What to hear a perfect song? “Resplendent,” by Bill Mallonee and Vigilantes of Love, is as close as it gets. There’s the Bruce Cockburn-like guitar, that sweet snare drum shuffle, and Emmylou’s harmonies. And then there’s the lyrics. When Mallonee sings, “Honey, we’re all resplendent,” you just know that he’s right. (Thanks for this song, Candace.)
I remember the dark clouds raining dust for days on end
Blew all the Earth out to California
Just left us here with the wind
Desperate times, you know everbody’s part
It’s your own lines you’d like to forget
Till what you were meets what you’ve now become
And grins and says, “Hey, haven’t we met?”Lost my first born that Winter
My wife on the first day of Spring
So I poured my sweat to the Earth
To see what that harvest would bring
And I remember how the fury
Just like a plague of locusts
Egypt’s punishment for sins of pride
Is that now what has come over us?How much of this was meant to be?
How much the work of the Devil?
How far can one man’s eyes really see
In these days of toil and trouble?Honey, we’re all resplendent,
Yeah, Honey, we are all thrift store
Like a wine-o with a $20 bill
Yeah, forever and eternally yours
And I can make you promises
If you don’t expect too much,
Yes, and I will run the distance
If you’ll please, please excuse my crutchHow much of this was meant to be?
How much the work of the Devil?
How far can one man’s eyes really see
In these days of toil and trouble?How much of this is failing flesh?
How much a course of retribution?
My, my, how loudly we plead our innocence
Long after we made our contribution