You’ve probably never heard of James Talley, but I guarantee your favorite musicians have. At least, if you like artists such as Johnny Cash, Johnny Paycheck, Alan Jackson, B.B King, and a host of other well known songwriters. Talley is one of those guys you will never hear on the radio, but he is the kind of guy the people on the radio listen to when they are at home listening to music.
A couple of years back he released an album — at the age of 80 — titled “Bandits, Ballads, and Blues” which may include the best song he’s ever written. I’m not even sure if it’s a song. I’m pretty sure it is just a prayer set to music. More a psalm than a song.
The song is titled, “In These Times” and in recent weeks it’s pretty much become my daily prayer. If the madness of recent days has become too much for you, maybe this can be your prayer too. (link to listen at the bottom)
Don't let the cruelty of this world take away your love.
Don't let the evil in this world keep you from your dreams.
Don't let the madness and the lies take away what's right.
Don't let the wrongs of the few take away what's true
In these times, these times of darkness
In these times, these times of darkness.
If I could give you hope, you know I surely would.
If I could give you courage, yes, you know I would.
If I could bring the stars to you, so your heart would sing in tune,
If I could do these things for you, oh, you know I would
In these times, these times of darkness . . .
In these times, these times of darkness.
In these times, with crazy all around us,
In these times, when our reality confounds us,
In these times, when compassion dies around us,
Give us strength . . . don't let us fail . . .
In these times.
Oh, if I could give you love, you know I surely would,
Take the sadness from your heart, yes, you know I would.
If I could help you to be brave, and make this world a better place,
If I could do these things for you . . . oh, you know I would
In these times, these times of darkness . . .
In these times, these times of darkness.
In these times, when all our dreams are shaken,
In these times, when reason is forsaken,
In these times, in need of honesty and honor,
Give us strength . . . don't let us fail . . .
In these times.
In these times, we're running out of water,
In these times, when our children are being
slaughtered,
In these times when no one can be bothered . . .
Give us strength . . . don't let us fail . . .
In these times.
Give us strength . . . Don't let us fail
In these times.
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