Crystal Blue Persuasion

Dear Boo and Bubble,

Here’s a little mantra by which you can live — “When you do something that you don’t have to, but because you sincerely want to…you will be richly rewarded.”

Captain and I experienced a fulfillment of this charge a few days ago. We went to the funeral of Dorothy Wiseman—a woman we had never met and did not know. Why? Because we are good friends with her sister, Carolyn Garland. Even so, our presence was neither expected nor anticipated…we certainly wouldn’t have been missed. But we sincerely felt we should be there to support Carolyn in her grief…and I’m so grateful that we acted on the impulse.

The service was held at the United Methodist Church in the crossroads community of Altamont just down the road from us towards Marion. As is typical of rural churches everywhere, the sanctuary and accompanying structures of Altamont Methodist were modest and humble, without the inherent pressures found in more urban communities to have the largest edifice of worship on the block. We arrived about thirty minutes before the service was to start, finding the parking lot completely overflowing onto the gravel road leading up to the church. The sanctuary was filled to capacity, with people lining the walls which necessitated putting folding chairs just outside in the foyer to accommodate late arrivals.

Sitting in the pew next to Captain, I surveyed the crowd. There were only a few familiar faces scattered here and there. Some were dressed more formally…some wore overalls. If I were to use a proper description, “salt of the earth” comes to mind.

The bulletin in my hand gave me a clue as to expectations for the service itself. I was familiar with the hymns, two of my favorites—Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art. In addition, the Prayer of St. Francis*** was listed as the closing prayer. To me, it is one of the most beautiful ever written. But about halfway down the program, there was a most unusual notation for a song—Crystal Blue Persuasion. I couldn’t imagine how this 1969 hit song by the secular group Tommy James and the Shondells could possibly be apropos at a funeral in such a setting. Well…if we hadn’t been there, I never would have known.

First—the context. When Dorothy’s son, Jack, came to the pulpit to give remarks for the family, he explained that she had insisted that the song be performed at her funeral. He thought it extremely odd and not a “church” song at all. Because of her adamance, he decided to research the lyrics and their origins which led him to a very interesting discovery.

Second—the lyrics.

A new day is coming, ooh, ooh
People are changing
Ain't it beautiful, ooh, ooh
Crystal blue persuasion

Look over yonder
What do you see?
The sun is a'rising
Most definitely

Better get ready to see the light
Love, love is the answer, ooh, ooh
And that's all right

So don't you give up now, ooh, ooh
So easy to find
Just look to your soul
And open your mind

Crystal blue persuasion, mmm, mmm
It's a new vibration
Crystal blue persuasion
Crystal, blue persuasion

Maybe tomorrow
When he looks down
On every green field, ooh, ooh
And every town
All of his children
And every nation
They'll be peace and good brotherhood

Crystal blue persuasion, yeah
Crystal blue persuasion, aha
Crystal blue persuasion, aha
Crystal blue persuasion, aha

Third—the history. Tommy James wrote Crystal Blue Persuasion along with two other band members, Eddie Gray and Mike Vale. It was the late 1960’s at the peak of a cultural revolution in our country that centered around the use of drugs. When asked about the inspiration for the lyrics, James explained, “Crystal Blue was interesting. First of all, I was becoming a Christian at that time, and we never thought a thing about it. We never thought that doing something semi-religious was any big deal. We didn’t think of it as being politically incorrect or anything like that. We just did what felt right.”

He further elaborates on the Biblical origins of the lyrics. “It’s out of the Bible. The imagery was right out of Chapter 22 of the Book of Revelation**, about the lake of crystal, and just what John sees. The imagery was just right there. ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion,’ although those words aren’t used together, it was what the image meant to me.”

Not knowing the religious transformation that James was undergoing, many of his listeners placed their own interpretations on the lyrics. “It’s a new vibration” literally referenced James’ path to becoming a Christian. “Of course, everybody thinks if they don’t understand what you’re talking about, it must be about drugs,” he said. “But it wasn’t. We were going through a real interesting time back then, and a very wonderful time. Everybody in the band, by the way, became Christian. And we’re very proud of it. And ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion’ was sort of our way of saying that in a kind of pop record way.”

So…who knew? I certainly didn’t. But I do now…simply because I acted on the mantra. And I will see these words differently now because I have knowledge of their origin. What wonderful words they are, and I hope that someday, they will come to fruition—peace and brotherhood for all nations.

**Revelations 22:1-5 -

“And he shewed me a pure river of water, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it: and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And There shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun: for the Lord God giveth them light; and they shall reign for ever and ever.

*** The Prayer of St. Francis

Lord make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is doubt, faith,

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

And where there is sadness, joy.

O divine master, grant that I may

Not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.