With a musical journey that has crisscrossed all kinds of rock music, folk music, and electronic music, he carries a songwriting sense that aims to capture dense images of life with God,
in compositions that can be carried with the listener. He aims to tell the old story of the Gospel in an ever-shifting world, without resorting to easy truisms, or lazy language. His new collection of songs, The Bright Sadness, echoes a journey pressed to the chest of God, joyful and sorrowful at once, with God's heart clear and pulsing in each note and word. It wraps liturgy with the unexpected, and daily mundanity with daily surprise.
As many of the Passion collegiate gatherings were recorded live, Hall was quickly dubbed "a voice" for the Passion movement, performing on all eight Passion albums, which have sold more than one million units.
Charlie expresses the desire to be "honed into God, where I'm not part of a culture where I'm trying to make the people around me think, 'Hey, that's a good Christian.' I'm just trying to pursue God and not pursue being accepted into a club...I'm more honed into my pursuit of God in Christ and how he's forming me and changing and helping me love him and know him.
Renewing and encouraging local churches, engaging young and old with social justice action, widening hearts to see God at work in the whole world, spurring local artists on to imaginative and creative expression, and offering songs of rest to those who are simply tired are some of the hopes of Charlie, and his band of gypsies. Hall's band, in which he performs vocals and guitar, consists of Kendall Combes (electric guitar), Brian Bergman (keyboard), Dustin Ragland (drums), and Quint Anderson (bass guitar).
Scenes
Charlie Hall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ice and sleet, and frost and cold
Each storm cloud and thunderbolt
Lifts my mind to You
Every work and every power
Every second of every hour
Fall of dew in sweet rain showers
The summer wind, fire and heat
Autumn leaves and blooms of spring
Ocean waves and mountain streams
Lifts my mind to you
I see you in every scene
I bet you are thinking about me
I have such a short memory
So you keep reminding me of you
I see you in every scene
I bet you are thinking about me
I have such a short memory
So you keep reminding me of you
As I lay me down to sleep
As I walk on city streets
As I laugh with friends and feast
It lifts my mind to you
As my children play and run
In the news with wars and guns
In the church where songs are sung
It lifts my mind to you
Deep inside the beggar's eyes
As for sweet love I fight
On the radio at night
It lifts my mind to you
I see you in every scene
I bet you are thinking about me
I have such a short memory
So you keep reminding me of you
I see you in every scene
I bet you are thinking about me
I have such a short memory
So you keep reminding me of you
Painting pictures of your love
You lift my mind up
Reminding me of you
My heart comes alive
Painting pictures of your love
You lift my mind up
Reminding me of you
My heart comes alive
I see you in every scene
I bet you are thinking about me
I have such a short memory
So you keep reminding me of you
I see you in every scene
I bet you are thinking about me
I have such a short memory
So you keep reminding me of you
The lyrics of Charlie Hall’s “Scenes” describe a person’s spiritual journey and how every moment of their life is an opportunity to connect with God. The different seasons, weather patterns, and natural phenomena are all used as metaphors for different aspects of spirituality. The chorus is a reminder that God is always present, even in our forgetfulness, and that we can always connect with Him through every moment of our lives.
The first verse highlights the harsh and cold elements of winter, but instead of focusing on the discomfort, the singer lifts their mind to God, recognizing the power and beauty of each storm. The second verse shifts focus to the passage of time and the small wonders that happen throughout each day. The beauty of nature throughout the different seasons is celebrated as a reminder of the divine presence all around us.
The third verse speaks to the different moments of life that we encounter, from restful sleep to joyful celebrations and difficult times. Even in the midst of war and destruction, we can lift our minds to God as a source of comfort and strength. The bridge speaks to the transformative power of God’s love, which brings our hearts to life and reminds us of His constant presence.
Line by Line Meaning
Chill and cold and flakes of snow
The coldness and snow remind me of you.
Ice and sleet, and frost and cold
The winter weather reminds me of you.
Each storm cloud and thunderbolt
Even when there is chaos in the weather, it reminds me of your presence.
Lifts my mind to You
All of these natural events point my thoughts towards you.
Every work and every power
All of the things in the world that have energy and intentionality remind me of you.
Every second of every hour
Every moment of every day, I am reminded of you somehow.
Fall of dew in sweet rain showers
The beauty of nature reminds me of your presence.
The summer wind, fire and heat
Every season and type of weather reminds me of you.
Autumn leaves and blooms of spring
The changes of seasons remind me of your consistent presence in my life.
Ocean waves and mountain streams
Even the most contrasting elements of nature remind me of your power and majesty.
I see you in every scene
Your presence is felt in every situation and place I find myself in.
I bet you are thinking about me
I know that you are always present and thinking of me.
I have such a short memory
I tend to forget that you are always with me.
So you keep reminding me of you
You continually bring my thoughts back to you.
As I lay me down to sleep
Even in the quiet moments of the day, I am reminded of you.
As I walk on city streets
Even in the midst of busyness and distraction, you are present to me.
As I laugh with friends and feast
Even in moments of joy and celebration, I am reminded of your goodness.
As my children play and run
The innocence and energy of children reminds me of your love for us.
In the news with wars and guns
Even in the midst of brokenness and evil, your goodness and love can be found.
In the church where songs are sung
In communal worship and praise, you are evident.
Deep inside the beggar's eyes
Even in those who society has deemed as less-than, you are present.
As for sweet love I fight
As I pursue the good things in life, I am reminded of your presence and support.
On the radio at night
Even in the mundane moments of life (like listening to the radio), you are present and active.
Painting pictures of your love
All of these reminders and moments paint a picture of your love for me.
You lift my mind up
You constantly remind me of your presence and love, bringing me peace and joy beyond my circumstances.
Reminding me of you
All of these things point my attention back to you.
My heart comes alive
Your love and presence bring my heart to life.
Contributed by Alexis P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.