One hails from St. Louis, has a band, and has been quietly and steadily building a fervent following across the country, stepping outside his role as one of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefers to front his own band, The Peter Mayer Group. Melding a unique and eclectic writing style, a distinctive voice, and virtuoso musicianship, Peter and his band create compelling and accessible music that is electrifying in live performance.
The other is a folk singer and hails from Stillwater, MN. This Peter writes songs for a small planet—songs about interconnectedness and the human journey; about the beauty and the mystery of the world. Whimsical, humorous, and profound, his music breaks the boundaries of "folk" and transcends to a realm beyond the everyday love song, to a place of wonder at the very heart of life itself.
This second Peter began playing the guitar and writing songs when he was in high school. He studied theology and music in college and then spent two years in seminary. After deciding that the priesthood wasn't for him, he took a part-time job as a church music director for eight years, while performing at clubs and colleges and writing and recording his music. In 1995, he quit his job and started touring full-time. Since then, Peter has gradually gained a dedicated, word-of-mouth following, selling out shows from Minnesota to Texas, New England to California. He has eight CDs to his credit, and has sold over 50,000 of them independently.
Stables
Peter Mayer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long ago and so today
Where hatred-weary people pray
Love will come and lay there
And so do countless stables stand
In hearts as harsh as desert lands
Rough shelters in the wind and sand That love may come and stay there
Love that opens fists of hate
Heaps up gold on beggars plates
Love that shows a kindly face
To enemies and strangers
And the walls of stables tremble so
When the winds of fear and judgment blow
For a stable hopes in love alone
And knows that love s the answer
O Love, the prophet s only word
The only lesson left to learn
The only end of heaven s work
And the only road that goes there
Love that sees with mercy s eyes
Holds its arms out open wide
Threads its loom with separate lives
And weaves them all together
So may the lamps of stables glow
Brightly that their light may go
For miles in the darkness, so
Love will find its way there
The song Stables by Peter Mayer is a song that speaks about the power of love amidst the turmoil of the world. The lyrics speak about the Bethlehem stable where Jesus was born and how it symbolizes a haven for love and hope in the world. The song also speaks about the various stables that exist in cynical and weary hearts that need to remain open to the power of love. Mayer uses the metaphor of stables to convey the idea that love has the power to transform even the most inhospitable and harsh environments into havens of warmth and hope.
The song is a reminder that when fear and judgement are prevalent in society, it is important to open one's heart up to love. The song speaks to the generosity and kindness that is inherent in love. In a world where selfishness is often the norm, the song stresses the importance of generosity, as love is generous and often selfless. Mayer explains that through love, we can transform our perspective on life and have a kinder outlook on the world, even in the toughest of situations.
Overall, the song is a reminder that in dark times, we must open our hearts up to the power of love as it is the only answer. This song is a great inspiration for anyone who feels weighed down by the struggles of the world and is looking for hope and inspiration.
Line by Line Meaning
In Bethlehem a manger waits
The birthplace of Jesus Christ, the manger waits in Bethlehem.
Long ago and so today
The birth of Jesus Christ happened long ago, but his message of love is still relevant today.
Where hatred-weary people pray
Amidst the people who are weary of hatred, there is still hope that love will eventually triumph.
Love will come and lay there
Love of Jesus Christ will come and leave his message of love and salvation with people.
And so do countless stables stand
Just as the manger in Bethlehem, countless stables stand as a reminder of hope and truth.
In hearts as harsh as desert lands
The stables represent hearts of people who are harsh and in despair, like the desert lands.
Rough shelters in the wind and sand
The stables are like rough shelters that brave the harsh climate of life, providing people hope and peace.
That love may come and stay there
The stables signify safe and welcoming place where love can come and stay.
Love that opens fists of hate
Love has the power to break the hate, anger and violence in people's hearts.
Heaps up gold on beggars plates
Love is rich and shares its abundant riches with the poor and the downtrodden.
Love that shows a kindly face
Love is kind and compassionate to people, even its enemies and strangers.
To enemies and strangers
Love extends compassion and kindness to both enemies and strangers, demonstrating the Christ's teaching of love of enemies.
And the walls of stables tremble so
The stables are not invincible, they can be shattered by fear, injustice and violence.
When the winds of fear and judgment blow
The walls of the stables may tremble when fear and judgment blows in, threatening to destroy love and hope.
For a stable hopes in love alone
The stables are sustained by a hope of love only, the source of life and hope that keeps them alive and strong.
And knows that love's the answer
The stables represent unwavering trust that love is the ultimate answer to all of life's challenges and obstacles.
O Love, the prophet's only word
Love is the ultimate message and teaching of all prophets who speak about salvation and hope.
The only lesson left to learn
The only lesson worth learning in life is the meaning, power and glory of unconditional love.
The only end of heaven's work
Heaven's work is all about redeeming love, and the ultimate end is to bring people to experience love.
And the only road that goes there
The only path to heaven and salvation is the path of self-sacrificing, unconditional love.
Love that sees with mercy's eyes
Love looks at the world through the lenses of mercy and compassion.
Holds its arms out open wide
Love embraces people unconditionally and welcomes them to be part of its fold.
Threads its loom with separate lives
Like a weaver, love brings together disparate lives to create a tapestry of beauty and connectedness.
And weaves them all together
Love is the thread that binds all of humanity together in a common tapestry of beauty, harmony and hope.
So may the lamps of stables glow
May the stables, the symbol of hope and salvation, glow with the light of faith, inspiration and love.
Brightly that their light may go
The light of hope and faith that emanates from these stables should shine so brightly that it illuminates the way.
For miles in the darkness, so
The hope and love that emanate from these stables should reach far and wide, into the very darkness and brokenness of humanity.
Love will find its way there
Ultimately, these stables, the symbol of hope, faith and love, will draw people to love, and love will find its way there.
Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.