Few Contemporary Christian songs manage to make me cry on the first listen. Mandisa’s “Andrew’s Song (You Wouldn’t Cry For Me” is one such song; Matthew West’s “One Last Christmas” is another. Now, I’m bawling like a baby here in my son’s room, him sleeping beside me, as I listen to Contemporary Christian pop-rock band Echoing Angels’ new single, Give You Peace.
Written by band members Trey Heffinger and Shannon Cochran with fellow Contemporary Christian singer-songwriter Sarah Reeves, who herself scored a hit with Sweet Sweet Sound, Give You Peace was written in memory of Brooke Raines, Heffinger’s wife’s best friend, who suffered a severe neurological disorder that eventually took her life. (Trey tells her story here.) Recently, Kurt Wallace of WHZN in Indianapolis created a special edit of Give You Peace, interspersing the original track with audio snippets of media coverage of the recent earthquake and tsunami damage in Japan. The special edit closes with the audio prayers of a Seattle-based child on YouTube video here. The song is available for download here; it also is beginning to receive airplay across the USA. It’s moving, and has brought me to tears. Gah, what a way to start my Monday morning.
GIVE YOU PEACE (JAPAN) Lyrics
Echoing Angels
I see you lying there
Whispering prayers
I hear you breathing out
Hallowed be thy name
Holding out my hand catching every tear
Oh my child I’ll never leave your side
I will give you peace when the walls come crashing down
I will give you peace through the night
When you’ve had all you can take can’t face another day
I’ll give you peace, I’ll give you peace
For such a time as this I have you here
Chosen for the lost to show I’m near
Through your brokenness My glory shines
And through your frailty My strength will rise
I will give you peace when the walls come crashing down
I will give you peace through the night
When you’ve had all you can take can’t face another day
I’ll give you peace, I’ll give you peace
You’re beautiful
You’re beautiful
Perfect in my sight
Righteousness adorns you
My bride
You’re beautiful
So beautiful
I will give you peace when the walls come crashing down
I will give you peace through the night
When you’ve had all you can take can’t face another day
I’ll give you peace, I’ll give you peace