More than a call to worship, their latest project is a call to life. With Every Time I Breathe, Big Daddy Weave surrenders all that they have, and joyfully admit it is not enough. "We finally realized it is not the greatness of our offering, but it is the greatness of the God we are offering to that makes the difference," says singer/guitarist and primary songwriter Mike Weaver. "It is not the greatness of our songs, but it is the greatness of the God behind the songs. When the little boy showed up with two fish and five loaves, it was so not enough; but that is exactly what Jesus used to feed everyone. The reason our offering seems insignificant is because it is. But God is not looking for our significance. He is looking for our availability."
Heartfelt words from one of the most popular bands in Christian music. Indeed, One and Only, the group's 2002 debut release quickly cracked SoundScan's Christian Top 5 and Big Daddy Weave was rewarded with a Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year. Fields of Grace, Weave's follow-up, was a stunning display of pure power pop from a band chomping at the bit to get their new songs down on tape. On their third outing, What I Was Made For, the group battled the elements as Hurricane Ivan ravaged their homes. But even in the midst of the storm Mike Weaver says he experienced a fresh outpouring of God's grace and presence. It wasn't until it came time to write for Big Daddy Weave's fourth album that the inspiration dried up.
"We walk through different seasons," Mike explains. "Summer doesn't look like winter. Winter is radically different, but that doesn't mean it is a bad season. I was in this 'Winter' season of wondering why I couldn't hear God like I used to. Where did God go? So when the label said, 'It's time to cut another record,' I said, 'I've got squat!' But you know what? God never left. He never changed. He never stopped being worthy just because I didn't feel like singing a new worship song. He has been here the whole time, even though encountering Him right now means something different."
"It wouldn't have mattered if Mike had brought fifty songs to the table. That doesn't mean they would have been the right songs," says guitarist Jeremy Redmon, who doubles as the band's producer. "We realize we are only doing this because He allows us to. There is a peace that comes with that, because it takes the ownership out of our hands."
Joe Shirk, who handles sax and keyboards for the band, also feels the change of seasons. "We can't help but be changed by our circumstances," he insists. "Change has infiltrated our musical ideas because we hear God differently today than we did four years ago."
That realization sparked a new excitement in Big Daddy Weave. Worship, they discovered, was not simply what happened on the stage. It wasn't something that was confined to Sunday morning or Wednesday night. It didn't just occur during those 'Shout to the Lord' moments.
"Worship goes beyond the rise in popularity of worship music," explains Jay Weaver, the band's steady-on bassist. "It is about how we treat the guy at the cash register at the gas station. Lately I've felt like the woman at the grocery store whose little boy keeps tugging on her skirt. It's like God is continually trying to get my attention. 'It's not just about the music. It's not just about the music. It's not just about the music!' We're beginning to understand that experiencing worship has next to nothing to do with the music."
Drummer Jeff Jones says that concept hit Big Daddy Weave like a tidal wave in the midst of leading worship. "We saw people trying hard to make that time on Sunday morning magical," he muses. "We suddenly realized that unless you are practicing godly character throughout the week, what happens on Sunday morning is just going through the motions. What happens during those times of corporate worship is just a reflection of what goes on in your life throughout the week."
"Worship is a response," Mike declares. "It is not something that you have to conjure up. Worship always happens when you encounter the greatness and glory of the Living God. Isaiah saw God and said, 'Woe is me!' But after the angel touched the coal to his lips he said, 'Here am I, send me!' How did that happen? I don't know, but it was a response to an encounter with God. Worship should be our response to encountering God all the time. The truth is, we don't always feel like it. But does that mean if you don't feel it you just stop? No. We have a choice. We choose to worship in spite of how we feel."
Mike points to the title track (Every Time I Breathe as a perfect example of where the band is right now. "You don't think about taking your next breath," he says. "You don't have breathing on your 'to do' list. If you don't breathe, you die. It is as simple as that. Breathing is a natural part of life. That is what God is calling us to; a lifestyle of worship—to encounter God every moment, as naturally as taking your next breath."
While the songs on album artist=Big Daddy Weave]Every Time I Breathe enhance Big Daddy Weaves' reputation for producing instantly recognizable melodies and tight harmonies, it was the lyrics that the band was most concerned with.
