Thursday, May 18, 2006

Worlds Apart


In my opinion, this is one of the greatest songs ever written. Yes, more spiritual introspection in one song than ALL Beatles songs combined. Just reading the lyrics moves me, as it tries to define the desperation of our hearts- to know Him and love Him. And it's a scary thing...opening yourself up to being broken. It's the duality of living the Christian life. It's daily sacrifice, followed by infusion of the spirit. It's 2 Corinthians; "I will very gladly SPEND and BE SPENT for You." If you haven't listened to this song in a while, it's time to dust off the old Jars of Clay album, skip past "Flood" (isn't everybody sick of that one by now?) and give it a spin. Or, just sing along as you read...

WORLDS APART

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all adds up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love,
To give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
More deeply than the oceans,
More abundant than the tear
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart

And I pray,
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

I look beyond the empty cross
Forgetting what my life has cost
And wipe away the crimson stains
And dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
The battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
And wash the feet and cleanse my pride
Take the selfish, take the weak,
And all the things I cannot hide
Take the beauty, take my tears
The sin-soaked heart and make it yours
Take my world all apart
Take it now, take it now
And serve the ones that I despise
Speak the words I can't deny
Watch the world I used to love
Fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
Forgetting what my life has cost
So wipe away the crimson stains
And dull the nails that still remain
So steal my heart and take the pain
Take the selfish, take the weak
And all the things I cannot hide
Take the beauty, take my tears
Take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
Take my world apart

Worlds Apart.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree more. That song has been one of my favorites since I first heard it years ago. Nice post, Petersen, nice post.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad there is someone else joining this bandwagon. For nearly a decade now I have been bemoaning the popularity of "Flood" and "Faith Like a Child" while this song remained unheralded. I strongly suggest listening to the version on their "From the Stage" album. I have to make sure no one is around so I can turn it up loud and sing at the top of my lungs.

Anonymous said...

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