John Reuben “Town Folk” from Gotee Records on Vimeo.
John Reuben is back later this year with a new release, Sex, Drugs and Self-Control, and as a prelude to the album release the label is releasing a song and video a month exclusively on iTunes.The first, “Town Folk,” visualizes several Old Testament stories, including Sampson, Daniel, and Elisha via the imagery of a traveling circus”This album is full of many questions that I have been struggling with over the past few years,” explains Reuben. “It felt often like there was a tension. Artistry, career and faith seemed to be standing at odds with one another. Sex, Drugs and Self-Control is really about basic questions. Questions like ‘Am I talking about honesty more than I’m actually being honest?’ Everything seems to come back to these questions and trying to understand how art and faith can work together.”The lyrics to song are:
“TOWN FOLK”John Reubentown folk left a note we tore your poster down/last time around the sheriff chased me out of town/somebody say hey why am i here/one-armed scarecrow booked me for a county fair/i’m in the hills of pennsylvania/playing a show for no one/they said the kids would come/let’s take the money and run/say that you love me/ show me on the dance floor/if it’s important prove it on the dance floor/we left in a van on a 2 month tour/my friend’s been overseas 5 years of war/inspirational singer motivational speaker/in one ear out the other/i don’t have no easy answers/opening act is an art band/painting pictures banging trash cans/celebration of the arts/i just don’t know how important you are/was it young and naive change the world do you believe/here’s to hoping that its more than wishful thinking/sun shines through the night shed some light on your dreams/we found a new way to succeed/
Gotee Records will continue to release one digital song and video exclusive per month exclusively to iTunes on the following schedule:Town Folk – 7/14Jamboree – 8/18Confident – 9/15Nobenah – 10/20For more about John Reuben, visit his website To buy this song, “Town Folk,” visit iTunes.com
posted July 16, 2009 at 9:52 pm
I’m psyched for this release. It’s been intriguing listening to Reuben’s music, listening to him grow up, and even question the growing-up process. I’m not crazy about the design of the new album, if it’s anything like the myspace page, but the music sounds like it will be top-notch.
posted July 21, 2009 at 10:53 am
I don’t know – I just never ‘got’ John Reuben. I remember seeing in concert years ago when he was half begging / half demanding for the audience to get into his show. For the record — I love the visual style of the video, but I find the whole Samson angle to be pretty pointless and, frankly, disrespectful. Am I getting old, or just getting it? Bottom line – let it be a simple pop/dance song — why drag a Biblical story into a song that really is a pretty message-less song?
Like I said — I just don’t get it.
Good visual style.
OK musically (but just ‘OK’).
posted July 21, 2009 at 10:54 am
Sorry about the typos and errors in my post. I stand by the sentiment, though.
posted July 21, 2009 at 11:43 am
Bert – THANK YOU. I don’t get it either, LOL, but then again, I’m finding more and more I don’t get a lot of Christian music. I thought this was your basic dance song, and then I got the pr that tied in the Bible stories, and I’m like … I recognize Sampson but I don’t really get the rest.
Phew. Maybe I’m not as old as I feel, LOL.
Joanne
host of the GS blog