Cool Hand Luke is an indie group from Nashville, Tennessee, and was initial… Read Full Bio ↴Cool Hand Luke is an indie group from Nashville, Tennessee, and was initially formed by Brandon Morgan and Jason Hammil in 1998 while they attended Middle Tennessee State University. A punk rock influence showed itself within the band's early music, although the range and scope of Cool Hand Luke's sound changed quickly after Mark Nicks joined the band. Their more underground early efforts put them in the punk/emocore category, but since signing to Floodgate records in 2003, their sound has mellowed and branched out. The band's current sound is more of a melodic art-rock that reminds some people of a less focused Radiohead or a more diverse Coldplay. Despite some mild critical success and their tendency towards worshipful lyrics, Cool Hand Luke remains fairly unknown. In 2008 they inked a deal with Lujo Records who released their new album, The Sleeping House, on October 14, 2008.

In 2011, Cool Hand Luke self-released their final album, "Of Man." The album features many contributing artists including Tim McTague of UnderOath, and Nathan Walter of Quiet Science.

I Remember
Cool Hand Luke Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I remember once in Judah before You were born
Elizabeth called me "Mother of the Lord"
John jumped in her womb and by the Spirit knew who You were
Now Your people who walked with You forgot Your word

But I still believe
I still believe
I still believe in You

I remember in the temple after You were born
Bearing pigeons and presenting You to the Lord
Seeing Simeon hold You in his arms with tears in his eyes
I remember every word that he prophecied

And I still believe
I still believe
I still believe in You

"A sword will pierce your soul"
"A sword will pierce your soul"

But I still believe

I still believe
I still believe in You

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cool Hand Luke's "I Remember" evoke a sense of hope in the face of doubt and despair. The opening lines reference the biblical story of Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and her recognition of Mary as the mother of Jesus. The significance of this moment is emphasized by the description of John's response, jumping in her womb by the Spirit and knowing who Jesus was. The song then moves to the scene in the temple after Jesus was born, where Mary and Joseph presented him to the Lord, and Simeon, a righteous and devout man, recognized him as the promised Messiah. His words, "A sword will pierce your soul," foreshadow the pain and sacrifice that Mary will endure as the mother of Jesus.

Despite the struggles and challenges that Mary faced, the refrain of the song emphasizes her unwavering faith in God and in Jesus as the Son of God. Her memories of these powerful moments, and the prophecies that were spoken about Jesus, anchor her belief in who he is and what he came to do. The repetition of "I still believe" reinforces the strength of her conviction, even in the face of doubt and uncertainty.

Overall, "I Remember" is a complex and nuanced reflection on the role of Mary in the story of Jesus, and the enduring power of faith in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

I remember once in Judah before You were born
I recall a time in Judah, even before your birth

Elizabeth called me "Mother of the Lord"
Elizabeth addressed me as the mother of the Lord

John jumped in her womb and by the Spirit knew who You were
John leaped in her womb and through the Holy Spirit, knew your identity

Now Your people who walked with You forgot Your word
However, the people who walked alongside you have forgotten your teachings

But I still believe
Nonetheless, I still possess faith

I remember in the temple after You were born
I can still recall when I brought you to the temple after your birth

Bearing pigeons and presenting You to the Lord
I brought along pigeons to be offered and presented you to the Lord

Seeing Simeon hold You in his arms with tears in his eyes
I observed Simeon with tears in his eyes holding you in his embrace

I remember every word that he prophecied
I cannot forget a single prophecy spoken by him

But I still believe
Still, my faith remains steadfast

"A sword will pierce your soul"
The prophecy I recall is that a sword shall penetrate your soul