Smalltown Poets achieved recognition with their eponymous first album, released on Ardent Records in 1997. This release earned the band the first of its two Grammy nominations (Best Gospel Rock Album) and numerous Dove Award nominations. Despite line-up changes, the band stayed active for more than ten years, releasing three albums on Ardent Records and one on BEC Recordings.
Smalltown Poets went on hiatus several months after their fourth studio album called It's Later Than It's Ever Been," but regrouped in the fall of 2010 to begin production on a Christmas album due out in 2011 (co-produced and mixed by former Smalltown Poets drummer Matt Goldman). In anticipation of that full-length release, the band released a Christmas single in December 2010 titled "In the Bleak Midwinter."
The full-length project, Smalltown Poets Christmas, was released on Nov. 1st, 2011, on the band's own Friendly City Records label and is available on iTunes, Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, and other online media outlets.
New Man
Smalltown Poets Lyrics
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They're both a lamp whose sharpness I control
Beauty lingers 'bout as long as flattery, my friend
That door doesn't let out but lets back in
I was full of everything, my eyes put on this plate
Full of joy I'm needing, less of late
I can return love to You the best that I know how
And I can be a new man now
Flatterers can fill a room as readily as this
The Devil goes to dinner amidst their bliss
Following the need will lead me farther from truth's well
Then only to be filled with what I miss
I was full of everything, my eyes put on this plate
Full of joy I'm needing, less of late
I can return love to You the best that I know how
I believe my worth has been redeemed
And I can be a new man now
I'm a new man, I'm a new man
I'm a new man, I'm a new man
Like I said, there's always room
Where one keeps all things dear
I'll shrink away from sight and thought
And evil that appears
I was full of everything, my eyes put on this plate
Full of joy I'm needing, less of late
I can return love to You the best that I know how
I believe my worth has been redeemed
And I can be a new man now
I'm a new man, I'm a new man
I'm a new man, I'm a new man
In Smalltown Poets' song "New Man," the lyrics explore the idea of personal transformation and overcoming negative influences. The opening lines suggest that the eyes and thoughts are both tools of perception that can be sharpened or dulled. The lyrics refer to beauty and flattery, both of which are fleeting and easily misled. The line "that door doesn't let out but lets back in" could suggest that the things we allow into our lives have a way of coming back to us, whether positive or negative.
The second verse continues the theme of negative influences and the need to resist them. The mention of flatterers filling a room and the Devil himself attending their gatherings implies that flattery and false praise can have a corrupting effect. The line "following the need will lead me farther from truth's well" suggests that giving in to desires or temptations can lead to a sense of emptiness or loss.
The chorus of the song is an affirmation of the singer's ability to change and become a "new man." The repeated lines "I'm a new man" signal a commitment to personal growth and transformation. The final verse suggests a willingness to let go of past mistakes and negative influences, a desire to separate oneself from evil and focus on inner peace.
Overall, "New Man" is a song about personal transformation and the power to overcome negative influences. The lyrics suggest a need to sharpen one's perception and resist flattery and temptation in order to find inner peace and true worth.
Line by Line Meaning
Eye is to the body as a thought is to the soul
Just as the eye is vital to the body, a thought is essential to the soul.
They're both a lamp whose sharpness I control
I am in charge of how sharp or dull my vision and thoughts are and how they impact me.
Beauty lingers 'bout as long as flattery, my friend
Beauty and flattery have a short lifespan and are not dependable measures for self-worth.
That door doesn't let out but lets back in
The door may seem to let things out, but it only allows them back in, and it is crucial to be mindful of what enters through it.
I was full of everything, my eyes put on this plate
I was overflowing with everything, and my eyes betrayed that by reflecting it.
Full of joy I'm needing, less of late
I desire joy to replace the lack in my life.
I can return love to You the best that I know how
I can love God in the way I am familiar with and offer myself fully to Him.
I believe my worth has been redeemed
I am confident that my value has been restored.
And I can be a new man now
I have transformed, and I can now begin a new phase of my life.
Flatterers can fill a room as readily as this
Just as the room is easily filled, so can it be filled with flattery.
The Devil goes to dinner amidst their bliss
Satan and lies can be present in an environment full of flattery and bliss.
Following the need will lead me farther from truth's well
Fulfilling my desires will steer me away from the truth, leading me to a place of uncertainty.
Then only to be filled with what I miss
In the absence of truth, I will end up with what I do not need.
Like I said, there's always room
I have emphasized previously that there is always an opportunity for growth and change.
Where one keeps all things dear
The place where one stores its valuables and cherished things.
I'll shrink away from sight and thought
I will move away from the ideas and things that I have held dear.
And evil that appears
I will distance myself from any harmful or dark forces that manifest themselves.
I'm a new man, I'm a new man
I am now a transformed individual.
I'm a new man, I'm a new man
I have begun a new phase of my life, and I am fully committed to it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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