“Music… will help dissolve your perplexities and purify your character and sensibilities, and in time of care and sorrow, will keep a fountain of joy alive in you.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
This is the first post in what is hopefully a long journey. I will be writing about music that has impacted me and may very well impact you. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.
Josh Garrels was a great find through some Spotify exploration that yielded solid folk songs and in his case as Wikipedia puts it a “nontraditional exploration of Christian themes.” I found his music in 2018, by then he had six albums out. It’s fun to find an artist with at least three albums out to see what they’ve done over the years, and it’s at that point you can really get to know an artist, at least in terms of the themes they focus on and the point of view they often take.
Many people, my own family included, have asked me how I find these bands they’ve never heard. Well I shall divulge the secret publicly; hint, it’s not a big secret. I use Spotify artist and playlist radio a lot. Quite commonly I’m content to listen to playlists I’ve curated, but I’ll go on long streaks of venturing out. That’s how my music tastes have slightly broadened and significantly deepened. My journey into indie / folk music began with a playlist. The playlist contained 6 full albums: Sigh No More, Babel, and Wilder Mind by Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers and Cleopatra by The Lumineers, and Silhouettes & Sand by Jake Scott (then Tossing Copper). I knew I thoroughly enjoyed these albums, and still do, and wanted to listen to more music like this. For the next few months, I listened to the playlist radio and as I heard songs I liked I added them to the playlist. Eventually the playlist was self-sufficient and I removed the initial material. I’ve done this a few times with a few different genres and it has yielded good results each time. This was the 23rd song to be added to that playlist, which is now sitting at a modest 76 songs for just over 5 hours. Honestly, right now I want to simultaneously add more songs to it, maybe double it, and on the other hand I want to fine tune this to the best of the best. Who knows we may have two more playlists on our hands. I currently have 8 public playlists on Spotify and if you’d like to check them out I’ve linked my Spotify account at the bottom of the article.
Alright, enough about my Spotify habits, you came to hear a good song and maybe read what I think about it. It’s always interesting to me when artists start the song with the chorus since most lyricists use the chorus as the punchy, catchy surprise after the verses. Here it’s used to put the listener in the right mindset before diving deep into the realities of this confusing life.
The first verse hits a theme in philosophy and even in the songs I’ve written about. Where Were You also features the struggle in balancing the injustice in the world. Truthfully, I don’t want to turn this political or beat a dead horse, but with all the news focused on racial injustice it’s easy to relate that to these lyrics. By no means, do I have all the answers, but I know the truth of this song, that of the gospel, is needed to work where humanity fails us. We all “go wrong”, we all sing “along to every of the song that the devil wrote like a piper at the gates.” Our humanity and our depravity is what keeps us from God and causes tensions and even hatred for our fellow man. Put simply it is what is broken in this world, why we follow the songs that lead “mice and men down to their fates.” It is the nature of being human.
A sad story for sure, but thank God it’s not the end of the story or the end of the song. I love how Garrels puts it that “There’s so much more to life than we’ve been told. It’s full of beauty that will unfold.” For after salvation that is the essence of the Christian sanctification, an unfolding beauty. He identifies that it is not without it’s trouble being “hard pressed on every side” and struggling between “rock and a compromise”, but we are not without a source of hope, unlike the first verse. We have a hope in what we’ve been shown in Christ. “Heaven filled me with more than enough” with the Holy Spirit.
He concludes the last verse with imagery of the Judgement Day, where those who were saved rejoice, while the reprobate fusses.
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
That the Son of God is forever blessed
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests
So put your voice up to the test
Sing Lord, come soon
What a great truth of Scripture, all will bow to King Jesus. Greatly joyous for the believer, but greatly dreadful for the unrepentant. He transitions into some solid application; knowing all of this, sing. Sing unto the Lord.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1
He finishes out the song with the third rendition of the chorus, and it is with all of this in mind, he can say “we’ll know all about it” or “we’ll understand why.” It would be easy to take this out of context and assume it simply means after the passing of time we’ll understand why, but often time that isn’t the case, and in no scenario at a later date will we know all about anything. Part of our understanding is filled out with the passage of time, but not on this side of glory will we get all. Nonetheless, Garrels and I can still proclaim that we should take cheer and live joyfully because Christ has saved us and reigns and regardless of what we are going through right now “we’ll understand this, all by and by.”
