The story that is My Epic has been in the works for se… Read Full Bio ↴[From myepic.net]
The story that is My Epic has been in the works for several years. The whole process started in 1998 when Aaron, Jesse, and Matt first started playing together in what quickly became their first band, The Right Wing Conspiracy, later known as Shaddai. Through their experiences together, the five boys in Shaddai grew as musicians and as a band, and by the summer of 2004, after playing shows ranging from their home town of Fredericksburg, VA to Cornerstone Festival in Illinois and earning a reputation for their energy as well as their technical ability and songwriting prowess, Shaddai was on the brink of taking over the world. Jesse was about to join the rest of the band in the college world, and with the whole band living close together, good things looked to be just ahead. The momentum of the band was brought to a halt in the later part of the summer with the departure of Jono, and the remaining members of Shaddai were faced with the decision of whether to press on, reform, restart, or retire. They knew that it was time to put Shaddai in the past. They threw the ashes of Shaddai to the wind and looked back on the era with a grin. Within a short amount of time, after very little discussion, Aaron, Jesse, and Matt realized the obvious: they had to keep playing together, but something new was in the air. What began as a dilemma actually became a blessing as the three of them found themselves with a chance to refine their focus and take their music in a more adventurous direction. Jono stuck around as the band's closest friend and applied his savvy of all things business to the task of managing the band.
_____It was easy enough to realize the opportunity to begin something new, but the band still needed to complete their lineup with a bass player. Over the remainder of the summer, the as yet unnamed band were working hard to put their heads together, and there was very quick agreement that their school friend Jeremiah would be just the person for the job. As Aaron tells it, the band was thinking of the people they knew, and "the whole time, Jeremiah was just the only person we could think about." They returned to school to find that Jeremiah had moved into the dorm in the room next to Jesse's, and this turn of events was too big to be coincidence. The fit was too natural not to be perfect, and in September of 2004, there were four members of the band with a common vision and a passion waiting to be released. By February, the band was ready to play their first show, which ended up being a very successful and impressive debut in front of a few hundred receptive and enthusiastic audience members. My Epic spent a few days in March of 2005 recording a two-song teaser with their good friend and producer extraordinaire Andrew Prousalis. With the band out of the blocks and off at full speed, it's just a matter of time before their momentum carries them to the attention of anyone with their ear to the ground.
Lower Still
My Epic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The blood of his mother has mixed with the Earth
and she's just a child who's throbbing in pain
from the terror of birth by the light of a cave
now they've laid that small baby
where creatures come eat
like a meal for the swine who have no clue that he
they don't know just how low he has to go
Lower still
Look now he's kneeling he's washin' their feet
though they're all filthy fishermen, traitors and theives
now he's pouring his heart out and they're fallin' asleep
but he has to go lower still
there is greater love to show
hands to the plow
further down now
blood must flow
all these steps are personal
all his shame is ransom
oh do you see, do you see just how low, he has come
do you see it now?
no one takes from him
what he freely gives away
beat in his face
tear the skin off his back
Lower still, lower still
strip off his clothes
make him crawl through the streets
Lower still, lower still
hang him like meat
on a criminal's tree
Lower still, lower still
bury his corpse in the Earth
like a seed, like a seed, like a seed
Lower still, lower still
Lower still, lower still...
The Earth explodes
she cannot hold him!
And all therein is placed beneath Him
and death itself no longer reigns
it cannot keep the ones he gave himself to save
and as the universe shatters the darkness disolves
he alone will be honored
we will bathe in his splendor
as all heads bow lower still
all heads bow lower still
"My Epic's" song "Lower Still" speaks about Jesus Christ's journey to save humanity from sin. In the first verse, the lyric describes the situation of Jesus Christ's birth that happened in a small cave with his mother Mary. After he was born, he was laid down where wild animals come to eat. This portrays his lowly beginning despite having the significant task of holding the world together single-handedly. He went through so much stress and pain to save humanity.
The second verse describes Jesus' encounter with his apostles. Despite their status as fishermen and traitors, he washed their feet as a servant would. He gives his heart to them even though they ultimately end up sleeping on him. However, Christ goes lower still, taking a personal journey that leads to his shameful ransom. In the end, He is beaten, stripped of his clothes then crawls through the streets like a criminal. He is finally hanged on a tree like meat before being buried in the earth.
The chorus speaks of the earth, which can no longer hold him after death, and he resurrects triumphantly. All heads bow down in his presence as they bask in the splendor of his achievement. In summary, the song shows how low Christ has gone to save humankind by taking on a personal journey, suffering shame and death, and ultimately triumphing over death and darkness when he brought salvation to the earth.
Line by Line Meaning
Look, he's covered in dirt
The subject appears to be dirty or unclean.
The blood of his mother has mixed with the Earth
The subject's mother has died, and his blood mixed with dirt, symbolizing death and rebirth.
and she's just a child who's throbbing in pain
The mother died giving birth, emphasizing the pain and suffering of childbirth and human mortality.
from the terror of birth by the light of a cave
The birth took place in a cave, an ancient symbol of the womb and rebirth that was also used to indicate the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
now they've laid that small baby
The baby is now being placed in a resting position, possibly after death or for protection.
where creatures come eat
The baby is being placed in a location where predators can access it, symbolizing how vulnerable it is in its current state.
like a meal for the swine who have no clue that he
The baby is helpless and at the mercy of nature and its surroundings, emphasizing the fragility of life and the importance of protection.
is still holding together the world that they see
The baby, though vulnerable now, will grow up to be a powerful figure that will shape the world around him.
they don't know just how low he has to go
They are oblivious to the hardship and sacrifice that the baby will have to endure to become the heroic figure he was meant to be.
Lower still
There is more hardship and sacrifice to come, and he will continue to suffer.
