Came across this on CDnow.com






Obviously these 2 missed the entire point of the album. Peace Beyond Passion is my favorite Me'Shell Album. Hands down one of the most compelling and poignent albums of the 90s. She addresses social and spiritual struggles, those she faces as a black woman and a lesbian.

The Way.....






Jesus cured the blind man so that he could see the evils of the world
Perchance blindness is but a dark thought overcome by the light
Maybe Judas was the better man and Mary made a virgin just to save face
I too am so ashamed on bended knees
Prayin' to my pretty white Jesus

Brother John Paul convinced himself of his wisdom to judge to forgive to condemn
Mother Mary full of grace I'm so confused by her pale white face
God so loved the world he gave his only son
But many mothers bear children martyrs of greed bitter love
While the so called chosen make war
So many suffer in the name of god their faith at a closed door

They say you're the way the light
The light is so blinding
Your followers condemn me your words used to enslave me



I don't think believers quite understand the impact of the way that some of them do condemn us and use the word to enslave us. Holding us to standards they don't even hold themself to....


Leviticus: Faggot embodies so much of the struggle that gay people face within their families, within society and within the body of the church.....

Faggot better run, learn to run 'cuz daddy's home
Dady's sweet lil' boy's just a little too sweet
And every night the man showed the faggot what a real man should be
But the man and the faggot will never see
for so many can't even perceive a real man.... Tell me

It's not that the faggot didn't find a woman fine and beautiful
He admired, desired her desires
He wanted love from strong hands
The faggot wanted the love of a man

His mother would pray
Save him, save him, save him from this life

Go to church boy
Faggot you're just a prisoner of your own perverted world
No picket fence stop acting like a bitch!
But that's all he sees ain't that what faggot means
No love dreams
Only the favors sweet Michael performed for money to eat
'Cause the man kicked the faggot out the house at 16
Amen mother let it be
Before long he was crowned QUEEN for all the world to see
His bloody body face down....all hail the queen.
"The wages of sin are surely death child" yes that's what mama used to say
So there was no sympathy

His mother would pray
Save him, save him, save him from this life

Searchin and searchin.....who will care for me? Who will love me?

His mother would pray
Save him, save him, save him from this life
His mother would pray, yes she would

Save me from this life
Save me from this life
Save me from this life
Hey faggot you better run, learn to run cuz daddy's home

Beautiful Angels dance around my soul...as I rise.
Just searchin and searchin, searchin and searchin
Trying to figure out..... life

Swing low, my sweet chariot.
Let me rise....above my fears.
Let me rise....above my sadness.
Let me rise....above my tears.
Swing low, my sweet chariot let me rise
Let his own concience be clear as I rise


You have no idea what this song means to me as a gay person. Especially since I grew up in the church.....just searchin and searchin, searchin and searchin trying to figure out.....life

The search for spiritual freedom:






So much heartbreak. So much heartbreak. So.....much.....heartbreak.







This album is simply full of the purest most heartfelt expressions. Nothing hateful about it. Nothing racist. Raw, unadulturated and unabashed in it's truth. A remarkable album and I feel truly sad that people wouldn't understand. It reminds me of the furor over Pat Benatar's song "Hell is for Children". She was pointing out the issue of child abuse and really if you listen to the words and think about what she's saying you'll see she isn't wishing kids were in hell, like church leaders were claiming. She was advocating and pleading on behalf of the children. Being their voice when they had none.


These 2, and others obviously jumped to conclusions. Looking at the title of a song like Levitucus: Faggot, thinking she might have been gay bashing, when the reality is that she broke down in stark terms the reality many of us have faced.

I truly cannot ever sufficiently applaud and praise this woman's body of work. She is one of those artists that grabs my mind, seizes my heart, sparks my soul and links them all together so that I think, feel, and exist in unison to the perfection of my truth.

