Cope lived in Houston, Texas during his high school years and attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He has been closely associated with the music of Especially for Youth (EFY), with seven EFY albums having songs he composed. He also has served as an LDS missionary in Switzerland and France from 1980-1982. He currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah and serves as an LDS Bishop.
Peace Be Still
Kenneth Cope Lyrics
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The billows are tosing high
The sky is with shadowed with blackness
No shelter or help is nigh
Carest thou not that we perish
How canst thou lie asleep
When each moment so madly is threatning
Oh winds and the waves shall obey thy will
Peace be still peace be still
Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea
Or demons or men or whatever it be
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The master of ocean and earth and skies
They all shall sweetly obey thy will
Peace be still, peace be still
They all shall sweetly obey thy will
Peace peace be still
Be still my soul
The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dewlt below, Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee
How great thou art, how great thou art
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee, How great thou art, how great thou art
Peace, peace
Be still
The song "Peace, Be Still" by Kenneth Cope is a beautiful hymn that soothes the soul during moments of turbulence and chaos. The lyrics describe a scene where a tempestuous storm is raging and the sailors on a ship are facing impending doom. They call out to their Master, who is asleep, wondering how he can be so indifferent to their perilous situation. However, they soon realize that their Master is in complete control of the situation, and even the winds and waves will obey his will. The lyrics then transition into a beautiful chorus, which reassures us that in moments of chaos, we can find peace in the knowledge that our Master is in control.
The hymn delivers a powerful message about the idea of having faith in God and surrendering oneself to his will. When facing difficult situations or challenges, we can find peace by acknowledging that we are not in control of everything, and that we must put our trust in a higher power. The song also references the Christian hymn "How Great Thou Art," which reinforces the idea of surrendering oneself to God's will.
Line by Line Meaning
Master, the tempest is raging
The singer addresses a person they refer to as 'Master', informing them that there is a terrible storm raging.
The billows are tossing high
The waves are very large and are moving with considerable force due to the storm.
The sky is with shadowed with blackness
The clouds in the sky appear dark and ominous, signifying that the storm is severe.
No shelter or help is nigh
There is no safe place or assistance nearby that could provide refuge from the storm.
Carest thou not that we perish
The artist questions the Master, wondering if they are aware that they and others may not survive the storm.
How canst thou lie asleep
The singer is surprised that the Master is not disturbed by the storm enough to stay awake.
When each moment so madly is threatening
Things are happening very quickly and in a very dangerous way that poses great risk of harm.
The grave in the angry deep
The artist alludes to their imminent death, as the storm could lead to them being swallowed by the sea.
Oh winds and the waves shall obey thy will
The artist acknowledges that the Master has the power to command the elements of the storm to calm.
Peace be still peace be still
The artist instructs the storm to cease its violent activity.
Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea
The singer notes that the storm could take the form of a stormy ocean or other natural phenomena like earthquakes or hurricanes.
Or demons or men or whatever it be
The artist suggests that the cause of turmoil could be a supernatural entity, human beings, or anything else.
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The singer is confident that they are safe aboard their ship, as none of the water should be able to overcome the vessel.
The master of ocean and earth and skies
The singer emphasizes the greatness and authority of the Master over everything in the natural world.
They all shall sweetly obey thy will
All things in nature are expected to follow the instructions of the Master.
Be still my soul
The artist directly addresses their own soul, seeking calmness and assurance despite the tumultuous storm.
The waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below
The artist asserts that the Master has power over the natural elements since they obeyed Him even when He was living among them.
Then sings my soul, my savior God to thee
The singer transitions into a worshipful tone, expressing joy and gratitude towards their God for providing salvation.
How great thou art, how great thou art
The singer praises the greatness of God, acknowledging all that He has done and can do.
Peace, peace
The artist repeats their earlier command for the storm to be still, reaffirming their trust in the Master's power to calm the tumultuous situation.
Contributed by Charlotte D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@evertonfreitas4199
Perfeito!!!