Lamont is also the co-founder of Love146 - an international organization working to abolish child sex slavery and exploitation. Many of his songs reflect his commitment to this cause and to the restoration of survivors of abuse and exploitation. He has been the musical guest of a wide variety of hosts including GQ Magazine, NBA, International Justice Mission, Yale Sex Week, feminist gatherings, mega churches, synagogues and bars.
Lamont grew up in rural British Columbia, Canada, where he learned to love music, partying with friends and of course ice hockey. He is currently based in New Haven, Connecticut where he continues to pursue music and develop programs for Love146.
Over the years, many friends have collaborated with Lamont under the band name Ten Shekel Shirt including Jonny Rodgers, Austin Morrison, Tommy Lee, Colin Meyer, Jake Carey and Tim Sway.
The Ten Shekel Shirt discography includes Much, Risk and the most recent album Jubilee.
© 2010 Art and Action Media
Beauty
Ten Shekel Shirt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long enough to reach even, even me
Could it be Your well is deep
Deep enough for me to save me, maybe
Beauty draws me
Beauty draws me
As if You were missing
And for the love and beauty that's beneath what I can see
Sometimes the face of a girl
The dreams I've seen and the songs that yearn
Tell me that mystery and majesty are drawing me
Sometimes when I get real
The greatest presence I can feel
It's like a fire inside that burns me deep
And I come alive
The opening lines of Ten Shekel Shirt's song "Beauty" explore the concept of divine reach and depth. The singer asks whether God's arm is long enough to reach him, and whether His well is deep enough to save him. The lyrics suggest a desire for God's protection and guidance, and the belief that He has the power to offer it. The lines that follow emphasize the power of beauty - the beauty of the world around us, and the beauty that lies beneath the surface of things.
The second stanza moves into a meditation on seeking and believing. The singer asks why he seeks God if he doesn't believe in Him, and acknowledges that the search for beauty and love is what drives him. The reference to the face of a girl, dreams and songs suggest that the beauty that draws us to God is not just found in the natural world, but in the people and stories that inspire us.
The final lines of the song emphasize the power of connection - the connection between the singer and God, and the connection between the singer and the world around him. The fire that burns inside him when he gets real is a representation of the passion and energy that comes with feeling truly alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Could it be Your arm is long
Is it possible that Your power and influence can reach everyone, including me?
Long enough to reach even, even me
Your power and influence is so vast that it can reach even someone like me.
Could it be Your well is deep
Is it possible that Your resources are abundant and sufficient?
Deep enough for me to save me, maybe
Your resources are deep enough to support and save me, or at least give me hope that it's possible.
Beauty draws me
I am attracted and compelled by the beauty and wonder of the world around me, which I believe comes from You.
Beauty draws me
My attraction to beauty and wonder is a reflection of my desire to be closer to You.
If I don't believe then why do I seek for You
If I don't truly believe in You, then why do I still yearn for Your presence and connection?
As if You were missing
I act as if You are absent or lost, but in reality, it's my own doubts and fears that are keeping me from seeing You clearly.
And for the love and beauty that's beneath what I can see
I am searching for the deeper meaning and purpose of life, beyond what is immediately visible or tangible.
Sometimes the face of a girl
Occasionally, a person or experience will catch my attention and remind me of the underlying beauty and mystery of life.
The dreams I've seen and the songs that yearn
My own dreams and aspirations, as well as the emotions expressed through music, are other ways that I become aware of the profound nature of existence.
Tell me that mystery and majesty are drawing me
These experiences suggest that there is something beyond ourselves that is calling us, motivating us, and inspiring us to seek out greater understanding and connection.
Sometimes when I get real
Occasionally, when I am honest with myself and face my own shortcomings and struggles,
The greatest presence I can feel
I am most aware of Your presence, power, and love,
It's like a fire inside that burns me deep
Which fills me with energy, passion, and a sense of being truly alive and purposeful.
And I come alive
Through seeking Your truth and beauty, I discover my own true purpose and meaning in life, and feel fully alive and awake to the wonders of the world.
Contributed by Alaina A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.