Dear Counting Crows

Wrote this a few years ago...




Lets go back in time to 1994. As a 16 year old I had just begun to listen to the album : "August and Everything After” by a group called Counting Crows. I was hooked. 


Having that teenage angst and melancholy , I identified myself in their music. I would often mourn with “Round Here”, rock out to “Mr. Jones” and cry out along with “A Murder of One”. 

I don’t pretend to know all of Adam Duritz’s ( lead singer and founding member) intentions in his lyrics, but I found my own. 


At some points I had an unhealthy obsession with the album, sinking further into depression as I listened to it. This makes sense I guess since , from what I understand, Adam himself suffers from depression and a “Disassociate “ disorder ( by the way , Adam, my disorder is known as “Obsessive Compulsive, and its not much fun either). The band name even comes from an English poem that talks about life being as meaningless as “counting crows” – at least this is what I’ve read. 

After a while, as my walk with God began to grow, I started to see these impassioned lyrics with the passion I had for God, for Jesus Christ. I heard cries from the songs that made me want to cry back with answers from the Bible and fulfillment in Jesus. 


The fact is that it has been on my heart to write a letter to Counting Crows ever since I was 16 and now, almost 16 years later, this might just be that letter. 

Of course at 16 I was idealistic and probably naïve ( probably still am) but the love God has for me in Jesus Christ hasn’t changed, and a love for Him still burns deep within my heart. I still want to tell Adam and his band about the Gospel. And I’ve always thought of using that epic album to do so. 

In “Round Here", Maria 


“Says shes close to understanding Jesus 
She knows shes more than just a little misunderstood 
She has trouble acting normal when shes nervous”  


Adam, band members, I’ve always wanted you to understand Jesus… since I was 16. You made a big impression on my life and I wanted to show you the impression He had made on mine… 

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3” 

You may have heard it a thousand times before but I have to throw John 3:16-17 in here.. 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world , but that the world through Him might be saved.” 

By replacing “the world” with “me”, it makes it a lot more real and personal – and still very accurate.

In Mr Jones, I hear the songwriter sing 


“We all want something beautiful 
I wish I was beautiful….. Believe in me 
Help me believe in anything 
I want to be someone who believes.” 

I wish I could describe to you how beautiful Jesus is, it would bring you to your knees in tears. Whether you believe in Him or not, He believes in you – but belief is what opens the eyes, drops the scales, and allows us to see that Beauty…. And yes, it makes us beautiful too. 

One more song reference. 


At the end of “A Murder of One” it seems your whole soul cries out to her 


“ Change, change, change….change.”      
                                                                                                 When I used to listen to that as a 16 year old, I would pray that for you. That you could , that you would, change… or rather that you would let God change you. Change and understand God’s love in Jesus Christ, what He did for you on the cross, what He will do for you with your life….I still pray this.



His kindness falls like rain....
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 

I learned that there is a big difference between searching for God and searching for God with ALL your heart. If you can truly search for Him with ALL your heart, asking only for truth – He will be found. The journey may not be easy but He will be found… with open arms. 

Well, I will sign off for now Adam and band members, old and new. I’m so glad I finally wrote this letter… I hope it is a blessing to you. Know that God’s love is no accidental love… I hope with all my heart that you find it. 

Joe