The 77's "God Sends Quails"

This is one of the most poetic and biblical Christian songs I've run accross in a long time. This song is circa 1990 from the studio outtakes album, Sticks and Stones. What galls me most is my dear wife has seen these guys multiple times, and though they are one of my favourite bands, I have never seen them live!! AAAARGH!

Their 1988 self-titled album on Island/Exit was panned by Rolling Stone magazine as the Best Guitar Album of the year. If you love Rickenbacker 12 String a la The Byrds and smoking blues numbers The 77's are for you.

They came out of the same Sacramento scene as Charlie Peacock and Jimmy Abegg. Jimmy and the 77's drummer, Aaron Smith went on to form the Ragamuffin Band with Rich Mullins before his passing. Jimmy was also in a band called Vector that has touches of Peter Gabriel. Jimmy A's solo album Secrets remains one of my all time favourites. His first solo album which I have lost surpasses even that one in guitar virtuosity.

Enjoy these lyrics and enjoy the song if you can find it.

You fail
You try half-hearted and fail
One foot drags behind you
One foot tripping in front of you

You fail
You spit out manna, God sends quails
Dry bones pile up behind you
One more mirage right in front of you

You can't go back
You can't go back

You failed
You sunk like Jonah to the whale
Big mouths follow behind you
Still small voice swallowed up by you

You failed
You picked the right time to fail
Got your past behind you
Got your future in front of you

You can't go back
You can go on

You failed
You picked the right time to fail

Got your past behind you
Got your future in front of you

You can't go back
You can go on

You can't go back
You can go on

You can't go back
You can go on