The Wayward Sea

Derek Lind is recognised as a mainstay within NZ gospel music. Following his earliest performances in the late 1970’s he has gone on to write and record six albums. He currently resides in the bush-clad hills of Titirangi, West-Auckland, New Zealand. Derek Lind has twice won prestigious NZ Music Awards and has been a nominee for an APRA Silver Scroll.

One of the most consistently literate yet most affecting lyricists, Lind owes much to the school of Texas storytellers but also brings his own astute local observations. There’s humanity and compassion in these songs which are often deeply personal but embrace universal truths
– Graham Reid, NZ Herald

When I was a student I listened to a lot of Derek’s songs and even performed a few of them on the streets of Hamilton with my trusty Yamaha Acoustic Guitar. Many of his songs asked the questions that many of ask but never speak.  The unplugged sound and raw lyrics was the combination that many found appealing in his songs.

One of my favourite songs, A Man Like Me, asks the musical question, ‘who will come to the aid of a man like me”?  While the answer is obvious (God), the reality is that the search absolute certainty of rescue and forgiveness from the one who matters most remains a mystery to most of us.

A Man Like Me

Who Will come to the aid of a man like me?
Who will come to the aid of man of poverty?
Who will rescue this ship
from the wayward sea
who will come to the aid of a man like me?

I’ve been over drawn
I’ve been under fed
I’ve been walking this fine line
for much too long
I’ve been looking for You
in all the wrong places
I’ve been out on a limb
I’ve been over my head
I’ve been sleeping too long
in the wrong bed
I’ve been looking for You
in all the wrong faces.

So who will come to the aid of a man like me?
Who will come to the aid of a man of poverty?
Who will rescue this ship
from the wayward sea
who will come to the aid of a man like me?

– Words and Music by Derek Lind