“Music is from God and for God. And I believe God is raising up a new generation of young musicians who want to see music being used for its original purpose—to glorify God.”
Lush, moving, and wildly infectious, you can sense that there is something beyond the ordinary surrounding Watson and his songs. Though admittedly he is a relative newcomer to the industry, his sound echoes with a seasoned quality that is rare. It takes only a thirty-second visit to the band’s Myspace page to experience it … accessible pop melodies with layers of instrumentation, driven by acoustic guitar but lifted by drums and various keys and programming. But don’t let the singer/songwriter tag lead you astray. These are not self-indulgent dirges, or art for art’s sake. The songs on Above the Golden State’s debut are as uplifting as they are accessible, as worshipful as they are radio-friendly.
Watson explains, “One of my favorite quotes is from renowned pastor and author A.W.Tozer: ‘The esteem of the world isn’t worth the effort.’ That sentiment describes my focus with this music. I know the only thing that carries on to eternity is God being glorified in and through us by the grace of Jesus, so we’ll put all our energy toward that.”
Watson’s journey began with unlikely circumstances. He was studying at Calvary Chapel South Maui when a good friend in another popular music act slipped his demos to an A&R representative with industry powerhouse Sparrow Records. Soon after, Michael received a random phone call from Sparrow. That was all it took.
The song demo that landed him a record deal— “Sound of Your Name”—has become the first single on his self-titled debut. And it’s more than just an obvious single; it is evidence of anointing. Watson proclaims, Towers fall and Kingdoms crumble. Mountains bow and the earth will tremble at the sound of Your name. The strong man falls to Him who humbles. The plans he made were bound to stumble, and only You remain.
From a lyrical standpoint, Watson balances the vulnerable and the personal with the scriptural. His musical formula combines heartfelt verses with down-to-earth choruses driven home by solid, universal Biblical concepts. On “Loud and Clear” he deals with the idea that worship is not just about singing, but about living: Life is an offering inside of this heart beat. Today is a new song,. Every verse is a new thought. Every breath is a chorus. My life is ascending. And on “Gaze Into Your Eyes,” he reflects again on Tozer and his work The Pursuit of God: In front of me is the figure I long for. I will turn to see no one else. I’m consumed by Your grace and wonder. I’m finding You as I loose myself. Every word is deeply spiritual and will not just provide the backdrop for a memorable sing-along but will also leave you reflecting on the state of your soul.
Watson is backed by Brook Mosser (drums) along with Tim Aylward (keys), and all three are familiar to the music scene. Each of the guys has partnered at one time or another with everyone from Telecast to Falling Up to Kutless to Shawn MacDonald to Paul Wright. This is a seasoned crew, to say the least, and one that complements each other through shared sonic experience.
When asked about goals, Watson simply states that he wants to go as far as heaven will take Him. With such a unique live show, though, it is not hard to imagine that Above the Golden State’s sphere of influence will expand quickly. One part worship, one part pop show, and one part spoken interaction, Watson and company plan to give audiences plenty to take home with them, beginning this fall as part of Starfield’s “I Will Go” tour .
“Above The Golden State has no desire to bring glory to itself but to join in with you and everyone else to glorify God together. We know not to find our worth in anything other than Jesus Christ. We are in this together. We are the church, the body of Christ; this music is to fix the ‘gaze of our soul’ on Jesus, our Hope of Glory! These songs are meant to be sung in the heart and mind of the listener, like a soundtrack to our lives.”
Chance To Love
Above The Golden State Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If my words weren't meant to share
Why would I bother breathing
If my lungs don't need the air
Why would my heart keep drumming on
If there's no will here to live
I don't want to give up
I don't want to give up
'Cause today's a chance to love
Why do I search for romance
If my heart is made of stone
Why should I fight for freedom
If the war is far from home
Why do I search for meaning here
If there's no means to the end
Yesterday is like the fog at death-grips with the sun
And today, redemption's at the mercy of the dawn
Why does my God still trust me
When I've run away from Him
Why does my God come save me
From the sins that I commit
Why would He send His only Son
If we could live without love
Love right now like there's no tomorrow
Love wants out, kill the pain and sorrow
Love wants out! Love right now!
The song "Chance to Love" by Above the Golden State is a reflective track about the internal struggles one faces when trying to find purpose and meaning in life. The first verse questions the value of speaking and breathing if they don't have a purpose to serve. The second verse questions the search for romance, freedom, and meaning if there's no guarantee of achieving them. The pre-chorus declares the determination to continue living and loving despite the hardships, as every day brings a new opportunity to find love.
The chorus serves as the manifestation of the pre-chorus's conviction, reminding the listeners that every day is a chance to love. The bridge confronts the concept of divine forgiveness and redemption, questioning why God would still trust and save someone who has committed sins. The unifying answer comes in the form of love, as Christ was sent to teach humanity about the power and necessity of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Why would I bother speaking
If I have nothing important to share or express, why would I waste my energy speaking?
If my words weren't meant to share
If my words are empty and do not have any significance, then there is no point in sharing them with others.
Why would I bother breathing
If there is nothing to live for or my existence has no purpose, then there is no need for me to keep breathing.
If my lungs don't need the air
If there is no motivation to keep on living or the things that give me life don't matter, then there is no practical reason to breathe.
Why would my heart keep drumming on
If there is no sense of purpose or reason for me to go on living, then why should my heart continue to beat and provide life to my body?
If there's no will here to live
If I don't have the desire to keep living or there is no purpose for me to be alive, then why should I continue to exist?
I don't want to give up
I am not ready to give up or quit yet.
'Cause today's a chance to love
I am going to take advantage of the opportunity today to love and show compassion towards others.
Why do I search for romance
If I have a heart that's hard and unfeeling, then why am I searching for emotional connections with others?
If my heart is made of stone
If I lack empathy or the ability to show love, then why do I desire romantic relationships with others?
Why should I fight for freedom
If the situation doesn't directly affect me or I don't have anything to gain from it, then why should I exert effort fighting for freedom?
If the war is far from home
If the conflict or battle does not impact my immediate surroundings, then why should I get involved in it?
Why do I search for meaning here
If there is no clear purpose or direction, then what is the point of seeking meaning and significance?
If there's no means to the end
If there is no clear way to achieve the desired outcome or goal, then it may be pointless to pursue it.
Yesterday is like the fog at death-grips with the sun
The past is like a hazy memory, slowly fading away as we move closer to the present.
And today, redemption's at the mercy of the dawn
The chance for renewal and forgiveness is in the hands of a new day, where we are given another opportunity to start over.
Why does my God still trust me
Even when I have strayed from my faith, why does God still believe in me?
When I've run away from Him
When I have turned my back on my beliefs and neglected my relationship with God.
Why does my God come save me
Despite my shortcomings, why does God continue to protect me and offer grace even when I don't deserve it?
From the sins that I commit
From the wrongful actions that I engage in and the decisions that fall short of my values.
Why would He send His only Son
Why would God sacrifice His own child, Jesus, to save humanity from sin and provide a way to eternal life?
If we could live without love
If love wasn't the key component of our existence and the ultimate goal of our lives.
Love right now like there's no tomorrow
Take the opportunity now to love fiercely and passionately as if there may not be another chance to do so.
Love wants out, kill the pain and sorrow
Let love emerge from within and conquer the hurt and sadness that may be present.
Love wants out! Love right now!
Love is calling out to be expressed and experienced, so embrace it fully and boldly in this moment.
Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.