Isaiah 45:23

Isaiah 45:23
Album	The Life of the World to Come
Released	2009
Artist	the Mountain Goats
Length	3:38
Previous Track	"Deuteronomy 2:10"
Next Track	"Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace"

Isaiah 45:23 is the 11th song on the album The Life of the World to Come.

Bible Verse

By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. ^{NIV Translation}

Lyrics

If my prayer be not humble make it so
In these last hours if the Spirit waits in check help me let it go
And should my suffering double let me never love You less
Let every knee be bent, and every tongue confess

And I won't get better but someday I'll be free
'Cause I am not this body that imprisons me

I read the magazines somebody brought
Hold them to my failing eyes until my hands get hot
And when the nurse comes in to change my sheets and clothes
The pain begins to travel, dancing as it goes

And I won't get better but someday I'll be free
'Cause I am not this body that imprisons me

If my prayer goes unanswered that's alright
If my path fills with darkness and there is no sign of light
Let me praise You for the good times, let me hold Your banner high
Until the hills are flattened and the rivers all run dry

And I won't get better but someday I'll be free
'Cause I am not this body that imprisons me

Comments by John Darnielle About this Song

• "We continue on the general theme of difficult relationships with one's physical body, a fertile theme for those of us who have difficult relationships with our physical bodies." -- 2009-11-27 - 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
• "This is about chronic illness." -- 2009-12-02 - Bell House - Brooklyn, NY

Live Shows this Song Was Played at

• 2009-10-13 - Point Ephemere - Paris, France
• 2009-11-04 - Ladies Literary Club - Calvin College - Grand Rapids, MI
• 2009-11-06 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
• 2009-11-07 - Minnesota Public Radio Session - St. Paul, MN
• 2009-11-07 - Cedar Cultural Centre - Minneapolis, MN
• 2009-11-10 - The Showbox - Seattle, WA
• 2009-11-11 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR
• 2009-11-14 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
• 2009-11-15 - Henry Fonda Theater - Los Angeles, CA
• 2009-11-18 - Antones - Austin, TX
• 2009-11-19 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
• 2009-11-27 - 9:30 Club - Washington, D.C.
• 2009-11-29 - Wilbur Theatre - Boston, MA
• 2009-12-02 - Bell House - Brooklyn, NY
• 2010-04-13 - Manning Bar - Sydney, Australia
• 2010-04-18 - The Rosemount Hotel - Perth, Australia
• 2010-06-01 - Dinner with the Band - Brooklyn, NY
• 2010-11-12 - Chapman University's Memorial Hall - Orange County, CA
• 2011-07-13 - 1982 Bar - Gainesville, FL
• 2012-04-02 - The Barbican - London, England
• 2012-06-27 - Swedish American Hall - San Francisco, CA
• 2012-10-09 - The National - Richmond, VA
• 2014-02-28 - Rangos Ballroom - Carnegie Mellon University - Pittsburgh, PA
• 2014-04-15 - Pearl Street Ballroom - Northampton, MA
• 2014-04-16 - Somerville Theatre - Somerville, MA
• 2014-04-17 - Club Helsinki - Hudson, NY
• 2014-04-19 - Old Town School of Folk Music - Chicago, IL
• 2014-04-21 - Scope Productions Presents First United Methodist Church - Iowa City, IA
• 2014-05-02 - Kresge Recital Hall - Knox College - Galesburg, IL
• 2014-06-07 - Kilby Court - Salt Lake City, UT
• 2014-06-10 - The Showbox - Seattle, WA
• 2014-06-27 - Boys Rock for Girls Rock - Haw River Ballroom - Saxapahaw, NC
• 2015-04-17 - Majestic Theatre - Detroit, MI
• 2015-05-29 - KEXP Session - Alaska Junction - Seattle, WA
• 2016-03-01 - The Depot - Humboldt State University - Arcata, CA
• 2016-04-06 - Asbury Hall - Buffalo, NY
• 2016-05-12 - The Pinhook - Durham, NC
• 2016-09-18 - Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD
• 2016-09-19 - The National - Richmond, VA
• 2016-09-20 - Jefferson Theater - Charlottesville, VA
• 2016-09-22 - Buskirk-Chumley Theatre - Bloomington, IN
• 2016-09-23 - Castle Theatre - Bloomington, IL
• 2016-09-26 - The Englert Theatre - Iowa City, IA
• 2016-09-28 - Majestic Theater - Madison, WI
• 2016-09-30 - The Waiting Room - Omaha, NE
• 2016-10-02 - The Blue Note - Columbia, MO
• 2016-10-03 - Codfish Hollow Barnstormers - Maquoketa, IA
• 2016-10-25 - eTown Hall - Boulder, CO
• 2016-12-03 - The Pinhook - Durham, NC
• 2016-12-05 - Cat's Cradle - Carrboro, NC

Videos of this Song

• 2009-11-06 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
• 2009-11-10 - The Showbox - Seattle, WA
• 2009-11-14 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
• 2010-06-01 - Dinner with the Band - Brooklyn, NY
• 2014-04-16 - Somerville Theatre - Somerville, MA
• 2015-04-17 - Majestic Theatre - Detroit, MI

The Life of the World to Come
Track list: "1 Samuel 15:23" • "Psalms 40:2" • "Genesis 3:23" • "Philippians 3:20-21" • "Hebrews 11:40" • "Genesis 30:3" • "Romans 10:9 " • "1 John 4:16" • "Matthew 25:21" • "Deuteronomy 2:10" • "Isaiah 45:23" • "Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace" Bonus tracks: "Enoch 18:14" • "Proverbs 6:27" The Life of the World in Flux: "Daniel 12:8 (third)" • "Matthew 11:14-19"