"Ugly Man"
from the 1976 album
The Gist of the Gemini
Words and Music by Gino Vannelli
Performed by Gino Vannelli

Who am I
To the rabble and the wise?
Am I just a young and
shallow face
that years erase?
Am I more than that?
Oh, do they wonder how can I
Bring the world beneath this guise?
In the silence of my languished soul
Lies a truth unknown
Oh, yes I am
I am just an ugly man
Alone

I work no day
with self deception
All that I am
is one common grain of sand
But the sun does rise
for every man alive
And how my heart is clear
'cause I have from what I do
And I do just what I am

Oh, no man is born a starless sky
'neath his naked hide
Lord, yes I am
Maybe I'm a lucky man
Inside

This song had very special significance to me when it was released in 1976, and for decades, I had considered it my overall favorite song.  Today, it has even more significance.

Although I was raised as a Christian, I didn't open my eyes until 2005.  Now as I apply the lyrics to more of my life, the questions Gino asks are even more pertinent, and the answers deeper.

I think it's interesting that Gino writes with conviction "I am just an ugly man", but writes with some doubt "Maybe I'm a lucky man".  At first glance, this may appear to be a flaw, but as I see it, it is the truth.

I am an ugly man - a sinner (even if that's not what Gino intended).  In order to receive salvation, I must acknowledge that.  But what else must I do to enter the kingdom of God?  If I do make it, it will be by the grace of God, not by anything I can or will do.  I hope I go to heaven, but I'm not sure.  I often have my doubts.  It's God's decision, and there are so many people who are better Christians than I am.  So maybe I'm a lucky man, in that I at least have a chance to meet my maker.  But maybe I won't make it.  In any case, whatever good deeds I do on this earth, I receive the rewards here, not after I die.

No matter what happens at the judgement, I am, indeed, a lucky man - blessed in countless ways, most of which I will never even recognize.

And this, I adopt as my theme song.

— Jonas Maxwell
January 5, 2010

User Comments:

Believing is only a part of the equation.  Satan believes in Him, but we've already been told that Satan will not have everlasting life.  We must do more.  We must live the life.  But even that may not be enough.  Only God knows for sure.  But here's the best part, at least for me.  I do the good deeds not because I believe it will buy me a ticket to Heaven, but because I feel the rewards today.  Heaven, I believe, is icing on the cake.  The "cake" is in knowing that I've made the right decision, the decision that would make Jesus proud of me.

You got something to say about this?  (And remember what Joan Rivers said: "If you can't say something nice, let's hear it!")

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