Skip Ewing released “The Gospel According to Luke” in February 1989 as the fourth single to his debut album, The Coast of Colorado. Ewing’s collaboration with Don Sampson to compose the tune earned them a No. 10 spot on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks.
In Ewing’s performance a few years back, he explained that he and Sampson sat at a table in the Daylight Cafe in Nashville talking about how hard it is to pay bills when a homeless, old man crossed the street in front of the cafe building. So when they went back home, they started writing until they finished it a year later.
The song became one of Skip Ewing’s top-charted hits that is considered a gospel classic.
Meaning of the Song
Skip Ewing’s “The Gospel According to Luke” is about meeting a homeless man named Luke who preached the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament across the streets despite his haggard appearance, strong odor, and ragged voice. The young man in the song offers Luke breakfast, and they meet again a few days later. He saw Luke give the meager his collection while explaining that the mission of helping others was more important than his own desires.
This is a modern-day depiction of the lesson of the widow’s mite in Luke 21:1-4 and Mark 12:41-44, where an elderly widow gives her a small amount of income as an offering.
For You
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Don Sampson, Ewing’s co-writer, had the idea to name the man they saw at a cafe, Luke. Halfway through the writing process, Ewing and Sampson went over a bunch of ideas as to how they would convey the story they intended to tell.
“We have to somewhat make him a bit of a hero,” Ewing explained. “‘He’s got to kind of practice what he preaches. That’s the thing. He’s got to give to his own brothers, even from his limited means.’ And that was that. We knew where to go.”
The country singer was grateful for Sampson’s input in the song for it made the composition a blessing and a light-hearted process of exploring one’s purpose deeply. Sometimes, all you need is a hymn to do all the preaching. Meditate on your purpose as you watch Skip Ewing’s calming performance of “The Gospel According to Luke.”
