“We may live in snapshot moments,” Josh says, “but those moments are not Life. Life is not one point in time but all of the points in time between drawing our first and last breaths. Because we have experienced the faithfulness of God in the past we can be secure in the present and trust in the One who holds the future.”
There is a school of thought that dictates what a typical rock star bio should look like. Open with a snappy quote to catch the reader’s attention. Include a laundry list of accolades, weighty references to his current standing on the album sales and radio charts as well as testimonials from well-respected industry insiders regarding his future greatness. Convince the reader that the artist in question is successful, talented and - in the case of Christian rock stars -considerably more spiritually creative than the average Joe who occupies the pew next to you on any given Sunday.
Josh Wilson simply smiles and shakes his head at the absurdity of it all. You see, Josh Wilson is not a rock star - never has been; doesn’t intend to be. So if you are looking for one, you’ll just have to look someplace else.
That’s not to say Josh isn’t an incredibly talented singer/songwriter with numerous accolades and a brilliant future ahead of him. His debut album, Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup, resonated with a growing legion of fans across the nation, spawning the Top 10 radio hit, “Savior Please,” while launching him on tours with such celebrated artists as Big Daddy Weave and Matthew West. And though he would deny charges of being a guitar prodigy, Josh’s mesmerizing abilities have elicited awed comparisons, with terms like ‘Keaggy-esque’ being bandied about.
“Please don’t hang that on me,” Josh smiles. “Playing guitar is a passion for me, and I do enjoy playing. But you never arrive. You never become the best, and that’s not what I’m trying to do anyway. I want to take some lessons and brush up on my playing because honestly, I’m a little rusty.”
A little rusty for someone who studied under the tutelage of classical guitar legend, David Brandon, is like firing on all cylinders for the rest of the guitar-playing world. As phenomenal as his musicianship is, it is the lyrical integrity of his songs that remains Josh Wilson’s magnificent obsession, though he admits to wrestling with words like Jacob with the angel and sometimes walks away from his own songwriting sessions with a limp.
“I have a passion for songwriting, but I don’t think I would say that while I am in the middle of writing a song,” Josh muses. “Songwriting is hard work, and I’ll procrastinate and avoid it at all costs. It is absolutely the ground fighting back against man’s efforts to till the soil. Melodies come to me a lot easier than words, but lyrics are where the weight of the song is. The melody may stick in someone’s head, but eventually they are going to start thinking about the words. That’s why I feel so much pressure. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you write a good song with a great hook if the words are meaningless. It is a daunting task and a big responsibility. I do not to take it lightly.”
That undeniable tension between the words and music emerges as a focal point of Josh’s sophomore CD, Life Is Not A Snapshot. This seven-song collection of contemporary theological musings reflects Josh’s remarkable penchant for framing cold and calculated questions of faith into wild, unbridled musical expressions of trust.
“I am a pastor’s kid and grew up in the church,” Josh explains. “I don’t remember a time when I didn’t believe in Jesus, but my faith was never really challenged until I went to college. During my freshman year, I encountered people who were nice and smart, but who didn’t believe what I believed, and they started to challenge my faith. I didn’t have the foundation I needed to come up against those questions. A lot of things that I thought I knew started to fall apart. The Lord picked me up and said, ‘There are good answers to these questions, but you’re going to have to do some searching and praying and ask some smart questions yourself to figure out why you believe what you believe.’”
Hard work and seeking answers became a passion for the young singer/songwriter, and his songs have become richer as a result. In the two years since his critically acclaimed debut release, Josh has discovered a marked clarity regarding his vision and mission for his music, and it is aimed squarely at followers of Christ.
“I feel like I am called to challenge and encourage the Church,” he declares. “I want to make people think, particularly about why they believe what they believe. As soon as your faith is challenged, that is when you’ll realize that Sunday school answers are not enough. Hopefully I can encourage people to dig deeper into their faith.”
Know By Now
Josh Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I started singing that sad, sad song
So convinced that I was on my own
But God I know
That You won’t leave
Guess I let it slip my memory
Fast as I could count to 1 2 3
Forgetful me
Whoa, whoa, here I go again
Why do I forget, You’re always faithful
Whoa, whoa, how many times have I seen
You give me just what I need
Whoa, whoa, here I go again
I forget, You’re gonna work it out somehow
You think that I’d know by now
Well, I’d like to learn to live by faith
As the flowers of the field might say
Worry doesn’t add a single day
Oh, God I pray
You’ll help me see
When I’m looking at my history
All the ways You’ve taken care of me
I want to believe but
Whoa, whoa, here I go again
Why do I forget, You’re always faithful
Whoa, whoa, how many times have I seen
You give me just what I need
Whoa, whoa, here I go again
I forget, You’re gonna work it out somehow
You think that I’d know by now
That You are always in control
I should know by now
That You’re gonna work it out
But this shadow of a doubt
Won’t let me go
Whoa, whoa, here I go again
Why do I forget, You’re always faithful
Whoa, whoa, how many times have I seen
You give me just what I need
Whoa, whoa, here I go again
I forget, You’re gonna work it out somehow
You think that I’d know by now
The song "Know By Now" by Josh Wilson is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the need to remain faithful even in difficult times. The lyrics describe the struggle of the singer to remember that God is always present in their life and that He will not abandon them. The singer starts singing a sad song, feeling alone and forgotten, but then realizes that God will never leave them. The singer acknowledges their forgetfulness of God's faithfulness and their tendency to worry unnecessarily. The singer prays for God's help in seeing all the ways He has taken care of them and wants to learn to live by faith like the flowers of the field that do not worry about tomorrow.
The chorus repeats the phrase "whoa, whoa, here I go again" to highlight the singer's tendency to forget God's faithfulness and worry unnecessarily. The repetition of the phrase "You think that I'd know by now" emphasizes the singer's awareness of their forgetfulness and their desire to remember God's faithfulness. The bridge reminds the singer and listeners alike that God is always in control and will work things out, even when doubt creeps in.
Overall, "Know By Now" is a reminder to trust in God's faithfulness and to stay faithful even in tough times. It is a reminder to remember all the ways God has taken care of us and to live with faith instead of worry.
Line by Line Meaning
So it all went wrong
When everything seemed to fall apart
I started singing that sad, sad song
I began to worry and complain
So convinced that I was on my own
Feeling isolated and alone
But God I know
I am aware that God is with me
That You won’t leave
I trust that God will not abandon me
Guess I let it slip my memory
I forget easily
Fast as I could count to 1 2 3
Very quickly
Forgetful me
I often forget things
Well, I’d like to learn to live by faith
I want to rely on faith in God
As the flowers of the field might say
I should trust in God like the flowers trust in the environment
Worry doesn’t add a single day
Worrying is pointless
Oh, God I pray
I ask God for help
You’ll help me see
I ask God for understanding
When I’m looking at my history
Reflecting on my past experiences
All the ways You’ve taken care of me
All the times God has provided for me
I want to believe but
However, I still struggle with doubt
That You are always in control
God is always in charge
I should know by now
I should understand this by now
That You’re gonna work it out
God will resolve the situation
But this shadow of a doubt
But my uncertainty
Won’t let me go
Is holding me back
You think that I’d know by now
I should have realized this already
Whoa, whoa, here I go again
I am repeating this cycle
Why do I forget, You’re always faithful
Why do I forget that God is reliable?
How many times have I seen
How often have I witnessed
You give me just what I need
God provides me with what I require
You’re gonna work it out somehow
God will find a solution
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BEN GLOVER, JOSH WILSON, MATT BRONLEEWE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind