Prior to joining the group, Jackson was a member of the now-defunct The Moondials, a band that released a single on Electric Honey, a label that would later issue Belle & Sebastian's first album, Tigermilk. The Moondials experience was a pleasant one for Jackson, and it took a great deal of work for nominal Belle & Sebastian frontman Stuart Murdoch to convince him to join his group. At the time, Murdoch was playing the open mic circuit in Glasgow as a solo act, and it was at one of these performances -- at The Halt Bar -- that Jackson first saw Murdoch play.
In the beginning, the band existed mostly as an outlet for Murdoch's songwriting. Since the band's third album, The Boy With The Arab Strap, other members have begun to contribute, Stevie Jackson chief amongst them. All of the band's subsequent full-lengths have featured compositions by Jackson, and he wrote the band's 2001 single "Jonathan David" as well as "To Be Myself Completely" for 2006's The Life Pursuit. His songs are noticeably different from Murdoch's compositions--they tend to be shorter and less introspective, opting for catchy 1960s-style pop more often that the folky melancholia that defined Belle & Sebastian's early releases.
Man of God
Stevie Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don’t fly the flag from the ruined castle
Don’t go rehiring the same old cast
For all your dramas, it ain’t worth the hassle
Holy Moses I feel like a Man of God
I wish I could reach you
Laying around and laying down the deal, should I feel a fraud?
Every time you hear his voice
It’s an invitation for another bad choice
Every time you hear his voice
It’s an invitation for another bad choice
Don’t nail your colours to the past
You shouldn’t play with that guy
You’re saluting the sinking mast
My ship is coming in, you should give it a try
Holy Moses I feel like a Man of God
I wish I could reach you
Laying around and laying down the deal, should I feel a fraud?
I wish I could teach you. Can I reach you?
Every time you hear me speak
It’s an invitation, got to say it real sweet
Every time you hear my voice
It’s an invitation to make a good choice
To make a good choice
For you and me too
Hear me coming on through with a message to you
Be my congregation
Hear the voice of truth, hear the voice of reason
Hear the voice of truth, hear the voice of me girl
Hear the voice of Donny Hathaway and the Detroit Emeralds
Playing on my turntable for you
And the Love Unlimited
Can you feel the need in me? Can you feel the need?
Rock my boat, baby rock the ocean
Ah honey I feel like a Man of God, I got no dog collar
Can you hear me holler?
Every time you hear our voice
It’s an invitation to make a good choice
The lyrics to Stevie Jackson's song Man of God seem to be about the singer's struggle with his faith and his desire to convince others to make good choices. The opening lines caution against holding onto the past and relying on the same people and situations that have caused problems in the past. The repeated refrain of "Holy Moses I feel like a Man of God" suggests that the singer is seeking to embody the characteristics of a religious leader in order to spread a message of redemption and hope to those around him. He wishes to "reach" and "teach" others, but also seems to grapple with doubt, asking "should I feel a fraud?".
Throughout the song, the singer urges the listener to make good choices and not to be led astray by negative influences. He speaks of the "invitation for another bad choice" that comes with hearing certain voices, and contrasts this with the invitation to make a good choice that comes with hearing his own voice. He implores the listener to "hear the voice of truth" and "reason" and name-checks various musicians whose music he believes can inspire and uplift.
Overall, the song seems to be a call to action, urging listeners to heed the singer's voice and make positive changes in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Don’t nail your colours to the past
Don't cling onto outdated beliefs or actions
Don’t fly the flag from the ruined castle
Don't try to glorify something that is broken or useless
Don’t go rehiring the same old cast
Don't repeat the same mistakes by relying on the same people or ideas
For all your dramas, it ain’t worth the hassle
All the trouble and chaos isn't worth it in the end
Holy Moses I feel like a Man of God
I have a strong sense of purpose and righteousness
I wish I could reach you
I wish I could connect with you and share my understanding
Laying around and laying down the deal, should I feel a fraud?
Am I being dishonest by being laid-back and letting things unfold?
I wish I could teach you. Can I reach you?
I want to share my wisdom, but I'm not sure if I can get through to you
Every time you hear his voice
Whenever you encounter a negative influence or temptation
It’s an invitation for another bad choice
It's an opportunity to make a harmful decision
You shouldn’t play with that guy
You shouldn't associate with dangerous or untrustworthy individuals
You’re saluting the sinking mast
You're honoring something that is failing or doomed to fail
My ship is coming in, you should give it a try
I am succeeding and you should follow my example
Every time you hear me speak
Whenever you listen to me
It’s an invitation, got to say it real sweet
I am trying to attract your attention and persuade you in a gentle manner
It’s an invitation to make a good choice
It's an opportunity to do something positive and beneficial
To make a good choice
To make a wise and positive decision
For you and me too
Both of us can benefit from making good choices
Hear me coming on through with a message to you
I am communicating with you and have something important to say
Be my congregation
Follow my teachings and join my cause
Hear the voice of truth, hear the voice of reason
Listen to what is right and sensible
Hear the voice of Donny Hathaway and the Detroit Emeralds
Listen to uplifting music
Playing on my turntable for you
I am sharing enjoyable and inspiring songs with you
And the Love Unlimited
In addition to other soulful artists
Can you feel the need in me? Can you feel the need?
Do you understand my passion and desire for change?
Rock my boat, baby rock the ocean
Join me in stirring up change and creating waves
Ah honey I feel like a Man of God, I got no dog collar
I feel divinely inspired, but I have no official religious authority
Can you hear me holler?
Can you sense my enthusiasm and energy?
Every time you hear our voice
Whenever you listen to us
It’s an invitation to make a good choice
It's an opportunity to do something positive and beneficial
Contributed by Colton R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.