Larry Norman 1947-2008

The Great American Novel (1972)

i was born and raised an orphan
in a land that once was free
in a land that poured its love out on the moon
and i grew up in the shadows
of your silos filled with grain
but you never helped to fill my empty spoon

and when i was ten you murdered law
with courtroom politics
and you learned to make a lie sound just like truth
but i know you better now
and i don't fall for all your tricks
and you've lost the one advantage of my youth

you kill a black man at midnight
just for talking to your daughter
then you make his wife your mistress
and you leave her without water
and the sheet you wear upon your face
is the sheet your children sleep on
at every meal you say a prayer
you don't believe but still you keep on

and your money says in God we trust
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the russians to the moon
and i say you starved your children to do it

you are far across the ocean
but the war is not your own
and while you're winning theirs
you're gonna lose the one at home
do you really think the only way
to bring about the peace
is to sacrifice your children
and kill all your enemies

the politicians all make speeches
while the news men all take note
and they exagerate the issues
as they shove them down our throats
is it really up to them
whether this country sinks or floats
well i wonder who would lead us
if none of us would vote

well my phone is tapped and my lips are chapped
from whispering through the fence
you know every move i make
or is that just coincidence
well you try to make my way of life
a little less like jail
if i promise to make tapes and slides
and send them through the mail

and your money says in God we trust
but it's against the law to pray in school
you say we beat the russians to the moon
and i say you starved your children to do it
you say all men are equal all men are brothers
then why are the rich more equal than others
don't ask me for the answer i've only got one
that a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son

[url=http://www.larrynorman.com/]Larry Norman 4/8/1947 - 2/24/2008[/url]

MC

Wow.

What an indictment.

does anyone know how he died?

Sincerely Magnus

My two favorite singers... Keith Green and Larry Norman

What Album, I mean CD, would you recommend? (Larry Norman that is)

Any and all feel free to respond.

Rock on, Larry... I'll see you soon!

What? Krispy - you fixin' to kick the bucket soon? (To non-southerners that means "are you planning on dying before too long?)

ginnyrose

Krispy,

I had never heard of him, but that doesn't mean a whole lot - I am from a different generation. And I was never into pop music which explains a whole lot more.

Yesterday I got this newsletter from "Christianity Today" and they had a news article about Norman. All I can say after reading it is he must have been an enigma. Here is the link:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/februaryweb-only/109-22.0.html

My opinion of CT is that it is liberal - now, but their news articles are such you may not find else wheres. We started getting CT magazine over 30 years ago when we were in our late 20s. We quit in recent years because they have drifted to far into liberalism that I consider it a waste of resources to subscribe to it - a lot like going through garbage to find something to eat when my shelves and freezer are full of raw, nutritious foods. My Opinion.

Blessings,
ginnyrose

No...you're not the only ones who know who he was...I left this message on his website.

---SNIP---

I personally owe a lot to Larry.

When I was a stubborn soul and I listened to nothing but rock n' roll...I heard an electric guitar and a message about Jesus' love from Larry. He had the long hair of the time. While nothing is impossible with God, I'm not sure I would have accepted anything at that time in my life that didn't come from someone with long hair and an electric guitar. The Holy Spirit began a work in my heart that ultimately led to my repentance and acceptance of the Lord Jesus as my Savior.

The CCM industry owes a lot to Larry too.

Notwithstanding the majority of the commerical driven "clanging cymbals" (I Cor 13:1) we hear on "Christian Radio" today, there was a time that "Jesus Music" really was worship driven...it really did minister His truth and His love to a generation. It really did reach the lost. It really did accomplish His will.

I pray that you who are left behind remember the messenger, but more importantly the Message. May God grant His peace, which passes all understanding to the hearts and minds of his family.

Thanks Larry. I look forward to finally meeting you face to face and THANKING you personally.

---SNIP---

For his last message and more information here is the link:

http://www.larrynorman.com/news/022408.html

If you would like to leave a message or view the messages being left for his family here is the link:

http://larrynorman.activeboard.com/index.spark?forumID=119764&p=3&topicID=15643436&commentPage=0

What was cause of his death? Cancer, heart-attack, suicide, cerebral haemorrhage, stroke?

Magnus