From her recording debut at age 1… Read Full Bio ↴She has always been an old soul.
From her recording debut at age 14, Bethany Dillon was one of those rare young singer/songwriters who did not fit the status quo. Her songs possessed a lyrical depth that belied her age. Her carriage, sense of composure and way of looking at the world revealed a certain maturity, disarming for one so young.
So it almost seems a given, seven years later, that 21-year-old Bethany Dillon—now married and living in Dallas with her husband, Shane Barnard (Shane & Shane)—would be officially grown up.
That she has something even more complete and compelling to say is a given, too. Major life moments have a way of doing that to anyone.
“The last year has been the sweetest year of my 21...” Bethany says, “There are so many layers to it, and I don’t always feel like a grown up, but it’s been a really sweet time of learning. I can see the grace of God in it. So much has come to the surface.”
Stop & Listen, Bethany’s fourth release on Sparrow Records, reveals a young woman coming to terms with God’s grace in a new season of becoming.
“This record is probably the most confessional record I’ve ever made,” Bethany says. “These songs feel a little more raw to me than usual. It’s probably just true the more life goes on, the more aware you are of your failures and struggles. And with that, in a believer’s life comes—odd as it is—a deeper joy.”
Produced by Marshall Altman (Brooke Frasier, Warren Barfield), a Los Angeles-based producer who persistently sought Bethany out after hearing her acoustic EP, Stop & Listen is a call to peace in the middle of life expectations and the day-to-day chaos that all too often takes over.
“Most of the songs are about the not-so-simple ideas of stopping, listening and waiting,” Bethany explains.
The title track—which she co-wrote with Joy Williams and Ben Glover—sets the tone. “I’m a to-do list person,” Bethany adds, “but I’m still called to know God and have an intimacy with Him, even in busy seasons. That Bible story of Mary and Martha has always bothered me. There’s Martha working so hard to get everything right and Mary sitting at Jesus feet. And Martha, in all her frustration, saying ‘Don’t you care that I’m doing all this?’ And Jesus replying, ‘You’re anxious about a lot of things, but Mary has chosen the one thing necessary...’ That’s such a hard thing for anybody to hear. That haunting call of the Lord... When I see Him face to face, I want to know Him. I’m called to know Him.”
“The Way I Come To You,” perhaps as much as any song on the CD, reflects this singer/songwriter’s spiritual journey as of late: “I love being married to Shane for lots of reasons—one being, how much I’ve learned about loving Jesus from him. He is constantly talking about the glory of God in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The more time I spend with him, the more I’m hit with the reality... the forgiveness and reconciliation found in Jesus is staggering. The freedom that we who are in Christ have is ETERNAL!”
“Get Up and Walk,” a song inspired by stories of healing throughout the New Testament, is a powerful reminder that God still restores the broken: “The promises in the Bible that grip me the most are the ones of contrast,” Bethany explains, “turning ashes into beauty, heaviness into a garment of praise, being transferred from the domain of darkness to the Kingdom of light. The words of Jesus ring true today, that he (or she) who’s forgiven much, loves much.... I’ve been forgiven of much; I was deaf, blind, and completely lost. But He broke through my deafness, and has forgiven me of much, and I can’t help but love Him much in return.”
“Reach Out,” continues the thread, inspired by an outcast woman in the Gospels (Mark 5; Luke 8). “What’s so moving about her story for me is her abandon,” Bethany says. “She had reached this point, this depth of need, that she was willing to risk her life to get healed by this man named Jesus. Her urgency is tangible on those pages—she couldn’t reveal her presence there, so she pushed her way through until she could just touch [Him],
...she took advantage of being in Jesus’ presence.” Such a story, she says, begs the question of us: are we desperate enough to have that kind of faith, to pursue Jesus at any cost?
Always one to push herself to write deeper and truer songs, Bethany says Stop & Listen is a big step forward. “I’ve always felt a sense of direction and focus in my writing, even back at age 14 and 15,” she says, “but I think even that has been honed and sharpened. The things I want to write about, the desire to tell a complete story, I think that’s really fresh.” The result on this record, she says, has been in being able to push through the anxiety that plagues the process and instead, relax and stretch.
Longtime producer and co-writer, Ed Cash collaborated with Bethany on two songs, including the first single, “Everyone To Know,” a simple, carefree song that sticks with you, long after the track is over.
I want everyone to know, everyone to know
I wanna tell the world about your love
“We wrote it in two hours... very simple, played the melody on the piano, and I was so drawn to it,” Bethany says. “It’s about how my life is so different, what I thought was freedom wasn’t... I remember chasing after things that didn’t satisfy me, and how now, being in a simple place, learning how to depend on God, I can finally see how much freedom there is. This song seemed like such a divine appointment, a reminder that the love of God in Jesus is so satisfying. Honestly, its one of the first singles I’ve felt really connected to.”
