In 1987 the band released their most successful album, Detonation. Now with two high charting albums and many requests for live performances, Bloodgood hit the road for their first major tour. It was a tour that almost proved to be their last and caused the band members to grow closer to the Lord and each other. The tour was filled with dates that were badly promoted, staged, or in many cases, the venues didn't exist at all when the band rolled in. Most dates they were asked to accept less money than was agreed upon, and making it from one city to the next was a financial struggle. Still, they saw the fruits of their ministry as many hard core unsaved teens came to know the Lord. And, the band built a reputation as one of the best performing bands in Christian music.
Discouraged by the financial losses, but encouraged by their success in ministry, the band returned to their homes in Seattle to evaluate and plan for the future. It was there that they met producer Terry Shelton, who along with the band, decided that a new musical direction should be pursued. The project, Rock In A Hard Place, spanned the musical spectrum of the metalish Do Or Die, the arena rock sound of Never Be The Same and experimental Seven. While sales weren't as brisk as Detonation, the band found more profitable success in their mini tour for the album as they avoided many of the pitfalls they had experienced during the Detonation tour. Mark Welling left the band after the tour and was temporarily replaced by Kevin Whistler.
Before the recording of their next album, a major change occurred in the band's line up. Guitarist David Zaffiro left to become a full time father to his newly born second child and work as an independent producer. As an important part of their visual presentation and signature sound, David would not be easily replaced. Session guitarist Paul Jackson was hired to work on their next release Out Of The Darkness. This album saw a return to the higher energy arena rock/metal sound and produced hits like Top Of The Mountain and Out Of The Darkness. Shortly after the release of this album, the band embarked on their most ambitious project to date – live videos and albums, an attempt to capture the magic and emotion of a Bloodgood live performance.
Even with all the struggles and disappointments, Bloodgood has left its mark on the young Christian metal industry. Every promoter, radio station, store owner or fan who has had contact with the band has found them to be genuine ministers and committed Christians. Many of the newer metal bands looked to Michael, Les and David as examples on how to conduct a viable and effective metal ministry.
(Above taken from the liner notes of Bloodgood's 1991 Intense Records release: The Collection)
Bloodgood went on to record All Stand Together in 1991 and toured Russia and Germany. The band's third live album, To Germany With Love, was recorded on their 1993 tour of Germany. Bloodgood broke up in 1994.
After a false start in early 2002, Bloodgood reunited in late 2006, bringing previous Bloodgood drummer Mark Welling back into the fold, and adding Stryper guitarist Oz Fox to the lineup.
S.O.S.
Bloodgood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A blinding light that shows us the way
Higher, He's going to make us soar
And fly us up to heaven's gate
Yurnin', mercy bring us home
We look upon our final day
Burnin', see the morning star
Glory to the King of kings
Power to the Lord we sing
Forever and ever
Callin' out S.O.S.
Save our souls
You are the only one
S.O.S. save our souls
Our life has just begun
Callin' out S.O.S.
Cyclone, the tempest comes at last
Man is finally put to his shame
White throne, fury of the King
Judgement comes because of His name
Stars are fallin' from the sky
Wrath of God, the Son's burning eyes
Blazing like fire
S.O.S. save our souls
You are the only one
S.O.S. save our souls
Our life has just begun
S.O.S. every knee gonna bow
And every tongue confess
S.O.S. save our souls
You are the only one
S.O.S. take away our fear
And all bitterness
S.O.S. hear me cryin' out
This is my heart's distress
Callin' out S.O.S.
The lyrics to Bloodgood's song S.O.S. are a cry for help to save our souls in the midst of chaos and crisis. The fire of spirit has been lit and has shown the way to higher ground, where He will make us soar and fly us up to heaven's gate. The hope of mercy brings us home while we look upon our final day, and we see the morning star burn brightly in the distance. A trumpet blast sounds, and we know it is time to go.
The chorus is a passionate cry for help, an S.O.S., to save our souls. The tempest comes at last, and man is finally put to shame. The white throne and fury of the King come, and judgement falls because of His name. Stars fall from the sky, and the Son's burning eyes blaze like fire. It is a time of distress and crisis, but we know that we can call out to Him for help. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is King. He will take away our fear and all bitterness. We cry out, S.O.S., hear me in my heart's distress.
The song is a call for help, a cry of pain, and a plea for mercy. It speaks of chaos and crisis, of the hope of salvation, and the promise of a better life. It is a song of faith and devotion, of hope and love, and of trust in the One who can save us.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire, spirit lit the flame
The Holy Spirit has ignited a flame in our souls
A blinding light that shows us the way
The light of the Holy Spirit guides us on our journey
Higher, He's going to make us soar
God will lift us up and take us to new heights
And fly us up to heaven's gate
God will take us to heaven when our time comes
Yurnin', mercy bring us home
We long for the mercy of God to take us to our eternal home
We look upon our final day
We are mindful of the fact that our time on Earth is limited
Burnin', see the morning star
When Jesus returns, the Morning Star will appear in the sky
Trumpet blast will take us away
The sound of a trumpet will signal the end of this age and the start of the next
Glory to the King of kings
God is exalted above all earthly kings
Power to the Lord we sing
God alone has the power to save us
Forever and ever
God's reign will never end
Callin' out S.O.S.
We are crying out to God for help
Save our souls
We ask God to save us from eternal damnation
You are the only one
God is the only one who can save us
Our life has just begun
Our eternal life with God is just beginning
Cyclone, the tempest comes at last
The end of the world will come like a cyclone
Man is finally put to his shame
Humans will be exposed for their sins and shortcomings
White throne, fury of the King
The throne of judgment will be pure and the wrath of God will be upon those who have rejected him
Judgement comes because of His name
We will be judged not on our own merit, but on how we have responded to the name of Jesus
Stars are fallin' from the sky
The universe will be shaken when Jesus returns
Wrath of God, the Son's burning eyes
God's wrath will be poured out when Jesus returns
Blazing like fire
God's wrath will be fierce and unrelenting
Every knee gonna bow
Everyone will be brought to their knees before the Lord
And every tongue confess
Everyone will acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ
S.O.S. take away our fear
We ask God to take away our fear of judgment
And all bitterness
We ask God to take away our bitterness and resentment
S.O.S. hear me cryin' out
We are calling out to God in distress
This is my heart's distress
We are pouring out our hearts to God in desperation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Stig Erik Leopold Anderson, Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K. Ulvaeus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ramon Campos
I've always LOVED this song.
Chris Smithies
Thanks for this Rockingtall. I haven't heard this in ages. Good memories! :)
jedininja72
Keep Rocking on BloodGood
Joel Cancio
sonzeira