.
[Edited 5/19/05 14:56pm]

WHAT!!!! -- this guy must've been predjudice himself Me'shell is a musical genius -- but No one can ever know the adversities African- Americans STILL go through TODAY unless you witness it - no one else has the RIGHT to comment on that situation -- and it's not ANGER in her lyrics it's real EDUCATION to make people see the error of their ways and possibly change and he's obviously one that never will!
[Edited 5/19/05 12:55pm]

This album is simply full of the purest most heartfelt expressions. Nothing hateful about it. Nothing racist. Raw, unadulturated and unabashed in it's truth. A remarkable album and I feel truly sad that people wouldn't understand. It reminds me of the furor over Pat Benatar's song "Hell is for Children". She was pointing out the issue of child abuse and really if you listen to the words and think about what she's saying you'll see she isn't wishing kids were in hell, like church leaders were claiming. She was advocating and pleading on behalf of the children. Being their voice when they had none.


These 2, and others obviously jumped to conclusions. Looking at the title of a song like Levitucus: Faggot, thinking she might have been gay bashing, when the reality is that she broke down in stark terms the reality many of us have faced.

I truly cannot ever sufficiently applaud and praise this woman's body of work. She is one of those artists that grabs my mind, seizes my heart, sparks my soul and links them all together so that I think, feel, and exist in unison to the perfection of my truth.[/quote]


supa

SweetKreme said:

Even if you're not black (I'm not, but I am gay) it shouldn't be hard to understand and accept this album from her point of view, which is that of a black woman, a gay woman, a woman, a person. I mean there are so many layers within this album where she grapples with her truth, her desires and needs. Many of them are universal in their nature. Something anyone can find commanality with, gay/straight, man/woman, believer/infidel. These people couldn't have actually listened to the songs. If they did, they misunderstood big time

.
[Edited 5/19/05 13:58pm]

butterfli25 said:

ButterfliX5

I love this woman....just lestend to P.B.P today...fonkay!!!!

I saw Me'Shell at an instore appearance last year and I got to personally thank her for sharing her art with us and I had her sign my cd booklet for Peace Beyond Passion to "Supa"

OK. This review is ignorant on a few key levels. First, he is taking Meshell's words at face value. As a white male (who I assume is "heterosexual") how is he to properly channel or recognize the struggles of a black lesbian woman (or any non-white person for that matter?). A little bit of cultural realitivism needs to be exhibited here. Surely, he can't walk in her shoes and understand her viewpoints. Growing up as a black person she has to deal with Western racism (for Meshell there is NO way she can escape that). Being a lesbian, she's subjected to the ills of living in a heterosexist, patriarchal society. Combined, she, coming from a place of double- (make that triple-) oppression (black, female, lesbian) is virutally rendered invisible. As an oppressed person herself, Meshell doesn't have the power or agency to oppress others in a such a construct. She is speaking as an oppressed person. Meshell and "ithurielspear" aren't on level playing fields. So his judgments in this case are myopic.




Now this is a sad way of twisting concepts. "Bitter" was a record about love. Race was not its impetus as it was in Plantation Lullabies or PBP with its combination of race, sexuality and spirituality. I sense more BITTER-ness in "music fan" -- especially with his/her racially-charged assessments of black people and their "whiney" mentality.

Clearly both of these folks are taking Meshell's lyrics at face value and are not understanding the history, sociology and pathology that encircle them.

.
[Edited 5/19/05 18:11pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Oh brother,I'm SO feeling you on this. PBP got me through a lot of sadness and depression in my life and you're so right;it's almost impossible to praise Me'shell sufficiently or adequetly.She is one of the few artists out there that make me excited about music.

One of the very best albums ever.

the topics don't offend me, personally, but i do understand why some would be offended. i also understand why someone who is not famiiar with me'shell may get the wrong impression. in my opinion, its a turn off when art beats me over the head with its message. i'm more a fan of subtlety (sp).

i love Me'shell, but the bitterness is a turn off a lot of the time. i don't begrudge her her views and opinions, and many times i love that bitter confrontation in her lyrics. but sometimes enough is enough. and much of it seems to stem from her own conflicts as an artist: doing what she wants to do her own way, to hell with commercial appeal, etc.; but also wondering "why can't i be popular?"