Look now he's kneeling he's washin' their feet
The subject is washing the feet of fishermen, emphasizing the importance of humility and service even to those who appear worthless.
though they're all filthy fishermen, traitors and theives
The individuals whose feet the subject is washing are not considered virtuous, underscoring the selflessness of his actions.
now he's pouring his heart out and they're fallin' asleep
The subject is expressing his anxieties and emotions, but his audience is not engaging with him, further emphasizing his isolation and selflessness.
but he has to go lower still
The subject knows that his ultimate task and burden will require him to go even further in his selflessness and sacrifice.
there is greater love to show
There is a deeper meaning and purpose to the subject's actions, and he is motivated by love, rather than mere duty or obligation.
hands to the plow
The subject is determined and persevering in his mission, which will require arduous work, symbolized by the image of plowing.
further down now
The subject ought to continue on his path despite the hardships and difficulties, and not give up.
blood must flow
The subject recognizes that his mission will require serious sacrifice and even bloodshed, symbolizing the high cost of his actions.
all these steps are personal
The mission that the subject is pursuing is deeply personal, probably connected to his own values and beliefs.
all his shame is ransom
The subject is redeeming his own past mistakes, shame, or guilt by enacting his current mission of selflessness and love.
oh do you see, do you see just how low, he has come
The subject has gone incredibly far in his selflessness and sacrifice, and his actions should inspire awe and gratitude.
do you see it now?
The audience should acknowledge and appreciate the subject's selflessness and sacrifice, which may have been previously unnoticed.
no one takes from him
The subject retains full control over his own destiny and fate, demonstrating personal agency and power.
what he freely gives away
The subject is willing and eager to give away his own resources, time, and energy, reflecting his depth of generosity and selflessness.
beat in his face
The subject is being physically assaulted, adding to his existing pain and suffering.
tear the skin off his back
The subject is being subjected to more intense physical torture, emphasizing the cruelty and malice of his tormentors.
strip off his clothes
The subject is being stripped of his own identity, dignity, and self. This is dehumanizing and emphasizes his vulnerability and helplessness.
make him crawl through the streets
The subject is forced to take actions that are humiliating and shameful, underscoring the cruelty and violence of his tormentors.
hang him like meat
The subject is being executed in a manner that is cruel and undignified, symbolically equating him with animals.
on a criminal's tree
The subject is being executed in a manner that is public and intentionally shameful, emphasizing the nature of his shame and guilt.
bury his corpse in the Earth like a seed
The subject's physical death will eventually lead to new beginnings, reflecting the natural cycles of life, death, and rebirth.
Lower still, lower still...
The subject's selflessness and sacrifice continue to intensify, and there is no limit to how far he will go for his mission.
The Earth explodes
A dramatic and transformative event is taking place, symbolizing major change and upheaval.
she cannot hold him!
The subject is too powerful and transformative to be contained or constrained, demonstrating his immense personal power and influence.
And all therein is placed beneath Him
The subject has achieved a high degree of dominion and control over his surroundings, demonstrating his personal power and efficacy.
and death itself no longer reigns
The subject has conquered death, symbolizing his immense power and personal transformation.
it cannot keep the ones he gave himself to save
The subject's selflessness and sacrifice have paid off, and he has succeeded in his mission of saving others.
and as the universe shatters the darkness dissolves
A transformative and powerful event is taking place, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
he alone will be honored
The subject will be remembered and celebrated for his immense selflessness and sacrifice, demonstrating how powerful actions can be remembered through time.
we will bathe in his splendor
The subject's profound and transformative selflessness will be respected and admired by future generations, emphasizing how powerful and inspiring his legacy is.
as all heads bow lower still
The subject's power and influence are so great that even the most resistant and obstinate must recognize and acknowledge it.
Contributed by Sebastian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
My Cabbages!
This song had me sobbing the first time I heard it. Such a powerful message of just how much our Savior loves us. I’m so unworthy. Thank you my Lord Jesus.
Brad Oconnor
Amen
JT Pitner
There’s not a band that has meant more to me over the last 10+ years. This song was the one that pulled me in, and it’s so good to this day.
Not Your Typical Christian Channel
This is fresh! I’ve literally not heard anything like it before... this is incredible!!
Devin Arnette
It's pretty awesome that they are from my home state in N.C I'm from Kannapolis, N.C
And they are one of the best bands out there, very biblical
BirdOfHermes83
Sounds like As Cities Burns first album and receiving end of sirens
Bryce Walburn
I've never seen My Epic live, so I'm bummed that the tour couldn't happen. Nevertheless, this video was a beautiful way to celebrate their amazing contributions to music and art.
DonJuan
This is the first time I heard this song. I just want to say that when I was a kid/teen growing up in the Assembly of God church in the 2000s I wish I had heard more music like this. Music like this did exist back in the day but it scared the hell out of the older/mid life and older Assembly members. To any youth pastor that reads this: do understand your battle is showing that there is godly music that is an alternative to modern ungodly music.
drbroberts
I felt like Levi was channeling some Aaron Weiss vibes, which I can totally get behind!
I’ve been listening and following since the Broken Voice EP and finally got to see you guys in Portland at the For Today farewell tour. I’ve always been impressed with the theological depth and integrity not just of Aaron’s lyricism, but the band’s outlook on songwriting in general. I still love watching the studio documentaries and seeing that process of asking “what does the song need” for that reason. I love watching live performances and listening to interviews because of that reason. You are worshipping artists, and that is reflected not just in your art, but in how you discuss your art between the songs.
In ya’ll I’ve seen a passionate and sincere pursuit of the Creator, which has definitely encouraged my own pursuit of Christ through the years. And for that, all I can say is thank you.
Peace and Blessings.
truth654567
Levi absolutely killed it! You need to make a full post hardcore musical album.