Babeling about the new Mumford and Sons album

On their second album, Babel, Mumford and Sons continue to dismantle the modern project. Refusing to settle for a bifurcated sense of spirit and flesh—the Divine on one side of a chasm and humanity on the other—these anthems, ballads, and stomps (iTunes labels them “alternate,” but it’s hard to know what to call these tracks) are all prayers. And they’re love songs. Often they’re both. However, one thing is certain: the listener won’t find any trite Jesus-is-my-boyfriend platitudes here.

M&S paint pictures of humanity’s gritty, fallen, and desperate condition. But this isn’t some kind of bluegrass-punk, full of anger and contempt for the culture around. This isn’t accusatory, it’s confessional. The songwriter continually acknowledges his own weakness, unfaithfulness and need for grace. And that’s what makes this such a refreshing compilation. Faith, Hope and Love seem to walk into the bowels of human depravity right alongside the poet. Faith and doubt aren’t enemies, they travel hand-in-hand. Human nature is eminently capable of unspeakable evil, but Grace never leaves sight. Stones will be moved. Tombs will be opened. The heart beats a bit slower. The Divine will break forth into creation. Healing comes.

But M&S remind us that there are prerequisites on the way to a rendezvous with Hope. Looking with eyes for things that can’t be seen, lifting hands in surrender, kneeling in submission, admitting weakness, reflecting on brokenness—all necessary for a stroll through this miniscule experience called human existence.

Babel is a collection of fifteen songs (deluxe album), each a story of conflict and/or triumph, that point us to the messiness of life. With this album, M&S have joined the ranks of U2, Bruce Cockburn, Arcade Fire and the like, offering more questions than answers, but always pointing to something beyond the narcissistic self the Western world is so familiar with and so unable to recognize. Three cheers and a hoorah for anyone that helps us tear down Babel.

I’ve only had a couple of listens, but here are a few highlights from the album.

“Babel”
Often thought of as meaningless talk (babble), this refers to the Tower of Babel in Genesis. Babel was a futile project of pride and arrogance, a failed attempt to become divine. For all our progress, the last 500 years has been little more than an attempt to do the same. Tear it down!

I know my weakness, know my voice, I'll believe in grace and choice
and I know perhaps my heart is farce but I'll be born without a mask
Like the city that nursed my greed and my pride I stretch my arms into the sky
I cry Babel, Babel, look at me now, the walls of my town they come crumbling down

“Whispers in the Dark”
Socrates said the unexamined life is not worth living. What makes us weak? Is it the same that makes us strong? Often times, with good intentions, we set out to serve the Lord but find ourselves in the company of the devil.

It's not what I do that makes me, In my weakness I grew strong
Held my tongue, And I've learned from errors made early
A brush with the devil can clear your mind, And strengthen your spine

Whispers in the dark, Steal a kiss and you'll break a heart
Pick up your clothes and curl your toes, Learn your lesson, lead me home
Spare my sins for the ark, I was to slow to depart
I'm a cad but I'm not aflawed, I set out to serve the Lord

“I Will Wait”
We often hear the phrase, “Never Forget,” usually in association with some terrible offense that has been committed against us. There’s a great turn of phrase in this song, “You forgave, and I won’t forget.” The times we’ve been forgiven are monumental and so much more worthy of our remembrances.

And I'll kneel down, Wait for now
And I'll kneel down, Know my ground
And I'll kneel down, Wait for now
 
Raise my hands, Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head, Keep my heart slow

“Holland Road”
Okay, this one had me in tears. Really. Listen for the “Hallelujah” horn section at the end.

But I still believe though these cracks you'll see,
When I'm on my knees I'll still believe,
And when I've hit the ground, neither lost nor found,
If you believe in me I'll still believe

"Ghosts that We Knew"
So many things have the potential to haunt us. Ghosts come in all shapes and forms. Maybe our children are a clue to our escape.

So give me hope in the darkness that I will see the light
Cause oh that gave me such a fright
But I will hold on as long as you like
Just promise me that we'll be alright

But the ghosts that we knew will flicker from view
And we'll live a long life

“Hopeless Wanderer”
A mixed-tempo romp reminding us to “be where you are” and to love the ones we journey with.

So when your hopes are on fire, But you know your desire
Don't hold a glass over the flame, Don't let your heart grow cold
I will call you by name, I will share your road
Hold me fast, Hold me fast, Cuz I'm a hopeless wanderer
Hold me fast, Hold me fast,  Cuz I'm a hopeless wanderer
I will learn, I will learn to love the sky I wander

“Below My Feet”
How many moments everyday do we miss the chance to learn something? We keep praying to know God’s will as it relates to the future. Maybe we need to know the here and now before we can know what lies ahead.

Well I was still, But I was under your spell
But I was told by Jesus, All was well
So all must be well
 
Keep the earth below my feet
For all my sweat, my blood runs weak
Let me learn from where I have been
Keep my eyes to serve my hands to learn

“The Boxer”
This gets honorable mention because it’s an extra included with the deluxe download. Jerry Douglas, the king of the Dobro, and Paul Simon join M&S for an absolutely perfect tune. So much babble.

I am just a poor boy
Though my story seldom told
I squandered my resistance
For a pocket full of mumbles such are promises

Comments

[Kurt Willems]

Amazing article Tim! I'm spreading te word about this piece on my blog today! I've loved the album thus far and appreciate the way you draw out te themes of humanness and spirituality. Here's the link to the excerpt - http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thepangeablog/2012/09/26/mumford-and-sons-god-and-babel/

Thanks again!

[Karl Allen Ziegler]

Ditto, Tim. Great perspective. I also put word out on my blog today.
Here's the link: http://swellguy.typepad.com/life_with_the_swell_guy/2012/09/mumford-sons-babel.html

[Tyrece Hall]

Great article, M+S have lead me back to the lord, relatingg mostly to 'Lovers Eyes' and 'Hopeless Wanderer'; but I found it strange you didn't mention 'broken crown' in the track dissection, definitely a strong message there. And 'Below My feet' can also be translated to keeping the world below our feet, as in how we are annointed with the gifts of christ and the world is under his, as is the devil and all other hellacious spirits. I believe he is asking for strength here more than anything, wishing not to fall into (entirely I should say) the ways of the world. Hope that makes sense.

[David Warkentin]

Two words: Honest Hope.

Love the album.

Posted my response here: http://davidwarkentin.blogspot.ca/2012/10/mumford-sons-and-honest-hope.html

[Brian Reynolds]

Is there anything out there confirming that the artists meant these things when they wrote the songs? I agree that I identify much of this in M&S's work, but was it intended that way? I have not been able to find anything out there about this . . . wondered if anybody else has?