GrayKing said:

Okay-- I'm gonna blow that off with your not really into her - but she really has no desire to be popular only to teach those who WANT to be taught, in fact she rids herself needles things and she likes to stay on the low so she can have the freedom to say what she wants -- and even with her low key persona - her music is so powerful that she's still able to pack people into her performences - I havn't been to a bad one yet!

GrayKing said:

This is eerily close to what Madonna said.

as a white heterosexual male I get totally moved by Me'Shell's Bitter. Yes I know she's black & gay, but it is about love.....take those facts away from the music while listening to the lyrics, and you'll find out that those lyrics could apply to anyone..... Bitter & PBP are my favorites, PBP does have some strong lyrics, but I do not find them disturbing. Mary Magdalene is one of the prettiest songs.....also a song of redemption!

SassyBritches said:

I love her directness. In whatever context, she is not beating around the bush. I'm very attracted to the fact that she lays herself completely bare and exposed. But I don't at all see her beating her message over anyone's head. It's not like she's trying to convince anybody about anything she sings about, be it spiritual, racial, sexual, social.....she's just singing her truths, her convictions, her insecurities and doubts. It's kind of like watching a movie where you don't have direct contact with the actor but their performance can draw something out of you, inspire you or give you food for thought.

GrayKing said:

I don't think she's bitter. And I absolutely completely disagree with you on the commercial appeal aspect. Take her work as a whole. She has one of the most uncompromising bodies of work of any artist out there. And I don't think she gives a rats ass about being popular. If she remained an artist that put out an album every 3 years or one who played small venues for the rest of her life I think she'd honestly be fine with that.

Having seen her 4 times live and having heard her interviewed on independent radio stations, for her it's about the art, about her expression, about the connection her fans have made with her music . It aint about accolades, or applause or praise. It's about her doing what comes natural to her and the fact that people like me draw inspiration and strength from it is a bonus.

I really need to get this album
[Edited 5/20/05 12:49pm]

Janfriend said:

Get "Bitter" too, if you don't already have it.

Janfriend said:

his?

abierman said:

I think she missed a "t"

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

yes, I did

I think people who write her off as bitter & angry just can't deal w/ the truths of what she's talking about. Her music is amazing, she's incredibly talented & as much as we'd like to forget it she truly does have a right to be angry But I don't even think anger is where she's coming from a lot of the time - it's being honest, it's about her feelings, it's about observation & irony. She's too powerful & beautiful to ignore. To write her off is just fucking stupid...

CalhounSq said:

I was waitin for you to get yo azz in here

I completely agree. It's not like she's screaming "Black Power" or coasting in on a noisy ass chopper decked out in her dykes on bikes regalia. She has every right to be angry and bitter and just a flat out bitch. But she carresses injustice and pain with so much integrity that if you really listen to what she's saying you can't help but lay down your guard and learn a lesson.

When I go to her concerts the crowd is completely mixed and I know all of them aren't gay. Which means that others who do not share in her experience as someone who is black / gay / woman, those people can and do relate to her. I can't really even begin to describe the place she puts me in regarding my spirituality. She sings about redemption and betrayal, love and loss, just and the unjust. There are a handful of artists that engage me on such deep levels and she is definitely one of them. I thank God the day this woman walked into my life.

When I got to thank her I would have had to have completely fallen apart at her feet to convey the impact that her music has had on my life. She gets me thinking and feeling.....every time.

I actually feel bad that those reviews are up there. I'd so hate to think that someone would be driven away from this album because they thought it was full of venom and hate. That is just so not the truth.....

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I don't experience her music & lyrics as angry. I don't know much about her as a person, apart from being black & gay (so what?) and maybe that she had an asshole as a father. Stuff I can not relate to from personal experience. I believe she is integer in everything she does, that is what counts for me. If she wants to speak out, then I say: more power to her! She is one of the very few artists from whom I buy cd's on the release-date without having heard a single note, and she has never disappointed so far.
I had the pleasure to speak to her briefly on an aftershow-party 6 weeks ago, she is actually very nice.....and I am white & as hetero as they come....I'm also two times her size!

abierman said:

I don't know her full story or what she's been through but judging by the music it's been something deep. I mean you don't just write songs about some of the stuff she sings out of the blue. There has to be a connection. The black thing, that should be obvious. The hurdles that black Americans face....it aint cute. And it's real. Her being a woman, maybe she's experienced dramas on that angle maybe not. Dealing with being gay...of course. We all do. Many people just don't understand what it's like to be brought to the point of questioning your very existence. That is a place many of us have been. I have.