Justin’s Spotify
No monetization, just hope you find some music you like.
I first discovered Tow’rs back in 2017 or 2018, and while it is a toss up which of their first two albums is my favorite this is easily my favorite song of theirs. On top of their smooth instrumentality and vocals with a solid base in an indie/folk song, the lyrics are what win the day. I know you’re shocked.
Many songs have been made regarding the crucifixion of Christ and many hymns I love fall in this category, but there is something refreshing about hearing a truth from a new point of view. While this is not a perfect representation of the crucifixion a new perspective is what Tow’rs does for us in Belly of Deepest Love. The references to the cross are seen throughout, from clouds hanging low over a king and thieves to the dawn ending the power of the grave. Songs like these help me emotionally connect with truths of Scripture as they take them from the abstract and academic to the passion and feeling of music.
Hearing “the beats of hammers felt like drums of war” reminded me of what many people were saying in 2004, when The Passion of the Christ came out and many were considering the cruelty and horror that a Roman crucifixion was meant to be. The lyric reminds me of the suffering my Savior went through to glorify the Father and save sinners.
I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have. I want to not only give you my take on music, but also maybe introduce you to some along the way. I’m by no means a hipster, but I am known to wade into the lesser tested musical waters and I hope to share some of the gems I find. In the future, there is a decent chance I’ll write about more Tow’rs songs, but in the meantime I would heartily recommend Vanilla Pines, Helm, and Revere by them. Enjoy!
Lyrics:
I remember when I was young
I was fickle you were so strong
I remember trees as they called your name
Mother told me listen up close
There’s a story they have composed
Look how they’re clapping arms are a swaying high
Do you remember back on that day
When the trees swayed in the same way
How the clouds hung low over kings and thieves
How your mother stayed by your side
Watch the curtain tear in your eyes
All the heavy hearts could’ve cracked the ground
The beats of hammers felt like drums of war
Killed for the words you swore
From the belly of the deepest love,
The hills trembling throats sing hallelujah
Like the flowers on a dogwood tree
Blush with blame you took for me
Oh how you wish to be with me
Oh how you wish to be with me
Do you remember seeing the man
Covered by the same blood he damned
Join the song with the sky in the darkest hour
I need something to hold on to
Stronger than the iron that held you
Louder than the roar of the crowd that day
The beats of hammers felt like drums of war
Killed for the words you swore
From the belly of the deepest love,
The hills trembling throats sing hallelujah
Like the flowers on a dogwood tree
Blush with blame you took for me
Oh how you wish to be with me
Oh how you wish to be with me
I tried to get to you
But you came to me instead
With the dawn the grave is gone
Oh how you wish to be with me
The world today makes us look at things with a new perspective. For me opening up about my problems is hard, as it is for most. Complaining about them is easy, but sharing feelings is the challenge. We have a hard time opening up about the rough things going on deep inside and too rarely slow down enough to process them, as pushing through and staying too busy is much easier. However, COVID-19 hit the brakes on our busyness and forced many of us to deal with we had ignored. It reminds me of the chorus of The Run and Go from the album Vessel. Sometimes we fear sharing, but we are afraid of being alone more.
Don’t wanna call you in the nighttime
Don’t wanna give you all my pieces
Don’t wanna hand you all my trouble
Don’t wanna give you all my demons
You’ll have to watch me struggle
From several rooms away
But tonight I’ll need you to stay
The Run and Go – Twenty One Pilots
We were created for community, and during a time of isolation, it feels we are being cut off from those we love and miss dearly, and I know for me that doesn’t help opening up. As the closing seconds of the music video reveal, we are not that far off from one another, and even in a time of online-only communication, reaching out is key. Now that we are on our way out of quarantine, restrictions are lifting, and we are beginning seeing more of our loved ones, let’s not forget what this time has shown us. We need each other, and more often than not, we don’t share what’s in our hearts. Text your dad back, call your mom and grandma, send that hilarious meme to a friend you haven’t talked to in a while, and have that late night conversation where you nearly end it 20 times, but it’s just too good to end. Show that you care and let yourself be cared for. Make an impact in someone’s life today.
