My selection for Rock Song of the Year is the Foo Fighter’s “Walk” from their album Wasting Light. Every time I hear this I am reminded of the story of the Prodigal Son that Christ told in the 15th chapter of Luke. Read the story then consider the lyrics from the point of view of the son as he realizes his forgiveness and the chance to start over as you listen to the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KURb52giNfM
There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, 'Father, I want right now what's coming to me.'
So the father divided the property between them. It wasn't long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.
That brought him to his senses. He said, 'All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I'm going back to my father. I'll say to him, Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.' He got right up and went home to his father.
When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: 'Father, I've sinned against God, I've sinned before you; I don't deserve to be called your son ever again.'
But the father wasn't listening. He was calling to the servants, 'Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We're going to feast! We're going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!' And they began to have a wonderful time (from The Message).
A million miles away
Your signal in the distance
To whom it may concern
I think I lost my way
Getting good at starting over
Every time that I return
I'm learning to walk again
I believe I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?
I'm learning to talk again
Can't you see I've waited long enough?
Where do I begin?
Do you remember the days?
We built these paper mountains
And sat and watched them burn
I think I found my place
Can't you feel it growing stronger?
Little conqueror
I'm learning to walk again
I believe I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?
I'm learning to talk again
I believe I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?
Now!
For the very first time
Don't you pay no mind
Set me free again
You keep alive a moment at a time
But still inside a whisper to a liar
To sacrifice but knowing to survive
The first to find another state of mind
I'm on my knees, I'm praying for a sign
Forever, whenever
I never wanna die
I never wanna die
I never wanna die
I'm on my knees
I never wanna die
I'm dancing on my grave
I'm running through the fire
Forever, whatever
I never wanna die
I never wanna leave
I'll never say goodbye
Forever, whatever
Forever, whatever
I'm learning to walk again
I believe I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?
I'm learning to talk again
Can't you see I've waited long enough
Where do I begin?
I'm learning to walk again
I believe I've waited long enough
I'm learning to talk again
Can't you see I've waited long enough?
(“Walk” by Foo Fighters from Wasting Light, 2011)
Here’s a version of the band playing it on Saturday Night Live. What passion from lead singer/composer Dave Grohl:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjOUZnlkOaI&feature=related
And just for good measure, an solo acoustic version by Dave Grohl :
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