefully observe and understand the world around them.
Overall, "On Turning to Dust" serves as a poignant reminder to live in the present, appreciate the beauty of life and art, and understand the importance of taking the time to comprehend the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
What will you do with an old guitar
What will you do with something that used to be important but is now outdated and useless?
What will you do when it's gone
What will you do when that thing is no longer with you?
What will you do when you can't play no more
What will you do when you are no longer able to do what you love or what defines you?
Wood is surely rotting now
The foundation or structure of something is breaking down and deteriorating over time.
Strings will surely rust
The parts that used to create the sound or beauty in something are now becoming useless and decaying.
And fingers that are picking turn to dust
The person who used to create and make something beautiful is now no longer around and has returned to the earth.
My, my--how the thoughts slip by
How easily our thoughts and memories can disappear or become forgotten.
Who has seen them pass
Who has truly noticed or paid attention to the fleeting nature of our thoughts and memories?
How nice if everyone would carefully use a looking glass
It would be helpful if we all took the time to reflect and examine our thoughts and memories closely.
What will you do with an age-old song
What will you do with something that has been around for ages and may seem outdated or irrelevant?
If I make it sound brand new
If I present this old thing in a fresh way, will it be meaningful or interesting to you?
Ten years from now will it be in grips with you
Will this thing still be something that captivates or affects you in ten years?
What do you hear when the sound dies down
What do you notice or think about when the excitement or beauty of something fades away?
Are you left with a songless song
Are you left with something that used to be meaningful or beautiful but now feels empty or hollow?
Have you comprehended what's going on
Do you truly understand what is happening or what this thing means to you?
What will I do if you go away
What will happen to my work or my legacy if I am no longer around?
Leaving these songs sitting here
Leaving something behind as a mark or a testament to what I have done or created.
What is the use if you've not cared to hear
What is the point of my work if no one has taken the time to appreciate or understand it?
Time and again I will pray this prayer
Over and over I will ask for help and guidance to make my work meaningful and impactful to others.
Loved saved and crying away
Feeling emotional and vulnerable about my work and what it means to me.
"Lord let the Truth reach hearing ears today."
Asking for help and guidance to make my work resonate with others and be understood by them.
My, my--how the thoughts slip by
Reiterating how easily our thoughts and memories can disappear or become forgotten.
Who has seen them pass
Who has truly noticed or paid attention to the fleeting nature of our thoughts and memories?
How nice if everyone would carefully use a looking glass
It would be helpful if we all took the time to reflect and examine our thoughts and memories closely.
Contributed by Asher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steven Esses
Beauty and Truth met in Mark Heard's work. I am blessed to have listened to his music. Thank you for posting this.
Darren Martin
Thanks for putting this album up mate , it's not available on Spotify
Darren Martin
Thanks for putting this album up mate , it's not available on Spotify