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The great Scottish churchman Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) once wrote that we can only “dispossess the heart of an old affection” by the “expulsive power of a new one.” In other words, temptation cannot be ultimately solved merely through an avoidance ethic, but through through a replacement ethic whereby a deeper and longer-lasting affection displaces the illicit object of our desires. Christ must become a greater treasure to us than any rival pleasure.

That’s what I think is behind the song Sirens, using the imagery of the Sirens myth, written by Dave Radford of The Gray Havens. This song will be on their new album, Fire and Stone, which releases the first week of January 2015 and which you can pre-order from iTunes.

The Gray Havens are giving away a free download of the song to Between Two Worlds blog readers, which you can access below.

And here is a new video that animator Bobby Bennett has produced to go along with the song. Lyrics can be found at the end of this post.

One taste of the sound
From the Sirens in the water
And I’m thinking I should get out
The sharpest sword and suit of armor

So I can be ready to strike
But I pause, one more time
One last taste of the sound
Then I’ll cut these Sirens down

But as they sang, I forgot
They were death, so I brought them my heart
To be filled, and I followed them

No trace could I find
Of any joy the Sirens promised
They had found a way with a lie
To turn what’s good and should be wanted

Into what is highest above, all desires and loves
’til my heart would obey
Whatever it wants whatever it takes

To feel alive and set free
Only bound to the sea
Where the sirens are leading me on

Hold on, hold on, my heart
You once were full and sang of grace
Hold on, hold on, my heart
You’ve tasted joy that’s more than this

Hold on, hold on, my heart
You once were full and sang of grace
Hold on, hold on, my heart
You’ve tasted joy that’s more than this

Fire and Stone – The Gray Havens – Copyright 2014 The Gray Havens – Lyrics by Dave Radford – Music by Dave Radford (SESAC) and Mitch Dane (Satellite Serenade, ASCAP).

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