Similarly, Twenty One Pilots music has made a big impact on my life. I have listened to Twenty One Pilots since shortly after the release of Vessel, their first album with Fueled by Ramen, back in 2013. I even saw them at a music festival on my 21st birthday and made my way to a front row spot. I was able to see them once more in 2015 at a music venue and the joy of singing along with a couple hundred kindred strangers and a long time friend to song we all knew backwards and forwards is a special memory for me. They are easily one of my top five favorite artists, but enough about my love in a generic sense.
On April 9th, they released a single with the most positive feedback to date, if ever. Level of Concern touches a pain that the entire world is feeling as we are restricted in what we can do and where we can go than many of us ever have felt before. This puts into words many of the struggles we endure with much uncertainty. The sense of relief hearing another human say or sing of the troubles we have faced or are currently facing is one of the most reassuring things on this earth. I believe this is one of the reasons we love music. Artists have a poetic way of emoting what we feel because it is what they have felt. Often I feel as though I could have never put it that eloquently, and we relish the beauty of their words, but it is the heart and soul poured out in the lyrics we relate to most deeply. To know our troubles are not only ours, but others have faced them and survived them helps us to realize and internalize the truth that we too can make it through if we put our trust where it belongs.
In this song, Tyler Joseph says his level of concern can be reduced by the assurances of others. Sometimes that is what we need, to be reminded that our circumstances do not determine everything, but reminded we will be okay. The problem is, those reassuring us do not have the power to ensure that everything will be okay. This is where our faith and assurance has to be founded on something greater than ourselves, something greater than our friends, and something greater than our family. Our faith has to be in God, the God of the Bible, for only He is wise enough, only He is strong enough to handle the events of today and tomorrow such that we have something to be sure of. He is worthy!
I have been reflecting on this song for the last few days also known as listening to it twenty or so times. The lyrics of the song (below) have impacted me in three distinct, but not unrelated ways. The first section is from the point of view of Job, who had been through incredible trials and temptations. He not only lost all of his wealth, but also all of his children. Coming to the Lord with questions is a good, but must be done from a position of humility and without demands as we are completely dependent beings, regardless of how we think of ourselves. Although, this truth is Biblical it does not make it easier to live out, on the contrary it is that much more difficult as we are human and even the redeemed have to wage war against our flesh. Recently, I’ve had a hard time understanding why. Why after my most recent breakup has it been hard to return to a season of happiness. Much time has passed and the hurt feelings have been dealt with, but I still struggle. I think I should be happier, I’m no longer consistently dealing with the residue of the breakup, but sadness comes knocking and I ask, “Why? What good is this accomplishing? What am I supposed to be learning from this? When will this be over? Why? Why? Why?”
After months of this, I listened to Where Were You by Ghost Ship. I remember the lyric “loose the cords of Orion” catching my attention as I worked and had music in the background and I replayed it with more attentiveness.The first section hit me like a ton of bricks. This is what I had been feeling. This was the cry of my heart. I knew Job’s troubles were far greater than mine had ever approached but there was a kindred spirit. Inquiring of God why do we struggle? I thought of the world around me. This is the most common of objections to a loving god’s existence, if there is a loving god, how is there evil and suffering in the world, which I will likely address in a future post, but that is what makes the intro to this song so invocative. This is what drew me to listen to this song on repeat, and it asks a question central to our humanity.
Following this question, we have God’s response,and what a miracle that is. It is not something we commonly experience. He speaks to His own incredible power on display in creating and sustaining the universe. While this may seem like a long list of God flexing his muscles, the account in Job is much longer from Job 38-41. The songs dives into much of Job 38 in a beautiful way using the words of Scripture itself, but after a couple of days I realized something incredible: the words God spoke out of the whirlwind to Job are reasonable evidences of monotheism in an era of human civilization where polytheism was common if not dominant. I’m not saying Job was or was borderline polytheistic, nor am I saying this is definitive proof to Job of monotheism, but if you look at what God asks Job if he can control anything on God’s list, many of these were the domain of many classic gods in polytheism.
