About 72 to hours from now, I’ll be gushing about Coldplay’s new album. I’ll probably listen to it non-stop for weeks. Okay months. Okay years. (As evidenced by the fact that Viva La Vida has seen more playtime in my car than anything else since 2008. Yes, it’s been a long wait.)
But this week? This week I’m still swooning over Needtobreathe’s latest. I adore this band. I love their rich instrumentals and grungy vocals. I love their lyrics. I love every song on their latest album. (And I love that my sister tells me the lead singer’s voice always makes her picture this dude from Dr. Quinn, one of the few TV shows we watched as kids.)
And though I literally smiled my way through every single song the first time I listened to the album –we’re talking sore cheeks by the time I made it to the last track–at the moment I’m most head-over-heels for this song…
The lyrics are simple, the story at once happy and wistful: a wanted man talking to his brown-eyed girl, inviting her to disappear with him.
I could listen over and over and over…(and yes, I have…)
But as the words sing on a continuous reel in my head, I’m hearing another voice whispering a truth long-known, but maybe not always held as close to my heart as, say, a new favorite song.
You’re a wanted man.
Okay, woman. But let’s not get lost in semantics.
I’m wanted. And not in the Bonnie and Clyde sense of Needtobreathe’s song. But in an eternally impacting way.
I’m wanted by God. In the pages of the Bible, in the world around me, in the whispers in my heart, He shows me His. He wants me.
And what will never cease to be beautiful to me is the fact that God still–still–wants me regardless of my mistakes, sins, the should’ves and could’ves that pile up with passing years.
Hey, hey, I am on the run
Because of what I’ve done
My mistakes are stacked a mile high
Because of what I’ve done
My mistakes are stacked a mile high
I’m–we’re–wanted. And like Bear Rinehart sings, like his made-up wanted man, I need to say it. To know it…and let that shape not only how I see myself, but the people and the world around me.
I know who I am, my dear
I’m a wanted man
The world I see looks good from here
Right from where I stand
Wanted. I’m not sure there’s any better feeling. And this morning it has me singing with Needtobreathe...
Come and get me…
Okay, now I’m the one sounding wistful and happy. But I can’t help it, Needtobreathe–and more than that, the knowledge that God wants me–does that to me. How about you? How does God remind you you’re wanted? Has he ever communicated with you through a song?
Comments 4
Need to Breathe is one of my favorite bands, along with Train and they were in concert together last year. So good. This song is awesome. I saw that Coldplay had a free iTunes song from their new album, not sure if you have to pre-order or not.
Happy Friday! 🙂
Ooh, I want to see them in concert sooo much. Yup, I’ve got the Coldplay album pre-ordered and it came with a free song. I’m such a crazy Coldaply fan(atic)! 🙂 Happy Friday to you, too…I looooove Fridays!
Melissa,
I’m sitting in Panera, so I can’t listen to the song … yet. But just reading the lyrics touched my heart and made me feel … welcome. Not alone.
Touched by his grace.
I hope you love it when you do list to it, Beth. it’s so good…and I so agree on the lyrics. Hope you’re having a fantastic Friday!