If you listen to her music about spirituality you can hear and feel how much God and her spirit means to her. She is definitely searching and I identify with that very strongly. She is a hero to me. Someone I have the utmost respect for. Someone who inspires me to reach deeper and higher. She represents her race, her gender and her sexuality with strength and maybe that does scare or intimidate some. There's nothing fake about her expression, just genuine unabashed truth, and she pours that into song, into musicianship. Her music really is far from being angry and bitter. Her honesty is compelling to me.

SweetKreme said:

I'm into her off and on. And she has said in interviews that she does look at the Britney's and the Madonna's, etc. and say "why can't I have that?" closely followed by "I don't want to be that." but this reveals that the desire for commercial acceptance is there on some level. and both sides of her statement are perfectly understandable.

GrayKing said:

Me'Shell achieved herself a position at this stage of her career that is very fortunate. She did that through hard work without giving up her integrety. Right now, she can do whatever she wants, also thanks to Madonna. No, the albums that she releases through Maverick aren't commercial successes a la Britney Spears', still she has created a fanbase that is very loyal to her. I've been to three shows of her here in Holland, and every one of them was sold out.....this woman doesn't have one minute of radio airplay on dutch radio, has not scored a single hit here. That is what I find impressive. Maverick apperently lets her do her stuff, without the pressure on the lit.

Supa, I'm with you on your last post. Obviously, because of personal experiences, we experience the music differently, and your emphasis lies in her lyrics. Like I said before, I am not a very spiritual person and I don't deal much with gay issues in life. Though I can understand that for a gay (& black) person, a lot of comfort & understanding is to be found in her music!
I've been following her career and it amazes me that she has been able to be so successful on the 'sidetrack', without having to deal with the so-called superstardom. Look at history, a lot of the jazz-greats have had a career like that. It would even been possible for Prince to have a career like that, but I think he clearly chose to have not to. Prince used to be spiritual, he was (is) an oddball.....until some point that he had to deal with the industry.
I believe it is a matter of choice, I believe Me'Shell is just not willing to give in on her integrety, which is great and I hope she stays like that!
[Edited 5/21/05 2:31am]

this is kinda getting off topic but anywho....

this is lyrics i love and agree with by ben folds

I can feel that someone's blasting me with hate,
And bass, sendin dirty vibes my way.
Coz my Great, Great, Great, Great, Grandad,
Made someone's Great, Great, Great, Great Grandaddies slaves.
It wasn't my idea, it wasn't my idea, never was my idea.

i know ben folds was joking around with this song, but i totally agree with it. dont get angry and generalise and label all white people for something there great grandads did. im not telling african americans to get over what happened to them in the past, but thats exactly what it was, in the past! yes there are still many racist white people around now, but there are just as many racist black people around, but somehow there aloud to be racist because of what they were put through. they keep saying they want blacks and whites to be equal but there never gonna get it by keep on bringing up the issue. now someone of you will get real angry and say 'why the hell should we forget that', but how else will things become equal if you's keep bringing up and reliving what happened decades ago. and like i said i know racism is still here but its no where near as bad as back in the 50's and 60's and before an thats becaue most people have started to forgive what happened to them and they realise that the white people of today arent the same as 40 years and more ago. the key is to move on and forgive or things will never be equal. and i do know what im talking about, because of my mum being white and my dad being black (well australian aboriginal) and i know if my dad was still focusing on what aboriginals were put through when white people first came to australia, my parents would never have got married, and there would be one less black and white person reconciled. i dont want hate filled responses, if you think theres a better why for blacks and whites to reconcile, then tell me!

hellomoto said:

all true....but let's just stick to Me'Shell.....

abierman said:

sorry i was just trying to explain to people about why some people (like those two reviewers) think the way they do