SONGS THAT GIVE MY SOUL WINGS (PART III)

“Living Large on an Oasis of Paradise Amidst a Desert of Squalor”

By Akin Ojumu

The first installment of the “Songs that Give My Soul Wings” commentary series was published seven years ago, on May 28, 2019. In that write-up, I spoke about how, as an unbeliever, I resisted the effectual call of God to salvation. You see, as an unbeliever, I did not consider myself a bad person. In fact, as far as I was concerned, I was a model citizen compared to people around me.

I was a highly self-disciplined teenager and young adult with very firm moral principles. Even as an unbeliever, I had an uncharacteristically unyielding self-control. The typical vices that plagued and ensnared youths my age were a no-no for me. I refused to be peer pressured into indulging in alcohol consumption. Likewise, cigarette smoking was a habit that didn’t quite catch my fancy. Back in those days, which still is today, to imbibe in alcohol and to engage in chain smoking were to look cool. But to me, even then, they looked foolish. Although I certainly wasn’t gay, I kept the ladies at bay, and chasing after girls was not my thing at all.

Of all the worldly pleasures that would keep a man from the Lord, the ones that had me on a short leash was my love for fictional novels and passion for secular music. Those two got my number pretty good.

But, ultimately, the grace of God is irresistible. His saving grace is so powerful and compelling, it effectively overcame my natural resistance. By His mercies, I eventually succumbed to the call of God, and I freely and joyfully turned to Christ and surrendered to Him in faith as my Lord and Savior.

From the moment God saved me, the allure of stirring secular music and the appeal of fictional novels disappeared. I simply lost my taste for them. Immediately, I gave away my collection of BASF chrome tapes and disposed of my library of James Hadley Chase, Nick Carter, Leon Uris, Frederick Forsyth, Robert Ludlum, Sidney Sheldon, Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, etc. Instead, I immersed myself in stirring Gospel music and buried myself in edifying Christian novels, which were never in short supply.

Even though I no longer dabble in or enjoy secular music, it’s impossible not to come across those secular songs I used to love back in my days as an unbeliever, given the social media algorithm. While some of these songs were truly despicable and totally unsuitable for consumption. There are still a few of them that continue to tug at my emotions even to this day when I listen to them. These are songs with uplifting lyrics that have an underlying Christian theme. Characteristically, these songs tend to address the depravity of the human soul and the widespread ills and injustices that exist in societies.

One of such songs is “Another Day in Paradise,”  written by Phil Collins, a British singer, drummer, songwriter, producer, and actor, to expose the harsh reality of the homelessness crisis and the heavy social apathy surrounding it. Released in 1989, the song is one of the most socially conscious pop songs of the decade.

Phil Collins wrote the track (initially under the working title “Homeless”) after witnessing the reality of homelessness firsthand. During his travels, he was deeply struck by the stark contrast of individuals lacking adequate shelter living just within viewing distance of the homes and offices of the rich and powerful in capital cities of wealthy nations around the world.

For example, on one of his visits to Washington, D.C., Collins was deeply shocked and unsettled by the massive economic divide he saw. Starring him in the face was an extraordinary contradiction: a vast number of people living in boxes, lacking shelter, right within viewing distance of Capitol Hill, where the Congress of the United States is located. Collins recalled encounters with homeless families, including one instance when a mother with two children begged him for alms.  

Rather than attacking absolute cruelty or preaching a specific political solution, “Another Day in Paradise” is a confession of some sort by Collins. The lyrics explore his own indifference and personal awkwardness when confronted with poverty. Collins reflected that when he first encountered the homeless woman and her children, he felt awkward and initially walked right past them, realizing he was reacting exactly the same way as everyone else.

Because of the song's massive success – topping the Billboard Hot 100 and winning the 1991 Grammy Award for Record of the Year – Collins faced sharp criticism. His detractors accused him of hypocrisy, questioning how a multi-millionaire musician living a lavish lifestyle could preach about the plight of the impoverished.

Collins firmly defended his perspective, arguing that having money does not make a person blind to human suffering. He backed up his message with direct action by heavily supporting homeless charities, frequently collecting donations from fans at his shows and matching the totals out of his own pocket. 

In order words, Phil Collins did what most people do in such circumstances. He engaged in what Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354–430) described as “splendid vices.”

St. Augustine’s concept of splendida peccata (splendid vices) argues that without a divine foundation and love for God, even the most noble, heroic acts are ultimately self-serving and driven by pride. The phrase “our best virtues are at best splendid vices” reflects St. Augustine’s idea that human actions appearing virtuous, especially in pagans, are actually “splendid sins” (splendida peccata) because they are motivated by self-love, pride, or a desire for worldly glory, not by love for God, making them ultimately flawed or incomplete. This thought suggests that true virtue requires a divine foundation, otherwise, even noble acts are just impressive displays of ego, a critique that later influenced both religious and secular ethics.

The song, “Another Day in Paradise,” highlights how people, especially the rich and powerful, often turn blind eyes on human suffering, pretending it doesn’t exist. They love nothing more than to mask the harsh realities of the impoverished and vulnerable. 

Phil Collins’ “Another Day in Paradise” is a perfect illustration of the cruel and predatory nature that characterize the relationship that exists between the Nigerian masses and the political overlords who rule over them. Impoverished Nigerians live under collapsing bridges, inside cardboard shelters, and rummage through refuse dumps for their daily sustenance, all within the viewing distance of the fortresses of Aso Rock and other massive government complexes around the country.

While the rich and powerful occupants of the oasis of paradise in Nigeria revel in their opulent lifestyles with careless abandon, they are totally oblivious to the desert of misery around them. Not only do they pretend that there’s no insecurity and suffering, but they even sing to themselves, “Everything is getting better,” just to reinforce their alternate reality.

Anyways, there it is. I hope “Another Day in Paradise” gives your soul wings that propel you to positive action.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

She calls out to the man on the street

“Sir, can you help me?

It’s cold and I’ve nowhere to sleep

Is there somewhere you can tell me?"

He walks on, doesn’t look back

He pretends he can’t hear her

Starts to whistle as he crosses the street

Seems embarrassed to be there

[Chorus]

Oh, think twice

‘Cause it’s another day

For you and me in paradise

Oh, think twice

‘Cause it's another day for you

You and me in paradise

[Post-Chorus]

Think about it

[Verse 2]

She calls out to the man on the street

He can see she’s been crying

She’s got blisters on the soles of her feet

She can’t walk, but she’s trying

[Chorus]

Oh, think twice

‘Cause it’s another day

For you and me in paradise

Oh, think twice

It’s just another day for you

You and me in paradise

[Post-Chorus]

Just think about it

[Bridge]

Oh, Lord

Is there nothing more anybody can do?

Oh, Lord

There must be something You can say

[Verse 3]

You can tell from the lines on her face

You can see that she’s been there

Probably been moved on from every place

‘Cause she didn’t fit in there

[Chorus]

Oh, think twice

‘Cause it’s another day

For you and me in paradise

Oh, think twice

It’s just another day for you

You and me in paradise

[Post-Chorus]

Just think about it

Mhm, think about it

[Outro]

It’s just another day

For you and me in paradise

It’s just another day

For you and me in paradise (Para…paradise)

Paradise (It’s just another day for you and me)

Uh, just think about it (In paradise)

Paradise (It’s just another day for you and me)

Just think about it (In paradise, para…paradise)

It’s just in paradise (It’s just another day for you and me)

Mhm, paradise (In paradise)

Paradise, just another day (It’s just another day for you and me)

Think about it (In paradise, para…paradise)

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Disclaimer: This write-up borrowed heavily from information provided by Google AI.