Growing up around a church environment shaped my performance bend. My mom was in all of the plays, and she was always very dramatic, even off stage. And my father is a singer. His mother and father were as well, and all of his siblings. All in the church choir and involved in Barbershop Harmony Singing, which is another huge musical influence in my life. The turning of phrases and the linking of words, the weight of the stories both at church and in barbershop, everything very dramatic. Very life and death. Danny Boy. When the Roll is called up Yonder. I wouldn’t trade the silver in my mother’s hair. All these historic American songs. Ain’t Misbehavin’. Summertime. Railroad Rag. 


 “I loved the stories, but I remember seeing a picture of the devil when I was young and very much hoping he did not come get me. I tried to stay on the straight and narrow. The devil kept me up at night.” 


When we weren’t listening to my dad’s quartet rehearsal recordings, it was pretty much always classic rock. 

Musically, I was raised on a heavy diet of loud Classic Rock and meticulous Barbershop. American music from 1890-1930 & 1968-1978.  I tended to like my dad’s selections more, my mom was listening to easy going soft rock,  and it really bugged me how slow and boring the songs were. I liked the swift energy changes. The raging guitar solos. 

Music solidified itself in my life as a weapon when I was 11 years old. A family friend died in a horrible automobile accident and I hadn’t known death so personally before. When you’re 11 and something like that hits. He was not so much older than me, maybe 19. When I found out, I locked myself in my bedroom and blared “Freebird” on repeat. Thinking back on it, it was my first act of rebellion. To listen to music too loudly. And I knew no one would stop me, because they understood why I was upset. I know it’s a cheesy song to most people, but I didn’t know it at the time and so that’s how that one lives for me. As this rage against death. And that is part of where “Sent by the Man” comes from. The desire to create this epic song that is about this executioner. 

All of the songs have double meanings. As my Shakespeare teacher told me in school, “If you think there is a double meaning, you are right”

For Sent by the Man, the double meaning is the messaging of the lyrics. The main character in the story reads as both Jesus and the soldier who nailed him to the cross. Both following their purpose. One, purpose taken from the Man Upstairs, a nonphysical being. And the other, taking orders from his fellow men. 


I seen a Man, sitting on his own
Look like a wolf with a heart made of stones
There on a Rock in the middle of the Wind.
Waiting so patiently, for his only friend.

(The Garden of Gethsemene, Jesus asking for his burden to be relieved.
The soldier, pondering what he had done.)

Covered in Blood were the hairs of his hand

(Jesus bleeding. 
The soldier covered in the blood of another. )

The moment had faded but the stains would not cleanse
(Mary cleaning the body afterwards.
The stains of his deeds.)

A fire was burning, deep from within
(Fear and desire for action.)

He knelt down as others watched, the washing of skin.
(Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.
The soldier washing the blood off his hands near the crowd gathered to watch the crucifixion.)

Devils and Demons and Angels, yes they gathered round to see
The moment struck by lightning, the lightning struck by me.

(The lightning strike at the moment of Jesus’ death.
The soldier’s realization he is questioning.)

Show me the Way, tell me the truth

Where you gonna run to now?

He could not move. He was frozen in place. No needle could stitch. The wounds on his -

(The moment of stillness at death, both for the soldier and the Savior.)

Sent By the Man

Chris Owen -Utopia is here

Recorded in San Francisco, CA on 14 March 2013.

Lyrics and music by Andy Strong.

 All recordings the properties of Netheryonder Records.

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