Sonically, Stop & Listen takes a decidedly different turn as well, not completely removing Bethany from the acoustic pop space she’s settled into, but giving her songs the layered, detailed attention they deserve. “Production-wise, a lot is going on,” she says. “But Marshall was really drawn toward the songs more than production, so there isn’t much in the way of huge dynamics—ear candy, strings, etc.—but rather simple, five or six instruments playing on a song. The players were so good, they spoke the same vocabulary to each other, and they really listened to the lyrics.”
“You hear every word to every song, and nothing gets in the way of the lyric. The sound is beautiful and honest and simply produced...more like a piece of art. That’s what I was pining for, to make a record that was more artful, more singer/songwriter than pop/folky....”
Her desire was to nurture her music, like her life, to a whole new place. To be intentional with every step. To stop and listen to what’s been growing in her soul and give it a life of its own.
And inspired by grace in this new season of becoming, so she has.
Imagination
Bethany Dillon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I took that first step out the door
All I said now follows me around
I'm reminded I'm not like that anymore
I uprooted and miles behind me
Are the faces and the home I love
You've brought to my attention
Isn't that just like a finite mind
Setting out with such righteous indignation
But now I'm at Your feet
Could You look at me with some imagination
The bush before me, I slip my sandals off
I only stopped to look
In the depths of the sea, in the midst of a great storm
I run, I run from You
So remind me why You woke me up
And why You wake me every morn
The staff in my hand
Held in by Your love
Just stay close, stay close
Because I know my own mind
I set out with righteous indignation
But when I'm at Your feet
Please look at me with some imagination
In Bethany Dillon's song "Imagination," the singer is experiencing a spiritual awakening and is questioning her journey toward becoming a better version of herself. The lyrics suggest that she had once been comfortable with who she was, but after taking a step outside her comfort zone, she began to feel out of place. The contrast between who she was and who she's become is a prominent theme in the song. She feels as though she's lost her sense of identity and is struggling to reconcile the person she once was with the person she's become.
The line "Isn't that just like a finite mind" speaks to the idea that humans are limited in their understanding of the world around them. We often set out with good intentions, but as we encounter obstacles and challenges, we may begin to doubt ourselves and our ability to overcome them. When we come face to face with our limitations, it's easy to lose sight of our purpose and forget why we started on this journey in the first place.
As the song progresses, the singer realizes that she must take a step back and reevaluate her journey. She removes her sandals and stands before the burning bush, seeking guidance and clarity. She acknowledges that she's been running from her destiny and is now ready to face her fears with the help of a higher power. The staff in her hand represents her strength and courage, which are held in place by love.
Overall, "Imagination" is a song about self-discovery, faith, and growth. The singer realizes that she's not perfect and may stumble along the way, but she's willing to keep moving forward and trust in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
I need to be reminded of who I was
I need to remember the person I used to be before I took my first step out of my comfort zone.
When I took that first step out the door
When I first stepped out of my comfort zone to explore the world outside.
All I said now follows me around
All the words I spoke in the past still affect me to this day.
I'm reminded I'm not like that anymore
I realize that I have changed and am no longer the same person as I was in the past.
I uprooted and miles behind me
I left everything behind and traveled far away from the place I called home.
Are the faces and the home I love
I left the people and the place that meant so much to me.
You've brought to my attention
You made me aware of something important.
I'm slowly changing and becoming what I wanted to stop
I am transforming into something I used to hate and wanted to avoid.
Isn't that just like a finite mind
Isn't it typical of human nature to have limited thoughts and beliefs.
Setting out with such righteous indignation
Beginning a journey with a strong sense of moral outrage.
But now I'm at Your feet
Now I am standing before You, humbled and seeking guidance.
Could You look at me with some imagination
Can You see beyond my past mistakes and envision my potential in the future.
The bush before me, I slip my sandals off
I am in a sacred moment and feel the need to take off my shoes as a sign of respect and awe.
I only stopped to look
I paused to appreciate the beauty and wonder of this moment.
In the depths of the sea, in the midst of a great storm
Even in the most turbulent and frightening circumstances, I try to run away from You.
I run, I run from You
I have a tendency to flee from You and Your presence when I feel afraid or uncertain.
So remind me why You woke me up
Please remind me of the purpose and reason behind why You brought me into this new day.
And why You wake me every morn
Why do You give me the chance to live and experience life day after day.
The staff in my hand
The symbol of my journey and the support I lean on as I make my way forward.
Held in by Your love
I am able to endure and persevere because of Your unconditional love that surrounds me.
Just stay close, stay close
I need Your constant presence and guidance as I continue on this journey.
Because I know my own mind
I am aware of the limitations and biases of my own thoughts and beliefs.
I set out with righteous indignation
I started my journey with a strong sense of moral outrage and desire for justice.
But when I'm at Your feet
But now that I am in Your presence, I realize how much I need Your wisdom and guidance.
Please look at me with some imagination
Please see beyond my past mistakes and flawed beliefs, and help me see my true potential in the future.
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALEXANDER BENJAMIN RICHBOURG, ANDREA LYNN ROBINSON, RACHEL ODEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind