By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
Music — and by that I mean instrumental and vocal — has always been a part of my life. My parents sacrificed so that I could have an outstanding musical education, and the older I get, the more grateful I am for what they, and many others, gave me as provision for the musical part of my journey in this life.
One of the things I love to do is find out, if possible, the story behind a song, especially if it has been one that God has used to help get me through a tough time. One such song is “You Raise Me Up,” which was made into a monster hit by Josh Groban. Josh didn’t write it; an Irish guy and a Norwegian guy did. It was first recorded in 2004 by a band called Secret Garden, has been covered, recorded, awarded, and rewarded a zillion times. And in the view of musical experts as well as just folks that might say, “I don’t know anything about music, but I know what I like,” it is considered to be near perfect. Below are the lyrics, and I have always treated this as a worship song, even though the “You” is never specifically identified. Here they are:
When I am down and, oh, my soul, so weary When troubles come and my heart burdened be Then I am still and wait here in the silence Until You come and sit awhile with me
Chorus
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains You raise me up to walk on stormy seas I am strong when I am on Your shoulders You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains You raise me up to walk on stormy seas I am strong when I am on Your shoulders You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up (up) so I can stand on mountains (stand on mountains) You raise me up to walk on stormy seas (stormy seas) I am strong (I am strong) when I am on Your shoulders (ooh) You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up (up) so I can stand on mountains (stand on mountains) You raise me up to walk on stormy seas (stormy seas) I am strong when I am on Your shoulders You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up to more than I can be
Songwriters: Rolf U. Lovland / Brendan Graham
You Raise Me Up lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Ab, Peermusic (uk) Ltd., Peermusic Musikverlag G.m.b.h., Peermusic, Peermusic (uk) Ltd
So, how did Josh get in touch with this song, and then go on to make something that edifies, encourages, and bring tears to people who have been so moved by it that they have to pull over on the side of the
road because they are crying so hard they can’t see? A “serendipitous” encounter in a taxi cab. The song just “happened” to be playing, Josh got in the cab and it grabbed him. He just “happened” to be in London working on his second album, and the producer came in and basically said, “I want you to hear this.” As soon as it started, Josh said, “That’s my taxi cab song,” and the rest, as they say, is history. They basically stopped what they were doing, recorded it, and it has gone on to move millions.
What’s the point of this Point? Make it a point to fill your “tool box” with songs, stories, Scriptures, books, movies, interviews, and anything else that is healthy so that you can be strong for your journey, and more importantly, finish well.
