‘I’ll sleep when I’m dead’
‘It feels like I have been waiting for an eternity’
What effect does this have?: The serious reality of death, eternity, heaven and hell are belittled and made a part of common language. Through constant use the words and truths they represent can become ‘water off a ducks back’.
Music
My job recently took me to Nashville, Tennessee where I took the opportunity to visit the Grand Ole Opry, the home of country music. On the bill that night was Charlie Daniels who famously sang ‘The Devil went down to Georgia’. The lyrics of the song tell the story of Johnny who was challenged to a violin playing contest by the devil. If he won he would keep the golden violin, if he lost he would forfeit his soul. Of course he won and then Johnny goes on to taunt the devil by inviting him back anytime for a rematch.
What effect does this have?: The implication of the songs above is again that somehow through your own efforts you can prevail over the devil and hell. In addition it is another occasion where the devil is made to look insignificant (all he is concerned about being the best violin player around).
Celebrity
On 25th June 2009 approximately 155,000 people died and entered their eternal destiny2. Among those was the ‘King of pop’ Michael Jackson. In the hours following his death hundreds of fellow celebrities and hundreds of thousands of fans from all over the world left messages of condolence.
Examples:
‘I hope he finally worked out his purpose in life, before he left it’ – Yusef Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)
‘May you rest in peace sweet Michael’ – Lenny