Dear Subscribers,

We are so grateful for all of you who have subscribed! In this month's edition of the "Word Made Music" newsletter, we are excited to shine a spotlight on the song "Gratitude" by Brandon Lake. Click here to listen to the song.

Overall

Ranking System

Lyric Type: 1 Bible: Poetic - 2 Bibles: Inspirational 3 Bibles: Reflective - 4 Bibles: Spiritual - 5 Bibles: Doctrinal

Biblical Accuracy: 1 Bible: Dangerous - 2 Bibles: Questionable - 3 Bibles: Ambiguous - 4 Bibles: Biblically Sound - 5 Bibles: Word for Word Scripture

Musicality: 1 Bible: Beginner - 2 Bibles: Moderate - 3 Bibles: Advanced - 4 Bibles: Expert - 5 Bibles: Legend

In this month's issue, we delve deep into the lyrical and spiritual aspects of "Gratitude." The song's inspirational lyrics cause us to give thanks to God for His unfailing love and mercy. It’s a song that gives melody to a thankful heart.

Our analysis includes:

- Pros and cons of the songs lyrics and their alignment with the Bible.

- The theological theme of gratitude found in the song.

- The musicality behind the song and what it takes to play it well.

- Insights from the artist about the inspiration behind "Gratitude."

Lyric Type

Cons:

• The lyrics are more on the simple side and don’t offer a lot of theological meat about the character of God.

• It is self-focused which could make it more difficult for some to sing truthfully.

Pros:

• The lyrics offer many opportunities for the singer to voice their gratefulness to God.

• The lyrics are easy to memorize due to their simplicity.

Biblical Accuracy

Gratitude does not quote scripture directly, but it does contain many themes found throughout the Bible. Here is a lyrical breakdown of the song:

All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude?

• The most valuable offering we can present to God is our worship. According to Isaiah 64:6, our own righteousness is likened to filthy rags, emphasizing our dependence on God. In John 15:5, we are reminded that apart from Him, our efforts lack true significance. While we can accomplish tasks without God's direct involvement, any endeavor without Him at the core is ultimately futile and devoid of real purpose.  

I could sing these songs
As I often do
But every song must end
And You never do

• In Revelation 1:8, the Bible imparts the understanding that God is omnipotent, signifying His eternal existence—having always been and always to be. Brandon skillfully highlights the distinction between the transient elements of our earthly experiences, such as music, and the enduring nature of God.

So I throw up my hands

• This lyric might prompt questions for some individuals: Is it appropriate to raise our hands in worship to God? The act of lifting hands in prayer and blessing to God aligns with a biblical principle, as highlighted in Psalm 88:9 and Lamentations 2:19.

And praise You again and again
'Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it's not much
But I've nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah

• What does it signify when we sing "hallelujah"? In simple terms, "hallelujah" translates to "Praise the Lord." Revelation 19:1-6 reveals that, in the future, all believers will join in singing this exclamation before the Lord. Even in our present earthly existence, we have the privilege of participating in this harmonious praise, acknowledging that God reigns and is deserving of worship and adoration.

So come on, my soul
Oh, don't you get shy on me
Lift up your song
'Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord

• In the Old Testament, the term for "soul" is nephesh, encompassing the entirety of a person. Brandon's lyrics adopt a poetic plea for every aspect of our being to resound in praise to God.

  The Bible, specifically in Romans 8:11, affirms that the same spirit that dwelled in Jesus now resides within present-day believers. While it's not a literal lion dwelling in our lungs—physically implausible—Brandon metaphorically suggests that God's spirit resides within us. Genesis 49:8-12 prophesies Jesus as a powerful lion, crushing His adversaries. Brandon likely conveys this notion in his lyrics, suggesting that if the Holy Spirit, who is God, resides within us, and Jesus is God, then, by association, Jesus as the lion of Judah also dwells within us.

Theological Themes

The song "Gratitude" provides the singer with an opportunity for deep reflection on their genuine feelings of thankfulness. In the Christian journey, gratitude plays a crucial role preventing bitterness from taking root in our hearts towards the life we lead. Having a mindset of gratitude allows us to appreciate both the ordinary and extraordinary blessings bestowed upon us by God. This perspective transforms everything we receive into a perceived blessing.

When should we sing this song?

This song is most effectively performed immediately following a gospel-centric piece, such as "Jesus Paid it All" by Elvina M. Hall, "O Praise the Name" by Hillsong, or "Living Hope" by Phil Wickham. It emphasizes the profound idea that our most valuable offering to God is praise, underlining that our worship is the only genuinely commendable thing we can present to Him.

Musicality

We've assigned a moderate musicality rating to this song, mainly due to its somewhat unpredictable chord changes. The musical structure undergoes multiple shifts throughout the song. The true standout musically is the outro, where the chords are reharmonized, transitioning from a standard key to altering the 4 and 5 chords from major to minor. This imparts a captivating and hauntingly beautiful quality to the chorus and bridge.

A crucial consideration is ensuring that the song is in a vocally friendly key for the congregation during the bridge. If the key is too high, it may lead to men dropping out mid-bridge and women straining their voices at higher pitches.

It is crucial to remember that church songs are intended for collective singing. When we choose keys that are challenging for those who may not be musically inclined, we inadvertently hinder the participation of our congregation members.

Behind the Song

"Gratitude" emerged during a conversation between Brandon and a friend reflecting on the goodness of God. In the midst of their dialogue, Brandon came to the realization that nothing we possess truly matches the worthiness of God, except for our worship. The inquiry began with, "What meaningful offering can we present to God, the King?"

The song's essence lies in its sincerity, stemming from a heart committed to transparency and openness with God. Notably, despite multiple attempts at recording, the desired feel wasn't achieved. It was only when Brandon suggested trying it solo on acoustic guitar that the version we now cherish came to life.

Fresh Find:

Candace Coker

Candace Coker is a Trinidad-born Christian-folk singer/songwriter who brings an evocative blend of poetry, art and whimsy to her music. Her sound carries with it a jazzy softness and a neo-soul grit, which she attributes to her love for the 1940s, as well as her Afro-Caribbean roots.

Discovering her talent at the young age of 10, Coker began songwriting as a purely therapeutic exercise, crafting melancholy folk melodies that put sound and language to her emotions, created space for conversations with God and provided stillness for her anxious mind to rest. As she has experienced more of life, however, the themes and stylistic elements in her music also expanded to include musings on life and beauty; relational reconciliation; emotional, mental and physical healing; the character of God; and love. Her songs can be described as love notes, journal entries and translations of life with God and others.

2017 marked the year that Coker decided to pursue music professionally. Since then, she has performed many shows around Vancouver, Canada and in her hometown, Trinidad and Tobago. She has worked with award-winning film composer Daryl Bennett on several works for film including the I Am Paul Walker and Bisping Documentaries. She has also been a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Most recently, she has completed her first studio album Bare and Bones, which was released in February 2023.

Candace's mission is to bring shalom, healing and respite through her music. As she grows in life and love and faith, her songs are offered like bouquets for others to enjoy.

Share Your Thoughts

We encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences with "Gratitude." How has this song impacted your life? Do you have a favorite line or verse that resonates with you? Your feedback and testimonials are invaluable to us.

Get in Touch

If you have any feedback, suggestions, or questions about this issue or if there's a specific Christian song you'd like us to feature in a future edition, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you for being a part of the "Word Made Music" community. Together, we'll continue to explore the profound connection between music and faith.

Blessings,

Thomas Brown

Founder of Word Made Music