The Chapel

Listen and download the song, free, here.

I wrote this one a long time ago, one winter night on my way home from work.  The words and the melody started forming in my head, and I kept pulling over to type each idea into my PDA.  Finally, I realized that I would just have to stop and do it all, so I pulled off the main road, and into a parking lot.  I sat under a big light and wrote out the rest of the first draft. 

Satisfied, I restarted my engine, and started to pull out.  It was then that I noticed that I was in an LDS church parking lot.  I chuckled at the “lucky” irony...

Then, years later, I started working on recording this song.  The album “The Third Time” needed an acoustic number, so I chose this one.  In the middle of the recording process, they divided and reorganized our ward.  We suddenly found ourselves in among strangers again.  The song reminded me that we’re really not strangers at all. 

Eph. 2: 19 


The Chapel
Written, produced, and performed by Mark Hansen

Susan's been married just under a year
They like the pews up front, so they can hear
She's had a rough time and her youth was unclear
Now she's fighting to get past her mistakes and her fear

With eyes that neither condemn nor condone
He loves her and raises her child as his own

Chorus
In every city the chapel's the same
Like the people who step up and ask me my name
And the words that they say and the feelings I've known
I guess that's why it feels like home
That's why it feels like home

Tommy, he always sits quiet in back
It's been a long, long time, and he's been off track
He's just been finding all the things that he lacked
His wife is his strength, but even she almost cracked

Though the cravings are sometimes too hard to forget
It's been six months since his last cigarette

Chorus

John can  count the days by the books that he's read
He's long and thinning like the hairs on his head
He always questions everything that is said
But he'll lend you an ear and bring a fresh loaf of bread

Surrounded by people who've been through it all
Somehow my struggles seem to be very small

Chorus

Jason Jones   Drums




Come back often to hear about new songs and shows. Mark also has other sites and blogs, including his Dutch Oven blog: Mark's Black Pot and his LDS pop culture blog: MoBoy blog.
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