Song of the Week: Jonny Lang's "Only a Man"

"When people used to try to persuade me with the message of Jesus, I would say, 'I understand that you believe that, but I don't. He's going to have to basically show up and let me know who he is, or I'm not going to believe it.' And that's what he did. He literally did that."

That's Jonny Lang, describing his conversion to Christ.

Last week's Song of the Week featured Lang with Joss Stone on Herbie Hancock's jazz project, Possibilities. There I described Lang as a cross between Stevie Ray Vaughn and Stevie Wonder, camping out on the funk side of rhythm and blues.

Lang started playing guitar at the age of twelve, released his first album, Smokin (1995) at the age of fourteen and quickly became a blues sensation, touring with The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, and Sting, among others. He released the critically acclaimed multi-platinum Lie to Me in 1997. His next album, Wander This World, earned him a Grammy nomination at 17.

But addictions were causing his world to unravel. He was smoking at 11, drinking and smoking pot at 13 and into "all sorts of other kinds of drugs" by 16, which makes the words of this week's "Song of the Week" all the more poignant.

The song is from the 2006 Grammy-winning project, Turn Around. In an interview with Sara Groves, Lang is asked about the meaning of the line: "I grew up singing songs in church with questions in my mind." He said:

My parents got divorced when I was about four years old. My mom lived in Minneapolis, and my dad lived in Fargo, so we'd go back and forth, my little sister and I, between them. My mom would take us to church, but it never really came off to me that I could have a relationship with God. Something about it was too big for me to get. So I just had all these questions: What are we singing about? What are we doing here? And to what end?

Nickel Creek violinist Sara Watkins contributes to "Only A Man," and Lang shares vocals with his wife, Haylie. Notice how Lang talks to God at the end of the song, with Haylie becoming the reassuring voice of God's Spirit, persuading Lang to trust him with his failures and addictions. Beautiful:

I used to live my life in fear
Was worried all the time
From waking up to laying down
I had no peace of mind
The world became a darkened place
A struggle without end
Although bitter times those were
The days that I had began to understand
I was only a man

I grew up singing songs in church
With questions in my mind
Then turned my back and ran away
From God who gave me life
Then one night his presence fell
I wept and shook and then
I fell down and cried, Dear Jesus, rescue me again
I understand I am only a man

And He said, What will it be now?
Will you choose me or keep swimming up stream now?
I've been inside your head hearing you scream out.
Well here I am, just take my hand and I'll take out
All of the pain and all of the fear
All of the fear

I'll give you my burdens (I'll give you peace)
All of my desires (I'll give you what you need)
Oh, what about these chains, Lord? (I'll set you free)
But they're so heavy (Lay them at my feet)
I'll lay them at your feet
Just promise you won't leave (I'll never leave)
So where do I go from here, Lord? (Just follow me)
(Just follow me)
I'll follow you (Just follow me) wherever you lead
Wherever you lead, wherever you lead

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