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Anger by Marvin Gaye Anger gets the best of me I have lost my head I often say a lot of things, wish I had not said, oh baby When reason gets beyond control things I do for spite Makes me ashamed on my knees help me do things right Somehow, someday soon I hope and pray soon reach a wiser age Then I never profit baby Oh yeah, things I do in rage Anger is a flame when it's flaming hot it burns to a bitter end When it cools I find out much too late I have lost at love, my friend I don't know why I ever let you unlock the lever in me babe why don't we use love peace and happiness cuz we control the key God made us for a reason Oh let me be what I'm supposed to be Rage! no room for rage in there there's no room for rage in here There is some place to go to be mad It's a sin to treat your body bad When anger gets the best of us I have really lost my head I often say a lof of things, oh darlin' I wish I never never said When reason gets beyond control things I do for spite Makes me shamed on my knees, never help me do things right Somehow, someday soon I hope and pray, oh Jesus I'll reach that wiser age And I never ever profit baby from my anger - things I do in rage Anger oh anger When it's flaming hot burns to a bitter end know what I'm talking bout When it cools I find out too late I have lost at love, love love dear friend I ain't gonna let you get the best of me, babe I'm gonna go somewhere and cool This is not the way my head's supposed to be, babe You've got me feelin' like some silly fool But I know a real nice place where I can go And feel the way I'm supposed to feel I don't want to be mad at nobody I don't want to be feelin' bad Up and down my back, my spine, in my brain It injures me, babe Anger, can make you old, yes it can I said anger will make you sick, children, Anger destroys your soul. Anger anger anger anger anger |
This powerful song, "Anger," was introduced to me by a deeply spiritual man who sells day-making fresh juices at the corner of Ursuline and Broad; his entire being radiates a commitment to maintaining his body, mind, spirit, and the small ecosystem over which he has control, free of anger.
Marvin Gaye made this album as he divorced his wife Anna Gordy, the older sister of Barry Gordy. Apparently he began the project intending it to be of little consequence both personally and artistically since he had agreed that a significant amount of the proceeds would go to her in the divorce settlement.
On the album cover, the battle is rendered by a male hand on the left passing a broken record to a female hand; the male side of the Monopoly board umbrellas the elements of his talent. On the right side a female hand grabs for what she wants: cars, money, houses, property. Hence the album is called, "Here, my dear." 
Instead, the album turned into a vehicle for hm to process their entire experience as a couple from falling in love, manifested by the Rodin sculpture of "the Kiss" to bitter divorce symbolized by the burning, crumbling construction. What had seemed so solid, is falling down.
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The Big Book pages 64 and 66
"Resentment is the “number one’’ offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick.
When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. In dealing with resentments, we set them on paper. We listed people, institutions or principles with whom we were angry. We asked ourselves why we were angry..."
It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while. But with the alco holic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is in finitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.
If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcohol ics these things are poison.
Matthew 5:21-26
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Both the Big Book and the Bible, like Marvin, attest to the truth that anger or resentment without the self-examination, release, and amends (Steps 4-9) can be a terrible, destructive force. In the 12 Steps, the Big Book offers precise directions for getting free of anger which is sometimes described as acid that eats the container. In the Bible, Jesus offers a process, too. For those of us who believe the Big Book is divinely inspired, God included more detail, more precision as to how to get free prior to approaching those with whom we have been angry. Maybe if Marvin had had access to that simple kit of spiritual tools, his life might have had a different ending.
"Resentment is the “number one’’ offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick.
When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically. In dealing with resentments, we set them on paper. We listed people, institutions or principles with whom we were angry. We asked ourselves why we were angry..."
It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness. To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worth while. But with the alco holic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual experience, this business of resentment is in finitely grave. We found that it is fatal. For when harboring such feelings we shut ourselves off from the sunlight of the Spirit. The insanity of alcohol returns and we drink again. And with us, to drink is to die.
If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal men, but for alcohol ics these things are poison.
Matthew 5:21-26
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Both the Big Book and the Bible, like Marvin, attest to the truth that anger or resentment without the self-examination, release, and amends (Steps 4-9) can be a terrible, destructive force. In the 12 Steps, the Big Book offers precise directions for getting free of anger which is sometimes described as acid that eats the container. In the Bible, Jesus offers a process, too. For those of us who believe the Big Book is divinely inspired, God included more detail, more precision as to how to get free prior to approaching those with whom we have been angry. Maybe if Marvin had had access to that simple kit of spiritual tools, his life might have had a different ending.