“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.”
Wake Me Up
Josh Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What have I done with my time?
What ever happened to me?
How long have I been asleep?
Wake, wake me up, wake me up,
Wake me up inside.
Light up my heart with a spark
God please just wake me up
I wanna rise from the dead
And feel this heart beat again
Don't wanna waste one more day
Lord do whatever it takes
To wake, wake me up, wake me up,
Wake me up inside.
Light up my heart with a spark
From Your burning light.
God please just wake me up
Let Your love, let Your love
Open up my eyes.
Light up my heart with a spark
From Your burning light.
God please just wake me up
I can hear You calling out my name
I will rise, I will rise and be remade
Oh and I will never be the same
I will rise, I will rise and be remade
Wake, wake me up, wake me up
Wake me up inside.
Light up my heart with a spark
From Your burning light.
God please, God please
Wake, wake me up, wake me up
Wake me up inside.
Light up my heart with a spark
From Your burning light.
God please just wake me up
Let Your love, let Your love
Open up my eyes.
Light up my heart with a spark
From Your burning light.
God please just wake me up
I can hear You calling out my name
I will rise, I will rise and be remade
Oh and I will never be the same
I will rise, I will rise and be remade
Where have I been all my life?
The artist, Josh Wilson, opens his song "Wake Me Up" with a set of rhetorical questions that suggest self-reflection and a sense of lost time. Wilson sings, "Where have I been all my life? What have I done with my time? What ever happened to me? How long have I been asleep?" These lyrics highlight the feeling of being stuck or stagnant, and Wilson longs for a change. He yearns to be awakened and have his heart ignited by God's love. The repetition of the phrase "wake, wake me up" reinforces his desire for divine intervention, as Wilson recognizes that he cannot do it alone. When he sings "I can hear You calling out my name," it suggests that he is answering that call for action and is ready to be transformed.
Overall, the song is a plea for revival, a call to be awakened from spiritual slumber, and an honest recognition of the need for change. Wilson is actively seeking deliverance from complacency and a desire to live anew. By asking God to wake him up, he is acknowledging his need for a higher power and an awakening of his heart.
Josh Wilson's "Wake Me Up" is a poignant and powerful song with a clear message that speaks to many. The lyrics highlight the need for self-reflection, spiritual growth, and a reawakening of the heart. Wilson's ability to capture these ideas in his music has resonated with many listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Where have I been all my life?
Reflecting on the past and acknowledging the feeling of being lost and unsure of one's purpose in life.
What have I done with my time?
Questioning the value of one's time and the actions taken throughout their life.
What ever happened to me?
Feeling disconnected from oneself and unsure of who they have become.
How long have I been asleep?
Asking how long they have been going through the motions without truly living or experiencing life.
Wake, wake me up, wake me up, Wake me up inside.
Expressing the desire to be awakened and brought back to life, using repetition to emphasize the urgency of the request.
Light up my heart with a spark From Your burning light.
Asking for God's guidance and love to give them hope and reignite their passion for life.
God please just wake me up
Pleading with God to help them find their way and rejuvenate their spirit.
I wanna rise from the dead And feel this heart beat again
Expressing the desire to come back to life and feel alive again after feeling like a part of them has died.
Don't wanna waste one more day Lord do whatever it takes
Realizing the preciousness of time and requesting that God help them make the most of every moment.
Let Your love, let Your love Open up my eyes.
Asking for God's love to help them see clearly and gain a new perspective on life.
I can hear You calling out my name
Feeling a spiritual connection and sensing that God is trying to guide them.
I will rise, I will rise and be remade
Realizing the potential for transformation and expressing the willingness to change and start anew.
Oh and I will never be the same
Recognizing that the transformation will be significant and life-changing, altering their perspective and path in life.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATTHEW WEST, JOSH WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind