Something that’s bothered me a lot lately is a lack of good music that evokes the kind of emotion that spiritually-inspired music does, but whose subject matter is something I actually believe in. Most songs that attempt to do this suffer from "too literal syndrome," wordily talking about science and rationality as if they’re forming an argument, rather that simply creating poetic imagery.
I’ve only found two songs that come close to being the specific thing I’m looking for:
Word of God
Singularity
(Highly recommend good headphones/speakers for the Singularity one—there’s some subtle ambient stuff that really sells the final parts that’s less effective with mediocre sound)
Over the past few months I’ve been working on a rational humanist song. I consider myself a reasonably competent amateur songwriter when it comes to lyrics, not so much when it comes to instrumental composition. I was waiting to post something when I had an actual final version worth listening to, but it’s been a month and I’m not sure how to get good instrumentation to go along with it and I’m just in the mood to share the lyrics. I’d appreciate both comments on the song, as well as recommendations for good, similar music that already exists. And if someone likes it enough to try putting it to the music, that’d be awesome.
Brighter than Today Many winter nights agoA woman shivered in the coldStared at the sky and wondered why the gods invented pain. She bitterly struck rock togetherWishing that her life was betterSuddenly she saw the spark of light and golden flame. She showed the others, but they told herShe was not meant to controlThe primal forces that the gods had cloaked in mystery. But proud and angry, she defied themShe would not be satisfied.She lit a fire and set in motion human history.
Tomorrow can be brighter than today,Although the night is coldAnd the stars may feel so very far away** Oh.…** But every mind can be a golden rayOf courage hope and reasonSurely we can find a better way. Ages since but not yet nowWe built the wheel, and then the plowWe tilled the earth and proved our worth against the drought and snow;Soon we had the time to ponderLook up to the sky and wonderCould there be some deeper meaning we were meant to know? *Tomorrow can be brighter than today,Although the night is coldAnd stars may feel so very far away.But futures can unfold whereCourage, hope and reason growwith every passing season sowe’ll shed the lies that tie us downAnd seek truths ever more profoundAnd drive the darkness far away.Tomorrow can be brighter than todayBrighter than today * The universe many seem unfairAnd the laws of nature do not careThe plagues and storms and our own evils nearly doused our flameBut all these things, we have enduredThrough morals learned, diseases cured.Against our Herculean tasks we’ve risen to proclaim: *Tomorrow can be brighter than today,Although the night’s still coldThe stars won’t always be so far awayIf I may be so boldIt doesn’t have to be this wayEach human mind’s a golden rayof courage, hope and reasonEach and every passing seasonWe can seek the truths that make us strongerBuild the world that we all long forStrive for lives of joy and meaningShine a light that’s always gleamingRise up to the stars and say**Tomorrow will be brighter than today!****Tomorrow will be brighter than today!****I know it will be brighter than today.***Brighter than today! A not particularly great recording of it