Paul Thorn Traces Lineage to Pimps & Preachers
Paul Thorn's new album, Pimps & Preachers, offers some of the most encouraging, uplifting songs I've heard all year. With a title like that, who would have guessed? A native of Tupelo, Miss., Thorn grew up in the church with a father who was a Pentecostal preacher. But when the aspiring musician was 12 years old, his father's brother -- an honest-to God pimp -- came to visit. Life, as they say, was never the same. This indie album, both soulful and soul-baring, is a tribute to both men.
The project starts with "You're Not the Only One," positive enough to be a country hit for somebody. He's also counting on "Better Days Ahead," a song about getting out of New Orleans when the rain hits. Meanwhile, "I Hope I'm Doing This Right" finds him wondering if God is proud of the way he's living. If you have an irreverent sense of humor, you might enjoy "You Might Be Wrong," a straightforward message sent out to ultra-religious folks who are ... shall we say, extremely confident in their beliefs.
Thorn has a keen sense of humor, like when he writes about a singing cowboy who impregnates a young woman, then dies after Fan Fair. There's also a hilarious take on family reunions called "I Don't Like Half the Folks I Love." (Sample lyric: "I like it when they come/But I love it when they go.") I dig "Love Scar," too, because the melody fits the melancholy storyline so well. He was inspired by a fan's tattoo of a crying eye, which she inked after meeting a hot guy who told her, "If I could be a tear rolling down your cheek and die on your lips, my life would be complete." Now that's poetry -- and one hell of a pickup line.
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Robin says:
“You Might Be Wrong,” a straightforward message sent out to ultra-religious folks who are … shall we say, extremely confident in their beliefs.”
So, folks that aren’t “ultra-religious” are wishy washy on their beliefs. There’s a difference in being arrogant and “self-important” and being “extremely confident in their beliefs”. I have extreme confidnce in God (and my beliefs), but I don’t always think I understand EVERYTHING about him. That’s where faith comes in. If I might be wrong, I have faith that God’s will will prevail and he knows what he’s doing and he’s in control so all is good. I have faith in HIM not my interpretation of him.
Maybe he should just let people believe the way they do?..
Robin says:
With that said, the concept sounds great. I’d like to hear some of the music to see if the musicality matches the concept.
me says:
In my experience most pentecostal preachers are pimps too. they are just selling something else but they really want your money.
cd says:
hey robin -
listen to the song - the whole point of it is that we all ’should just let people believe the way they do’!
Redmaz says:
Robin listen to anything other that Pop Music? Don’t be ridiculous. #3 on the Americana charts so it’s clearly over the head of a mainstreamer.
Robin says:
cd - I have listened to the song. That’s actually NOT the point of the song.
Rick Atkinson says:
I love to read the words of people who think that their disection of a song means anything to anybody but themselves. Storytelling at it’s best with great melody, what else do you want. Paul Thorn has done it through 3 albums.