Story Behind The Song

A friend of mine whom I met while in college is gay and is very open about it. He's lived with his partner and their mothers for over 30 years and was very content and happy to live that life. Many years prior to that, he had studied to be a priest, but left feeling it wasn't for him. He still remained very involved in his church community and was still very active when New York state legalized gay marriage. He decided to marry his long time partner on that day and was subsequently thrown out of every Catholic organization he had ever been involved in. I remember speaking to him about it, expecting to be sad or maybe even a bit fearful (considering the fire and brimstone many Catholics grew up fearing) but I was struck by how confident he was, standing in the face of everything he was brought up to believe. His defiance and sureness of himself inspired this song.

Song Description

Written for a friend in his fight to be accepted a gay man in his Catholic community.

Lyrics

I stand here now a humble man,
Looking back at you.
But outside there's an unfeeling crowd,
Made of faces I knew.

Yeah, they throw their barbs and wave their books
They banish me from their arms.

But that's okay, baby, let them talk,
And into the fire we'll walk.

Yeah, into the fire we'll walk.

I stand here now the same old man,
That you always knew.
But there's hate in your eyes and I don't understand,
Just what did I do.

Yeah they close their doors and they walk away.
They spit upon my face.

But that's okay baby let them talk
And into the fire we'll walk.

Yeah into the fire we'll walk.

They say that I offend them so,
And even God above.
But I know that it can't be so
'Cause the God I know is Love

The God I know wouldn't let me go,
He'd take me by the hand.

He'd say "That's okay, son, let them talk,
And into the light you'll walk."

Yeah into the light you'll walk.