“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.”
Listen
Josh Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But somehow I don't see it as such
Seems like what I love the most
Is the sound of my own voice
I pray my list and I say my piece
I check you off but I'm incomplete
Seems like what I'm missing most
So why is it so hard for me
To shut my mouth and let you speak?
Why do I feel the need
To always keep on talking?
Well, I know I need to hear from you
I know what I have got to do
To find what I've been missing, yeah
I've gotta learn to listen
A wise man hears before he speaks
He knows he doesn't know everything
I wish that sounded more like me
But I have got so far to go
But why is my first reaction
To give my own opinion?
Like I could tell you something
You don't already know
So why is it so hard for me
To shut my mouth and let you speak?
Why do I feel the need
To always keep on talking?
Well, I know I need to hear from you
I know what I have got to do
To find what I've been missing, yeah
I've gotta learn to listen
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, listen, yeah
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, listen, yeah
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, listen, yeah
So why is it so hard for me
To shut my mouth and let you speak?
Why do I feel the need
To always keep on talking?
Well, I know I need to hear from you
I know what I have got to do
I gotta find out what I'm missing
So why is it so hard for me
To shut my mouth and let you speak?
Why do I feel the need
To always keep on talking?
Oh, I know I need to hear from you
I know what I have got to do
I gotta find out what I'm missing, yeah
I've gotta learn to listen
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, listen, yeah
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, listen, yeah
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, listen, yeah
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, listen, yeah
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, listen, yeah
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, to listen
Josh Wilson's song "Listen" is about the struggle of learning to listen to others and not just constantly talking and expressing one's own opinions. The song talks about how the singer often talks too much, loves the sound of his own voice, and only checks people off his list rather than truly connecting with them. Despite feeling incomplete, he struggles to stop talking and simply listen to others. The song acknowledges that learning to listen is a journey, not an overnight fix, but is important to gain perspective and connection with others.
The song is a relatable reflection on the common human struggle of learning to be present with others and refrain from dominating conversations. Wilson's message encourages listeners to take a step back and actively listen to others, and he does so with catchy lyrics and upbeat music.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I live too loud and I talk too much
I am quite vocal and don't know when to stop talking.
But somehow I don't see it as such
I am unaware that my constant talking may be a problem.
Seems like what I love the most
I am attached to the sound of my own voice.
Is the sound of my own voice
I derive pleasure from hearing myself talk.
I pray my list and I say my piece
I talk about my own desires and opinions.
I check you off but I'm incomplete
Although I make lists and talk, I still feel unsatisfied.
Seems like what I'm missing most
What I need most is to listen to others.
Is the sound of your voice
I should focus on what others are saying and take it in.
So why is it so hard for me
I struggle with listening to others instead of talking.
To shut my mouth and let you speak?
I struggle with being silent and letting others talk.
Well, I know I need to hear from you
I have come to realize the importance of listening to others.
I know what I have got to do
I have to make a conscious effort to listen actively.
To find what I've been missing, yeah
I know that I have a void that can only be filled by listening to others.
I've gotta learn to listen
I recognize that I need to work on improving my listening skills.
A wise man hears before he speaks
Being able to listen to others is a sign of wisdom.
He knows he doesn't know everything
Being able to listen to others shows that one is humble and open-minded.
I wish that sounded more like me
I aspire to be a better listener.
But I have got so far to go
I recognize that I have a long way to go before I become a better listener.
But why is my first reaction
I have a tendency to speak first before listening.
To give my own opinion?
I am quick to give my opinion before hearing what others have to say.
Like I could tell you something
I sometimes delude myself into thinking that I have a lot to offer in a conversation.
You don't already know
I sometimes fail to recognize that others may have already thought about the same things I'm bringing up.
Oh, I know I need to hear from you
I am fully aware of the importance of hearing what others have to say.
I gotta find out what I'm missing, yeah
I need to improve my listening skills in order to gain a better understanding of people around me.
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, listen, yeah
The repetition emphasizes the importance of listening to others.
Listen, listen, yeah, listen, to listen
The song reinforces the need to listen actively.
Contributed by Mateo V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.