"Our main focus has always been about communication," Mike says. "We don't want people to hear our songs and say, 'Whoa, that was cool.' We want people to hear our songs and say, 'Whoa, I understand what they mean.' I think people will really like these songs, and I think they will understand what we are trying to say. But the reality is that these songs are just fish and loaves. Without the touch of God they are just not enough."
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Sacrifice
Big Daddy Weave Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
King of Heaven, Lord of Light
Though my ways are less than wise
I come to praise You
Jesus, Master, Savior, Friend
Your mercy seems to have no end
And though all I have to bring is sin
And my righteousness, is as filthy rags
But You exchange them for the good things that You have
Chorus:
Lord I want to sing..
I wanna sing you a song, I wanna lift up my voice
As I lift my hands, Lord I make my choice
That from this moment on until the end of my days
I want to offer up my life as a sacrifice of praise,
As a sacrifice of praise
God of Glory, God of Might
King of Heaven, Lord of Light
Though my ways are less than wise,
I come to praise You
Jesus, Master, Savior, Friend
Your mercy seems to have no end
And though all I have to bring is sin
I come to praise You
And my righteousness, is as filthy rags
But You exchange them for the good things that You have
(Chorus)
I want to show You just how much I love You
I want to love You with my life (4x)
(Chorus 2x)
The lyrics to "Sacrifice" by Big Daddy Weave are a heartfelt expression of praise and worship to God. The first stanza acknowledges God's power and majesty, and the singer's own shortcomings in comparison. However, despite their imperfections, the singer comes to praise and honor God. The second stanza focuses on Jesus as a Savior and friend whose mercy is boundless, even when the singer brings only sin to the table. The chorus declares the singer's desire to sing and lift their voice in praise, to make a conscious choice to offer up their life as a sacrifice of praise.
The repetition of the lines "God of Glory, God of Might, King of Heaven, Lord of Light" emphasizes God's power and majesty. The line "all I have to bring is sin" reminds the listener of their own imperfections and need for a Savior, but also acknowledges that the singer is willingly choosing to praise God anyways, out of gratitude.
The chorus is a declaration of the singer's intentions - to live a life of praise and worship to God. The line "I want to show You just how much I love You" is a heartfelt sentiment, expressing a desire to give back to God in any way possible.
Overall, "Sacrifice" is a beautiful expression of gratitude and praise to God, an acknowledgement of human limitations and the overwhelming mercy of Jesus, and a declaration of the singer's desire to give their life as an offering of worship.
Line by Line Meaning
God of Glory, God of Might
Almighty and powerful God, full of splendor and strength
King of Heaven, Lord of Light
The ruler of the heavenly realm, the source of all enlightenment
Though my ways are less than wise
Despite the fact that I don't know everything and make mistakes
I come to praise You
I am coming to show my respect and admiration for you
Jesus, Master, Savior, Friend
Jesus, who is our leader, rescues us from danger and is a companion to us
Your mercy seems to have no end
Your compassion never runs out, it is endless
And though all I have to bring is sin
In spite of the fact that I come with my own imperfections and wrongdoings
And my righteousness, is as filthy rags
Even the things I might consider righteous, are not worthy compared to God's holiness
But You exchange them for the good things that You have
God gives me the opportunity to trade in my inadequacy for his good gifts
Lord I want to sing..
Lord, I am expressing my desire to lift up my voice in songs of praise
I wanna sing you a song, I wanna lift up my voice
I want to sing a melody which praises You, and lift up my voice with joy
As I lift my hands, Lord I make my choice
I am raising up my hands to signify my decision to fully worship and submit to Him
That from this moment on until the end of my days
Beginning from now until the end of my life
I want to offer up my life as a sacrifice of praise,
I am committing to surrender my whole life as an offering of gratitude and adoration
I want to show You just how much I love You
I yearn to demonstrate to God how deep and immense my love for Him is
I want to love You with my life (4x)
I long to show God my love by how I live my life
Chorus:
Refrain which is repeated throughout the song
(Chorus 2x)
The refrain is repeated two more times, for a total of three times
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MICHAEL WEAVER, MICHAEL DAVID WEAVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind