Music Mondays: Arresting Lyrics - Miscellaneous Edition

So while the previous posts in this series have been categorized by groups, early on I knew there were a bunch of singular songs that were all powerful. This is a mix of Christian and secular music that I find emotionally profound.

7. "How can I stand here with you, and not be moved by you?" - Everything, Lifehouse.

This is a line that is repeated several times as part of the chorus of this apparently slow ballad. It turns on a dime into a rock anthem at the four minute mark. It is at that point with the bridge "You're all I want, you're all I need. You're everything. Everything" that this charming lyric you'd heard over and over hits another level.

6. "If his grace is an ocean, we're all sinking." - How He Loves, David Crowder Band

Much attention was given to the mini-controversy regarding the changing of the original lyrics from "sloppy wet kiss" to "unforseen kiss". That unfortunately takes away from a genius metaphor that the original writer, John Mark McMillan, penned in this line. I'm hard pressed to think of a better description of God's matchless, infinite, amazing grace.

5.  "I am brave, I am bruised. I am who I'm meant to be. This is me." - This is me, The Greatest Showman

There are other parts of this song I could include. But after watching the vocalist "get arrested" herself by this line. I have to go with that. This song lends itself to being adopted by a whole host of people groups. I personally find it a worthy expression of how we all are made in the image of God and have inherent worth, value, and beauty.

4. "No one else in history is like you. And history itself belongs to you" - Jesus, Lover of My Soul, Passion

One of the great overlooked worship songs of this century, it has always resonated with me because of it's simple approach and honest expression of surrender. And this line is a reminder that our Savior is the Alpha and Omega, Lord of all history.

3. "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, oh take and seal it. Seal it for thy courts above." - Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

I'm pretty sure this is the first song and first line to ever "catch me" emotionally. I think that line has convicted thousands of Christians over the years because it forces us to recognize our battle with our flesh. Unless your church tradition is liturgical, confession like this is probably unusual for you to express within musical worship.

2. "There's a grace too powerful to name...Forgiveness. Can you imagine?" - "It's Quiet Uptown" - Hamilton

Ok, I'm cheating a little on this one. Early on in the song they mention "there's suffering too terrible to name", as the song (and story) progresses, there is "grace too powerful to name". And then as the Hamilton's reconcile, the Chorus singers remark - "Forgiveness. Can you imagine". Maybe I'm out in left field but ever since the first time I heard the song, I've been convinced that the grace too powerful to name actually is named - Forgiveness.

I was fully aware of the legendary status of the Hamilton play since it hit Broadway. I'm not a musical guy really so I didn't make a point to purchase super-expensive tickets 6 months in advance to go see a show in a distant city. I was aware of the basic subject matter and story. But when I finally watched it this summer, it was this narrative turn that hit me right in the feels. I won't fully spoil all the details, needless to say that there is something gloriously Christlike in the conclusion of the play. And much of it embodied by this song.  I also have to agree with the Youtube video that described this song as compelling it's audience to "ugly cry". That pretty much was my experience.

1. "And we will come back home, home again!" - From Now On - The Greatest Showman

I love this song for two reasons really. It's a rousing conclusion to a musical movie that I was surprisingly entertained by. P.T. Barnum has come to the end of his rope and realizes what is truly important.  I also like how easy it is to co-opt into a spiritual song about our hope of eternity. In a generic way, Barnum's character arc reflects the redemptive arc all Christ-followers experience both with their salvation and their daily walks. And we can all look expectantly ahead when we will be Home. I did find a few "Christianized" videos of this song literally being co-opted by youth groups and the like, which sort of makes me roll my eyes. That fact notwithstanding, I still appreciate the spiritual notes lying beneath the surface. 

Music Mondays: Arresting Lyrics

Last week, I introduced this series and kicked it off with a number of Rich Mullins' lyrics that I find startlingly profound and emotionally powerful.

There are several other artists and categories I plan to feature but as I got into organizing and arranging them all, I realized it will take a bit more thought and time than I anticipated.

So for this week, I thought I'd go with an easier one, Hillsong. I am certainly not familiar with their entire catalog and am certainly aware that they have been criticized for a number of different things. For better, or worse, this Australian-founded outfit took commercialized modern worship. They are significantly different than Mullins if you wanted to compare these back to back. But boy have they written some great songs with lyrics that really stand out.

4. "On a hill you created, Light of the world abandoned in darkness to die" - So Will I (100 Billion X)

This song is unique both for it's lack of chorus and how it seamlessly blends biblical themes from Genesis to the Gospels.

I could easily include the lines that follow "and as you speak 100 billion failures disappear. Where you lost your life so I could find it here, if you left the grave behind you so will I". Really the entire stanza always resonates with me. And the particular point it makes about Christ dying on the ground he helped create (Col. 1:15-16) - it is a perspective I hadn't considered before this song and one I will not soon forget.

3. Now this gospel truth of old, shall not kneel, shall not faint. By His blood and in His name, in His freedom I am free. For the love of Jesus Christ, who has resurrected me." - King of Kings

I originally thought of just the first line and then realized that it keeps building and building and crests with the joyous truth that all in Christ have been raised with him in glory (Rom. 6:4). This is a song about the victorious gospel and the praise of the one who has given that victory to us.

2. "Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name" - Shout to the Lord

The "original" Hillsong hit that felt like it drew you in to worship from the first time you heard it. Mountains bowing, seas roaring - what a way to convey the power of our God.

Admittedly, this song is repetitive. One verse and one chorus repeated several times. For me, it's like watching a great movie and then re-watching it a bunch more times to pick up on all the nuances and things you missed the first time. Repetition can be a weakness of modern worship music, but in this case I think it helps us better appreciate the truths contained within.

1. "You have no rival, you have no equal. Now and forever God you reign. Yours is the Kingdom, yours is the glory. Yours is the name above all names" - What a Beautiful Name

This entire verse deserves the top spot really. I especially like how they come back to this last half of the verse in the live renditions.

This may come off weird, but I think I have probably cherished this song and this verse in particular in the last couple years because of the many funerals I have had to officiate over the past 18-24 months. For me it has become a protest anthem. Death is our enemy, but it cannot hold a candle to our Lord and Savior.  What a powerful name it is!