Religious Rock Top Ten: I’m Scared (#1)
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86875)
United States
December 1, 2022 11:49am CST
Welcome December! And as JJ says, just 25 more days until Christmas is over for another year. 
Bah humbug! 
I’m celebrating the religious nature of the season with these hits that have a religious theme in the lyrics. Some were big hits, and some, like this one, weren’t. Closing out this countdown is my favorite rock song with a faith message.
#1: I’m Scared - Burton Cummings
You may have been there. I have. Want to know the day? July 25, 1995. I had just left the doctor after an ultrasound, and they told me they found “something” on one of my ovaries.
I’m scared. Sometimes it’s the only prayer you can utter in a situation like that. I was scared. Believe me. God is faithful, and by the time I got home I had peace.
In Burton Cummings’ case, the song is very straightforward. He was in a time of personal crisis while on tour with the Guess Who in New York. So, “on a dark and stormy winter afternoon,” Cummings walked into St. Thomas Episcopal Church, “searching for truth that I never found.” According to this song, he found it.
I think the best thing about this song is that Cummings is smart enough to disassociate God and “religion.” “Never been much on religion,” he sings. Religion doesn’t have a monopoly on God, and I think that’s the highlight of this song.
Thanks for reading.
I’m Scared
Written by Burton Cummings
Recorded by Burton Cummings
From Burton Cummings, 1976
Something in the air was oh so rare:
Bah humbug! I’m celebrating the religious nature of the season with these hits that have a religious theme in the lyrics. Some were big hits, and some, like this one, weren’t. Closing out this countdown is my favorite rock song with a faith message.
#1: I’m Scared - Burton Cummings
You may have been there. I have. Want to know the day? July 25, 1995. I had just left the doctor after an ultrasound, and they told me they found “something” on one of my ovaries.
I’m scared. Sometimes it’s the only prayer you can utter in a situation like that. I was scared. Believe me. God is faithful, and by the time I got home I had peace.
In Burton Cummings’ case, the song is very straightforward. He was in a time of personal crisis while on tour with the Guess Who in New York. So, “on a dark and stormy winter afternoon,” Cummings walked into St. Thomas Episcopal Church, “searching for truth that I never found.” According to this song, he found it.
I think the best thing about this song is that Cummings is smart enough to disassociate God and “religion.” “Never been much on religion,” he sings. Religion doesn’t have a monopoly on God, and I think that’s the highlight of this song.
Thanks for reading.
I’m Scared
Written by Burton Cummings
Recorded by Burton Cummings
From Burton Cummings, 1976
Something in the air was oh so rare:
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10 people like this
12 responses
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
2 Dec 22
What a wonderful artist.
I am so glad that whatever they found did not kill you
God is good my friend.
God is good my friend.2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
3 Dec 22
@FourWalls Yes He is praise God. You were blessed. A good doc too. Hope it does not cause you pain now does it?
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
3 Dec 22
@RebeccasFarm — oh, no, snip it and forget it. It was great to get rid of the “monthly miseries,” because I had some NASTY PMS. And I had menopause while I was young enough to deal with it.
It was great to get rid of the “monthly miseries,” because I had some NASTY PMS. And I had menopause while I was young enough to deal with it. 2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
3 Dec 22
It was a cystic tumor, and my doctor was very conservative and checked me for three years to make sure it was nothing but a cystic tumor.
God is great!!!!!!
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
2 Dec 22
This one doesn't ring a bell at all. I'm sorry about your scare; and I'm so glad you're still with us!!!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
2 Dec 22
It turned out to be a blessing…I got a hysterectomy and threw away the “monthly miseries.”
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
2 Dec 22
@FourWalls I'm just glad you are OK now. I can't imagine a world without Four Walls!!!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
2 Dec 22
I would certainly hope so, given Burton’s standing as one of the great Canadian singer/songwriters!!! 
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
3 Dec 22
You’ll get no argument from me. (Obviously, because it’s at the top of my list. )
)2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
1 Dec 22
American woman, stay away from me with that “nope”!
BTW, all your food posts prompted me to buy a Crockpot. You and Coral. I blame you both.
BTW, all your food posts prompted me to buy a Crockpot. You and Coral. I blame you both. 3 people like this
@NJChicaa (127180)
• United States
1 Dec 22
@FourWalls You can't blame me for a CrockPot. If you bought an Instant Pot, THAT you could blame me for!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
1 Dec 22
@NJChicaa — okay. I’m retired, so I’m not in a hurry. No instant pot for me.
3 people like this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
1 Dec 22
What a story. Glad you found the words to get you through. Not familiar with this one. I really like his voice. I did recognize These Eyes from his piano in the beginning. My sister was a big Who fan, and then I became one as well.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
2 Dec 22
Burton’s vocal range in “Stand Tall” is amazing….goes from whispering the verses (“never been this blue, never knew the meaning of a heartache”) to belting out the chorus.
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2 people like this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
2 Dec 22
@FourWalls Amazing for sure. Wow!
2 people like this
@popciclecold (40214)
• United States
1 Dec 22
@FourWalls, you got me sitting up here with tears in my eyes. I love that song, and know exactly how he felt. GOOD Share.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
1 Dec 22
It’s been 45 years since I first heard this (the follow-up to “Stand Tall”) and it still gives me goosebumps.
There’s a video on You Tube kinda long (about 15 minutes), where Burton goes back to St. Thomas with a cameraman, explaining how he wrote the song. It’s amazing. He’s very respectful while there, and it’s quite obvious that he had a special experience there.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25797)
• United States
4 Dec 22
A song on the country side by the great Kris Kristofferson gives me the same feeling "I'm Scared" does. You can probably guess which one.
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@RasmaSandra (98129)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
1 Dec 22
Nope to both the singer and the song. This one passed me by,
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
2 Dec 22
Burton was the lead singer and primary songwriter for the Guess Who, and he had a big hit with “Stand Tall” in 1976. This was the follow-up and, while it made the top 40 it was nowhere near the hit that “Stand Tall” was.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (91169)
• United States
2 Dec 22
Can't say I ever heard this song before but I love it. Can certainly relate to being "scared" a few times.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
2 Dec 22
I love this song so much more than “Stand Tall” (and I think that is a great song). The two songs do kind of go together, with “Stand Tall” having that line about “all you’re feeling right now is silly human fright.” Glad you enjoyed it!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86875)
• United States
2 Dec 22
Personal songs do tend to make the best ones. Like he said in the introduction in that video, they are the most rewarding.
2 people like this
