“You Have My Attention” by Copeland, Wednesday, September 15, 2021

On The Labeled Podcast's first season, Aaron Marsh talked about the history of their first album, Beneath Medicine Tree. The Copeland singer claimed that there were no Christian Copeland songs; however, songs on Copeland albums that sound like they speak about faith are inspired by his grandmother. This month we return to Copeland's second record, In Motion, an album that is perhaps Copeland's most Christian-sounding record. "You Have My Attention" is a very spiritual song. It uses Christian terminology to build the central metaphor. Whether the relationship is with God, Marsh's grandmother, or an idea who "has [his] attention like a shout through an empty sanctuary" yet "speak[s] but a whisper," "You Have My Attention" is a powerful song about a muse or a force that blesses the speaker. A holy spirit or the Holy Spirit carries this tune, grabbing the listener's attention when the hectic afternoon lets up for just a moment.

JUST DO YOUR BEST TO HEAR ME. If you say that God talks with an audible voice, people will dismiss you as crazy. "What are the voices telling you now?" They might ask. The Quakers teach that everyone has a conscience, and it is through the conscience that believers can have a direct experience with God. Adventists teach young children that their conscience is the Holy Spirit and that they should always listen to their conscience. If they don't listen to that still, small voice, it will go away. As we get older, we learn that if the conscience goes away, it's the unpardonable sin, or grieving the Holy Spirit. When you're little it's all about listening to your parents. When you're a teenager it's all about not doing certain things. Don't smoke, don't drink, don't play video games with lots of blood, don't watch that movie, don't listen to that music, don't look at those websites. To live one's life in prayer was the alternative. If a person was born again, he or she would receive the Holy Spirit and begin a personal relationship with God. This relationship has teenagers in their quiet times when they weren't feeling guilty about all the bad things they did, talking to God and thinking about him. It was a metaphysical friendship, like an experience with a friend you can talk to all the time, who is always there, yet who oddly has a very similar personality to you, or at least, a personality of you at your ideal state. This friend would also sound like a pastor, a Bible school teacher, and your own interpretation of what is wrong. 

YOUR VOICE SOUNDS MILES AWAY. This was the reality Allan grew up in. Raised in a conservative home and praying the sinner's prayer at a young age, some of his biggest childhood fears were of the second coming, and not being called to meet the Lord in the air. But since many Adventists didn't throw around terms like "saved," emphasizing baptism at an age in which a person can tell the difference between right and wrong--anywhere from 8-12. Allan had talked to God since he was taught how to pray as a child. As a child, most of his nightly prayers addressed fears he had, all the ways he could die and not be prepared for heaven. When he was about ten, he took a cue from Baptist theology and followed the ABCs of being born again. After admitting to God that [he] was a sinner, believing that Jesus was the only way to heaven, and confessing sin after sin after sin, Allan felt some relief for his soul. As children get older, though, guilty thoughts can become more and more prevalent with the violent flooding of new hormones. In eighth grade, Allan entered a baptismal class at the school Pastor Jim had started. Nick had joined the class along with some of his other friends, studying the 27 Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. "The worst thing that could happen," Pastor Jim said toward the end of the class, "is that you will come out of the water, a wet sinner." Several of the students dropped out before the class ended. The kids with non-Adventist parents mostly dropped out, especially after studying some of the finer points in Adventist doctrine. However, it was five eighth graders clad in baggy baptismal ropes entering the church tank that was only filled on the occasion of someone joining the church through immersion. Nick joked that he wasn't wearing boxers under the robe. Allan laughed but tried to keep the occasion as somber as he could. Today was the day that he would show his commitment to Christ. After the baptism, the parents of a classmate who was baptized that day held a special dinner at their house where all the baptized students and their families attended. Nick's mother had to work, so she didn't attend. The meal took place outside because the early September day was not too hot. The meal was simple, vegetarian hotdogs, potato chips, and several kinds of salads. Allan received many congratulations from church members and felt welcomed with hugs and gifts of devotional books. As people started dwindling after the food was served, Allan realized how quiet Nick had been all day. When they were alone at their folding table, Nick asked, "Did you feel it?" "I think so," Allan said. "I didn't feel anything." Allan looked into his friend's green eyes. "Maybe nobody knows for sure. I'm sure that's what it is," Allan said putting his arm on his friend's shoulder.

https://genius.com/Copeland-you-have-my-attention-lyrics