The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Jay F Guin

A study in guilt —

I’m a dead man walking here
But that’s least of all my fears
Ooh underneath the water

It’s not Alabama clay
Gives my trembling hands away
Ooh Please forgive me father

Ain’t going back to Barton Hollow
Devil gonna follow me e’er I go
Won’t do me no good washing in the river
Can’t no preacher man save my soul

Did that full moon force my hand?
Or that unmarked hundred grand?
Ooh underneath the water
Please forgive me father

Miles and miles in my bare feet
Still can’t lay me down to sleep
If I die before I wake
I know the Lord my soul won’t take

I’m a dead man walking
I’m a dead man walking

Keep walking and running and running for miles
Keep walking and running and running for miles
Keep walking and running and running for miles

Ain’t going back to Barton Hollow
Devil gonna follow me e’er I go
Won’t do me no good washing in the river
Can’t no preacher man save my soul

About Jay F Guin

My name is Jay Guin, and I’m a retired elder. I wrote The Holy Spirit and Revolutionary Grace about 18 years ago. I’ve spoken at the Pepperdine, Lipscomb, ACU, Harding, and Tulsa lectureships and at ElderLink. My wife’s name is Denise, and I have four sons, Chris, Jonathan, Tyler, and Philip. I have two grandchildren. And I practice law.
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3 Responses to The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow

  1. aBasnar says:
    June 2, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    Interesting references to salvation by a preacher or by baptism – but no faith
    Interesting awarness of the reality of Satan – but no awarness of the love of Christ.
    Despair.

    If that's what's being received from our preaching it's not much …

    Alexander

  2. John Randy Royse says:
    June 3, 2011 at 12:20 pm

    This is my early vote for album of the year, the song 'Poison or Wine' simply tears my heart inside out………

    Along with the "Ideas" post by Jay, this short video raises the understanding that we need to contemplate the container in which we place our message. If we stand pat, we will not be noticed by the people we want to reach……

  3. Jay Guin says:
    June 4, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    Alexander,

    I don’t think they’re saying that grace isn’t available but that many sinners don’t think grace is available. Which is true and sad. In fact, many Christians have great difficulty accepting that they are forgiven. They can’t let go of their guilt over “that unmarked hundred grand.” The song reminds me of how I used to feel and how so many still do.

    Many among the unsaved have only met Christians who pretend to be perfect that they can’t imagine ever being saved.

    The songs speaks truth: not the truth about Jesus but the truth about how so many feel about Jesus. It’s a great reminder of what we need to be about and why.

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