Stranger in a Strange Land - Leon Russell

(See Lyrics Below) Written by Leon Russell and Don Preston. This music video features the paintings of Bouguereau, Carlson, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Spadecaller.

Lyrics:

How many days has it been
Since I was born
How many days until I die
Do I know any ways
That I can make you laugh
Or do I only know how to make you cry

When the baby looks around him
It's such a sight to see
He shares a simple secret
With the wise man

He's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land
Tell me why
He's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land

How many miles will it take
To see the sun
And how many years until it's done
Kiss my confusion away in the night
Lay by side when the morning comes

And the baby looks around him
And shares his bed of hay
With the burrow in the palace of the king

He's a stranger in a strange land
Tell me why
He's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land

Well, I don't exactly know
What's going on in the world today
Don't know what there is to say
About the way the people are treating
Each other, not like brothers

Leaders take us far away from ecology
With mythology and astrology
Has got some words to say
About the way we live today
Why can't we learn to love each other
It's time to turn a new face
To the whole world wide human race

Stop the money chase
Lay back, relax
Get back on the human track
Stop racing toward oblivion
Oh, such a sad, sad state we're in
And that's a thing

Do you recognize the bells of truth
When you hear them ring
Won't you stop and listen
To the children sing
Won't you come on and sing it children

He's a stranger in a strange land
Just a stranger in a strange land

Category:

Music

Tags:

• rock
• Paintings
• Rembrandt
• Caravaggio
• Bouguereau
• Carlson
• Spadecaller
• Art

[judecreek2]

@Brainsonthewall If you are a new Leon listener, do yourself a favor and look up "Jumping Jack Flash/Youngblood Medley" from the Concert for Bangladesh. It's from 1971 and you will see Leon at his best.

[bodiefisher]

the best thank you leon

[nicenonya3]

@nicenonya3 could be more than one version

[nicenonya3]

@judecreek2 copied that off a website,didn't know if it was right

[judecreek2]

@nicenonya3 Beatle's??? It's leaders take us far away. Listening again, I could hear the same thing you did!

[propeleaton]

@thumlyly you do realize this was written after reading the Robert Heinlein novel of the same name that is an endless biblical reference?

[airhambone]

leaders take us far away

[nicenonya3]

Don't know what there is to say about the world today

Don't know why people are treating each other so wrong

Not like sisters, not like brothers

No, No, No listen to what I say

Beatles take us far away

From our ecology, our theology, our technology

I said, what a sad, sad state were in

[schwazer210]

House brought me here

[maximumjohn1]

I saw Leon at Whitewater in New Braunfels in July 2011, in a very intimate setting, along with Bob Dylan. Two national treasures, side by side. Needless to say, a memorable, wonderful show.

[maximumjohn1]

I've been meaning to do it for a long time, but . . . a very belated thank you to spadecaller for this video. The song itself has long been a favorite, but it took the unique juxtaposition of the music with the printed lyrics here and the wonderful paintings in the video to make me really see the deeper meaning of this, Leon's masterpiece. Now this song affects me profoundly, this time of year or anytime, whenever I hear it, with or without the accompanying video. Again, thank you.

[meanmon]

Thanks to "Brother Leon" and to TheSpadeCaller for some great images!