God commands the sun (Job 38:12), which in Egyptian mythology is the domain of Ra. We see He was responsible for the ocean and limits of waves (Job 38:11), the domain of Poseidon/Neptune in Greek/Roman mythology. Even the lyric about feeding lions (Job 38:39-41) would have been the responsibility of Artemis/Diana. Furthermore, we see He not only has control of the Earth and what is therein, but weather and even space in the lyric about Orion. Job 38:31-32 not only mentions Orion, but other constellations like the Pleiades, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.
My only negative critique of the song, lyrically, would be in the final line. The idea that God kneels down to meet us is not wrong or unbiblical; however, the chapter starts with God speaking to Job out of a whirlwind. As I’ve said, God speaking to us at all is a gift, and in that way God humbles himself in speaking to broken humans, but I feel like there is some tension between the opening of Job 38 and the lyric “God knelt”. In my opinion, “came down” would be a better choice of words as this is the holy Word of God we are dealing with and it should be represented as accurately as possible. Now back to how this song is fantastic.
After all this, even without his questions being directly answered, Job humbles himself and declares his own ignorance, pride, lack of rights, and the mercy of God (Job 40:3-5). These last four lines of the song have been a blessing to reflect on. Especially in times when we cannot see our way out and the darkness closes in and we ask, “Why?” we need to remember all that God has done, is doing, and will do, admit our ignorance, pride, lack of right or control, and remember the mercy of God. Too often we speak of things we do not understand, but God will mercifully answer his children as a Father. It may not be the answers we want or even expect and may not answer our questions directly, but hearing from God is always a blessing.
How do we hear from God? Unlike Job, God probably won’t speak through a whirlwind, but through the Bible.
Lyrics:
I said God I do not understand this world
Everything is dying and broken
Why do I see nothing but suffering
God I’m asking could this be Your plan
Sin has taken hold of this whole land
Will You not say anything else to me?
He said where were you the day that I measured
Sunk the banks and stretched the line over
All the earth and carved out its corner stone?
Where were you the day that I spoke and
Told the sun to split the night open
Called the morning dawn with its light to show
Who shut in the ocean with stone doors
Marked the reach of tides on those new shores
Hung the day the waves rose and first broke forth
Have you seen the springs of that great sea
Walked the caverns carved in the black deep
Through the gates of darkness there on its floor
Have you seen the armory I hold
Snow and hail are stacked up in silos
For the times of trouble and war and strife
Can you raise your voice to the storm cloud
Would the thunder answer and ring out
Does the lightning ask you where it should strike
Who has cleft the channels for torrents
Rain to sprout the desert with forest
In the wilderness that my hand has built
Can you hunt the prey for young lions
Can you loose the Orion – Job 38:31
Is this whole world bending beneath your will?
I spoke of things I did not understand
Things too wonderful form – Job 42:3
Although I had no right to ask
My God knelt and answered me
Song: Where Were You
Artist: Ghost Ship
Album: The Good King
Record: ToothandNailRecords (on behalf of BEC Recordings); BMI – Broadcast Music Inc., ASCAP, and 2 Music Rights Societies
So you may be wondering, Justin, “Why start this now? Why about music? Where are you going with this?” I hope to answer those questions, pose many more, and answer a few of them along this journey we have begun. I love music as many of us do. Spotify informed me I had listed to music for 39,807 minutes or 7.5% of 2019 (nearly 28 days). While I’m no expert, I hope for the opportunity to share my insights in to music, lyrics, and how they’ve impacted me, because that is just simply what music does. Impacts us in ways other things can’t.
Much of my content will be based around the lyrics themselves as they are the core of any song for me, but don’t get me wrong I love a good base line as much as the next guy, and don’t even get me started on an unexpected instrument included in a well-established band.
haveyouheard
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