Commentary

While researching the seven deadly sins in Wikipedia for a different song I had in mind, I was arrested by this passage from Ecclesiastes, as it appears in the New American Bible: “Discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.”   I opened the Bible and proceeded to read Ecclesiastes with interest.  My generation brings a degree of sympathy for court jesters and the Beatles’ “Fool on the Hill.”  Fools get a bad rap, considering the wit and amusement some of them provide.  Fools and wise men alike die, as Ecclesiastes accurately observes.  But Ecclesiastes, without bringing any afterlife into it, comes down on the side of trying to live well.  Which feels right to me, just as harboring discontent feels wrong.  Growing up in the Quaker tradition of silent worship, I have been exposed to (anger swept under the rug but) relatively few sermons.   I preach to myself regularly, however, and I understand how sermons are supposed to be structured.  And this sermon of a song came rather quickly to me -- chords, melody and all.  

Pictured above: Tv screen with snow on satellite dish.

Listen

Lyrics

“Discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.”
Ecclesiastes seven, ninth part.
Yes, we all know discontent sometimes
But to let it lodge in our hearts?
As the Book says, that’s not smart.

Discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.
It unpacks old stuff and settles in.
A fool’s heart lodges discontent
Familiar but no friend
Like a swallowed pin within.

Deal with what disturbs you. Don’t be a fool.
Come to your heart’s defense.
Deal with what perturbs your heart. No need to lose your cool,
Don’t let problems take up residence.

A lodger is a guest who sticks around
Be careful whom you allow to stay.
Express what upsets you
Dislodge problems before they weigh.
Evict ‘em . . . . . . .. today

There’s no bypass for discontent
It lodges in the heart like grease
Yet dissolves when you act on feelings,
Less stroke and heart disease. . . . If you
Value inner peace.

Be slow to anger but say how you feel. You will
Suffer less heartburn when you keep it real.

Discontent lodges in the bosom of a fool.
Discontent bunks in his brow.
If to deal is just too difficult
Bust a foolish smile for us now . . . . .
Should your discontent allow.

Deal with what disturbs you. Don’t be a fool.
Come to your heart’s defense.
Deal with what perturbs your heart. No need to lose your cool,
Don’t let problems take up residence.
 Don’t let discontent take residence.