Has Bryan Ferry lost his religion?

From 1973's "Psalm" to 1982's "More Than This"

Bryan Ferry, the founder of Roxy Music and solo artist whose romantic, dreamy soundscapes have enchanted listeners for decades, started as a songwriter, he says, with a topic almost too big to include in a rock song.

On “Stranded,” Roxy’s third album and first without Brian Eno, the first side closes with an 8-minute semi-stomp called “Psalm.” And yes, Ferry wanders into writing about religion. You typically don’t see writers digging into line-by-line interpretations of a rock song that isn’t by Bob Dylan.

But Ferry is, as always, a most interesting case and an unusual lyricist. Look at some of Roxy Music’s early songs, for example. So it seemed a good time to take an in-depth look at “Psalm” and what I think is its follow up “More Than This.” See what you think about these songs.

“Psalm” opens behind a calming gospel-ly piano/organ backdrop, and Ferry sings: “Try on your love. Like a new dress. The fit and the cut. Your friends to impress.”

Bryan Ferry’s “Psalm” - a rare rock song about religion. One of the first songs he wrote.

Just trying to look the part. Good church-goer, maybe.

“Try on your smile. Square on your face. Showing affection should be no disgrace.”

True. Be affectionate with those who you can trust. Then, bam, it comes.

“Try out your God. Hope He will send kindness from strangers on whom you depend.”

Hmmmm. So we’re not alone in this world. We will need strangers to help us get through this life. Trust, again, is essential.

“Try on His coat. A mantle most fine. Myriad colors. His harmony-thine.”

You knew Bryan Ferry was going to get around to fashion, right? But he’s aiming higher, isn’t he? The coat of many colors symbolizing perhaps all that The Lord brings to you, including “His harmony” which should be “thine” IF you believe. Can you think of another rock and roll lyric with “thine” in it?

Then a great Ferry line, acknowledging a great line.

“Believe in me. Once seemed a good line. Now belief in Jesus is faith more sublime.”

Wow. Believing in Jesus — which it seems Ferry does here - “is faith more sublime.” Musically, the beat starts to pick up. The song begins a low rumble. Then, naturally, the doubt.

“Head in the clouds. But I can't see the Lord.” But he believes. And continues…

“Short of perfection, I'll try to be good. I'll stand at His gate, I'll wait for His sign. Then I'll walk in His garden when it's my time.”

So somber, so beautiful and the band is picking it up. About here, since Roxy Music at this point is a band that is full of surprises in on-stage apparel, in song choice,( “In Every Dream Home A Heartache”) say, you begin to wonder if Ferry is being ironic. Does he MEAN this?

“Drink from His cup. Hush now, don't you cry. His quiet waters will never, never run dry.”

He believes. And so, staring down the end of his time on Earth, he looks ahead.
”Nearing death's vale. He's here by my side. He leads me to paradise. A mountain so high.”

A high note, then a harmonica break. The band is swinging now.
“Don't be afraid. Just treasure His word. Singing His praises, I know that I'll be heard.”

And Andy Mackay joins in with clarinet as the stomp continues.

“He's gonna take you by the hand. He's gonna make you feel so good.
Open up your eyes. And then you'll see all that you should.”

And Bryan brings it home, dramatically…
“Forget all your troubles. You will feel no pain. He's all that you need. He's your everything
When I'm feeling all at sea, Deliverance is that distant shore. I will not be worried. Someday His house will be my home. Forever more.”

Certainly, a most unusual topic and performance. When Bob Dylan took his turn at religion, it was “You either got faith or unbelief and there ain’t no neutral ground.” Ferry didn’t go that way. With Ferry’s performance, I THINK he meant it, don’t you? With Roxy, well, they make you wonder.

Nine years later, closing out his Roxy Music run with the magnificent “Avalon” Ferry returned to that religious theme with “More Than This.” A lighted cross shows from above as the music video opens. And you wonder if Bryan has lost his faith.

Look at the title: “More Than This”? Then the lyrics: “I could feel at the time,
there was no way of knowing. Fallen leaves in the night, who can say where they're blowing?”

In other words. who’s in charge here?

“As free as the wind, hopefully learning why the sea on the tide has no way of turning.
More than this, you know there's nothing. More than this. Tell me one thing. More than this.
Ooh, there's nothing.”

No Heaven? Nothing?
“It was fun for a while. There was no way of knowing. Like a dream in the night,
who can say where we're going?”

Again, who’s in charge? Where ARE we going?
“No care in the world. Maybe I'm learning. Why the sea on the tide
has no way of turning.”

Because NOBODY’S in charge. As he concludes.

“More than this. You know there's nothing more than this.
Tell me one thing, more than this. No, there's nothing. more than this
Nothing, more than this, more than this, nothing.”

Has Bryan Ferry lost his faith? Does he really there is no Heaven, no great reward for a life well-lived? The music, like all of “Avalon” is touching, emotional, soothing, a a career summation in many ways.

Is Bryan trying to tell us to live life as broadly and beautifully as you can, for time is short and, you know, we can’t be sure that we’ll join King Arthur at “Avalon.”
But we can hope, right, Bryan?