Muslims, Christians, Buddhists and Jews
Got their own version of the truth
There's a line in the sand, there's a war going on
They forgot to remember you might be wrong
Carry your faith everywhere you go
Mix it with love and let it show
But keep your mind open as you move along
And always remember you might be wrong
Why do we argue? Why do we fight?
Everybody thinks God's on their side
Count to ten before you throw a stone
Whatever you believe, you might be wrong
Don't cut me off, don't say we're through
Just because I don't agree with you
You see flowers grow where seeds of love are sown
You could be right; you might be wrong
What's on the other side of life?
I won't know until the day I die
If you feel insecure, you are not alone
Everybody knows you might be wrong
~ Paul Thorn
If you're reading this in the evening, I will be in the audience at a funky outdoor venue in south Florida, listening to Paul Thorn. He is somewhat new to me, so I've been researching his story and listening to some of his songs, and I am so excited to see him perform! His 2010 release Pimps & Preachers is full of rootsy wisdom, including that found in the featured song here.
The son of a Pentecostal preacher, Thorn grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi. He learned religion, love and compassion from his father, but he also learned a thing or two from his uncle (the pimp) who taught him about women. He also taught the young Thorn how to box, which resulted in Thorn being ranked 28th in the world as a middleweight boxer before giving it up and pursuing his other love, music.
Thorn worked in a chair factory by day and sang his songs in clubs at night. A Southern storyteller, his consistent themes are sin, salvation and survival, presented with a questioning twist. Thorn was discovered by Sting's manager, Miles Copeland, and played his first concert in front of 14,000 people in Nashville, opening for Sting.
No Depression, an online journal of roots music, has a great story on Thorn, which you can find here: http://nodepression.com/interview/paul-thorns-lessons-learned-pimps-and-preachers. It's a good read.
I'm sure it came as no surprise to you that "You Might Be Wrong" would appeal to an agnostic like me. But even if you are passionate about your spiritual beliefs, there is wisdom in the lyrics, wisdom that the whole world would benefit from heeding.
I bet you liked this song.
But then again, I might be wrong.
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