You know, I am not a big fan of most Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) even though I know a lot of folks who are really devoted to this particular genera of music. Music is an important part of my life and I listen to music from many different genres and by different artists, but I guess that in a recent talk with a friend of mine I realized again about how crucial it is for me to think about my music and how it is affecting my life. Back to theCCM songs. If I am honest the vocal and musical style does not appeal to me many times, and so that is why I do not like some of these songs. I feel unsettled by the really “breathy” vocal style of some of the singers. Maybe I should search in the depths of my brain and specify why exactly I am not comfortable with this style but couldn’t I just leave it by saying that I think the “breathiness” really accentuates not only the importance of the message the singer is trying to convey but also something very visceral, physical about the singer. What is communicated ends up being more about the experience of the singer and less about the actually message of the song. So having said all of that I would like to introduce a song that has meant a lot to me in the last year and a half. I guess that he is my namesake or else I am his namesake. His name is Robin Mark. From what I understand, he is a man of God dedicated to the renewal of men in soul and body. Here are the lyrics to his song “Revival”.
Revival
I hear the voice of one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.
As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet,
So you love this city and you love these streets.
Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.
Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home
I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
“Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down”.
From the Preacher preaching when the well is dry
To the lost soul reaching for a higher high
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears
Every man and woman, every old and young
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home
I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
“Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down”.
Revive us, Revive us,
Revive us with your fire!
I will write more later concerning why I am affected and inspired by this song. With Rolski Polski this is Robin signing off.
January 15, 2008 at 1:02 am
i love that song. It encourages me. I’m the type of guy that tries to do everything myself. In my work moving furniture, i’m always trying to be superman. Hearing it reminds me of how God wants me to lay my burdens down to Him. And sometimes i need a reminder to allow God to have my thoughts and fears and worries and concerns. And i agree with your point about the emotion in the songs being produced by the singer of the song and sometimes it gets a little overboard.
January 15, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Robin, I love Robin Mark too. Did you know he wrote a book? It’s new. It’s called Warrior Poets of the 21st Century, and it’s a book about worship. As far as I have read, it is really, really good.
January 18, 2008 at 1:55 am
I’m not real familiar with Robin Mark’s songs, but I like “Days of Elijah”. It makes me think of mission trips I’ve been on… where I’ve heard it sung in Romanian, Spanish, and of course, English. (You should see the “mennonites” in Honduras dancing– er, I mean using creative movement– to Days of Elijah!)
You’re right, there’s definitely something not right about “breathy” singing.
One other thing: is Robin Irish, or does he just love to record his music in Ireland???
Keep writin’, Rolski, I like it!
January 18, 2008 at 3:29 pm
whoa, interesting that you’d post this on here! My dad is a huge fan of Robin Mark and we used to sing an enormous amount of those songs at our church back in England… including that one, and I sure can remember the worship leader pointing at himself then one of the lil’ kids when it came to “every old and young”. lol. That was yrs back tho, something like 7 or 8 or more… makes me feel old. I’d enjoy reading why you like it so much! And–see you all in a month n couple days! Enjoy having my dad there–make sure he doesn’t preach too long. lol.