With guitar in hand, Craig can turn any setting into an intimate affair, infusing his music and lyrics with an uncompromising humanism rarely seen in today's production-heavy climate.
Craig makes it a point to keep the relationship with his fans personal, inviting and accepting any opportunity to make his audience as much a part of the performance as he is. Don't be surprised if one day you find yourself enjoying one of Craig's renowned shows in the comfort of your own living room.
In 2012, Cardiff was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Solo, and for a Canadian Folk Music Award as Contemporary Singer of the Year.
For more information, tour dates, and music, please visit the official Craig Cardiff site.
Partick Artists
Craig Cardiff's Bandcamp page
Revival Day
Craig Cardiff Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's beautiful when you go low and I go high
Watch you dear, oh we'll beat this
If I believe enough the Lord will provide
Lay on hands, hymns and praises
Sing in tongues, salvation true and right
Jesus saves if you let him
Donation plate passed through the aisle
Revival day was the saddest
Passed on by at the sight of skin and bones
Pushed to the front but the cameras ducked down
No one wants to watch dying at home
In a borrowed car we sang evaporated
It's beautiful when you go low and I go high
Watch you dear, oh we'll beat this
If I believe enough the Lord will provide
The lyrics to Craig Cardiff's "Revival Day" are a commentary on the nature of faith and belief in the midst of difficult circumstances. The song centers around a scene of a religious revival, where the faithful are gathered together to sing hymns, offer praise, and lay hands on the sick in the hopes of healing them. The opening lines, "In a borrowed car we sang evaporated / It's beautiful when you go low and I go high" suggest a sense of escape and elevation, as the singer and his or her companion sing together in a moment of transcendence. This is contrasted with the more somber tone of the rest of the song, which touches on the experience of suffering, sickness, and ultimately death.
The central theme of the song is the power of belief in the face of adversity. The singer expresses a faith in the prospect of healing, of "beating this," if only they believe strongly enough. The religious practices that are depicted in the song, such as laying on hands, singing in tongues, and passing the donation plate, all serve to reinforce this faith. However, the tragic reality of the situation cannot be denied, as the song describes the "saddest" Revival Day, where the sick and dying are ignored and the cameras point away from them. Ultimately, the song suggests that faith and belief can be a source of comfort and hope in the face of pain, but they cannot fully shield us from the harsh realities of life.
Line by Line Meaning
In a borrowed car we sang evaporated
We were in a car that wasn't ours, singing a song that felt like it would disappear into the air.
It's beautiful when you go low and I go high
Our voices were blending together in a way that was both peaceful and uplifting.
Watch you dear, oh we'll beat this
We're going through a tough time, but if we stick together, we can overcome it.
If I believe enough the Lord will provide
Having faith in a higher power will help us through this difficult period.
Lay on hands, hymns and praises
We are taking part in a religious practice that involves using physical touch and music to show our devotion to God.
Sing in tongues, salvation true and right
We are speaking in a language that we believe comes from God, and it brings us closer to our idea of salvation.
Jesus saves if you let him
Jesus is here to help us, but we have to be willing to open ourselves up and accept his love and guidance.
Donation plate passed through the aisle
We are expected to contribute financially to our religious community.
Revival day was the saddest
Despite our religious practices, we couldn't help but feel sadness when we saw people who were suffering.
Passed on by at the sight of skin and bones
We were confronted with the terrible reality of human suffering, but we didn't know how to help.
Pushed to the front but the cameras ducked down
Even when we were close to the tragic situation, those who were meant to help turned away and refused to acknowledge it.
No one wants to watch dying at home
People turn a blind eye to those who are struggling in their own communities because it's too difficult to witness.
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Craig Cardiff, Joel Jordan Stouffer, Kieran Adams, Laurie Les Goldblatt, Paul Richard Mathew
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Axyle
I really want to learn how to play this :O
Craig Cardiff - Music
brett nailed it below!-cc
Brett Greene
Capo 3 - C / F / G / Am are all you need to start! Have fun!