Why do I like this song?
Incidentally, it’s not about incest. It’s about a prostitute whom goes by the moniker of “Mama”.
But there’s something about the spooky music, droning drumbeat, incantation-like singing and patient stanzas that makes me think of something altogether other than prostitutes.
It makes me think of the sound of immanent judgement.
Ananias and Sapphira lying to St. Peter.
Lying behind a smile.
Lying to the Holy Spirit, even—yet the Holy Spirit sees well beyond smiles and masks of all sorts. Lifts them up, one at time—exposing the real ugliness beneath.
And so now comes the inquisition.
“Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land…
“Whiles it remained, was it not thine own…
“And after it was sold, was it not in thine own power…
“Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?”
That’s not the side of God happy parishioners like to see when they’re bringing their small children and infants to the Sunday morning mass.
But it’s the night side of God.
With God having created the night just as the day.
The severity of love.