Since their move to Houston, God has been leading them to something new, and redefining success in their ministry through a series of pivotal encounters. One of those encounters took place on a trip to the remote bush of southern Sudan with a woman named Asinita.
Most of Asinita’s possessions had been carried off in a tribal raid just a year prior. She still had six chickens, which represented the sum of her material wealth. As an expression of gratitude and hospitality, Asinita gave one of her chickens to the mission team to which Dave & Jess belonged. It was a beautiful gesture, but left a haunting question: “What would it cost me to give up one sixth of everything I own?”
That question became the heart of Music for the Radio, the new EP from Dave & Jess Ray. Every penny received from the sale of the EP will go to purchase hand-held radios that allow the people of southern Sudan to hear the Gospel in their own tribal languages. For Dave & Jess, music has become more than melody and lyric. It is an expression of lives that are committed to obedience and sacrifice for the sake of God’s glory.
Empty
Dave and Jess Ray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics to Dave and Jess Ray's song "Empty" highlight the commodification and commercialization of art and music. It begins with a reference to Jesus H. Christ, who is known as the embodiment of love, singing a song about love that nobody buys. This can be interpreted in a couple of ways - on one hand, it could refer to love songs that are often seen as cheesy or superficial, and on the other, it could be an allusion to the way in which genuine acts of compassion and empathy are often undervalued and ignored in a society that prioritizes material success.
The next line, "the law's laid down at the bottom line, and nobody defies it," refers to how the music industry is dominated by financial interests and profit margins, to the point where even the most talented and original artists are often forced to conform to commercial standards in order to achieve success. The line "it's a heavy rotation, that tells you what you need" speaks to the way in which radio stations, streaming services, and other media outlets dictate popular taste, rather than allowing for a diversity of voices and styles to thrive.
The following lines contrast the homogenization of mainstream music with the more "underground" and "independent" scenes that resist these trends. However, even these spaces are often subject to commodification and exploitation, as they are marketed as rebellious and countercultural in order to appeal to a particular demographic. In the end, the song suggests that we have become "cold consumer zombies, with empty eyes and MTV," consumed by an insatiable hunger for entertainment that leaves us feeling unfulfilled and disconnected from our true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
Jesus h. christ sang a song about love, but nobody buys it.
Despite the message of love that Jesus preached, people are skeptical, and no one believes in it.
the law's laid down at the bottom line, and nobody defies it.
The rules have been established, and everyone follows them without question.
it's a heavy rotation, that tells you what you need.
The constant repetition of songs on the radio convinces people what they want to hear.
stay tuned to this stagnation, satisfaction guaranteed by video and radio-they sold it to you.
People are content with the status quo, and their satisfaction is guaranteed by the media companies.
cashbox jukebox brain control.
The media has control over people's minds and influences their choices.
every song is perfect, and every face is perfect, oh yeah.
Media presents everything as perfect, without flaws or imperfections.
plastic heavy metal, artificial soul.
The music and people presented by the media are fake and lack authenticity.
sanitized and glamorized synthetic lies are bought and sold.
The media sells lies and deception, presented in a glamorous and attractive way.
independent underdog fights to survive, it's so much cooler underground, classified and buried alive by video and radio-they sold it to you.
Those who do not conform to the media's standards struggle to survive, and it is more desirable to be underground and independent. However, the media suppresses and ignores this culture.
every song is perfect, and every face is perfect, impersonal and perfect.
Media images and music lack emotion and individuality and appear manufactured and perfect.
jesus h. christ take a look at us, the sum of all we've seen.
The singer questions what society has become after being influenced by the media.
cold consumer zombies, with empty eyes and mtv. perfect....
People have become mindless, apathetic consumers who have been robbed of their individuality and critical thinking. They are perfect in the sense that they fit into the standards of the media.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind