I started thinking about Paul and Silas traveling through the country spreading the Good News. So I wrote a brief history of American gospel music from the 1800’s up til pre-WWII. Each song represents a different period of time.
I wrote this song in the middle of doing the album but the sentiment had been part of my life for years. I always started my sermons with “I’ve got Great News for you.” It kept me from giving a negative sermon. Cause you can’t start with Great News and then tell people they’re going to hell.
When I was a young pup, I tried to be a preacher like my Dad. Dad was a really good teacher-preacher. He had that preacher voice that was expected in those days but he was more concerned with presenting good theology than with jumping the pulpit in a single bound.
Being an evangelist is an easy gig, my Dad used to say. You work up 3 sermons and move from town to town. Every time you preach your sermons, you get better at it. And moving from town to town means everyone thinks you great; they never hear your 4th sermon.
This song is about two traveling preachers who roll into town in their wagon. It’s Paul and Silas. And they’ve got Good News.
It’s Good News for people in trouble. Good News for people in pain. Good News for everybody: Jesus is alive!
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