Spectrum GT

The lyrics of this song are taken more or less as they are written in the book of Ecclesiastes chap 12. Musically there are two variations of the song and I couldn’t decide which was better so solved the problem by posted both on the music page!

The lyrics encourage us to seek God while we are young and have both the energy and interest. The picture painted is a beautiful metaphor of the state of old age when things don’t work anymore as they once did!

I am indebted to Adam Clark’s commentary on the book for the explanations below:

Remember now your creator
In days of your youth
Before the evil years draw in and surround you
And quench desire for the truth
(Remember Him now, you never know what tomorrow will bring. When old age comes interest and energy wane so don’t say ‘I’ll wait until later’ – seek God now while He may be found! )

Before the sun, the moon and all the stars are darkened
(Speaks of the springtime and summer of your life)

And the clouds return again after the rain

(Speaks of winter and the infirmities of old age)

For in that day the watchmen tremble,
(The body is compared to a house – the keeper’s/watchmen of the house are the hands which become paralytic with old age)

Mighty men grow weak

(The legs become feeble and can’t support the weight of the body any more)

The windows all have been darkened
(The eyesight begins to fail)

And the doors in every street
Have all been shut
(The mouth and jaws no longer work, gone are the days of the juicy steaks, the most we can manage is a bowl of thin soup)

Remember Him before the silver cord is broken

(Silver cord refers to the spine and nervous system which become debilitated)

And the golden bowl lies crushed beneath its weight

(The golden bowl refers to the brain and the waning of mental activity)

The pitcher by the well has cracked
(The effects of old age on the heart and blood circulation)

The wheel no longer turns
(Refers to the aorta, diminished blood circulation and respiratory conditions of old age)

The dust returns into the earth
The spirit unto God
From whence it came

(Self explanatory!)