1) Petra is a Christia… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1) Petra is a Christian Rock band formed in 1972 by Bob Hartman, Bill Glover, John DeGroff, and Greg Hough. "Petra" means "rock" in NT Greek, making the band name a triple pun. Rising from the Jesus music movement, and initially signed to [recordlabel]Myrrh Records[/recordlabel], they fought to gain acceptance and recognition in a church culture that at the time believed rock music to be off-limits. Over time they eventually won over most of their critics, thanks to a steady approach and some solid adult contemporary airplay hits like "The Coloring Song," outside of their usual rock fare. By the mid-80's, when lead singer Greg X. Volz left the band and was replaced by John Schlitt, Petra had solidified their place as the foremost Christian rock band in the industry with a string of hit albums and singles and strong touring. The release of Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out marked a turn towards modern-sounding worship music that would soon explode into the modern worship movement.
Petra was nominated for and won numerous Grammy and Dove Awards. In 1991, after the release of their acclaimed Beyond Belief record, Petra became the first rock band ever to win for Group of the Year at the Dove Awards. They were also the first Christian rock band to be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
For three decades Petra continued to produce albums despite changes in their line-up as well as the genre and market. On May 24th, 2005 Petra announced their retirement after 33 years of ministry. They recorded one of their final performances in Franklin, Tennessee to release it as their last album, Farewell. Their last performance finished in the early hours of January 1, 2006 in Murphy, North Carolina. Bob Hartman and John Schlitt continue to tour under the moniker II Guys From Petra.
Lineups through the years:
Early 80's Captured in Time & Space lineup: Bob Hartman, Greg X. Volz, John Slick, Mark Kelly, Louie Weaver, John Lawry
Late 80's "Beyond Belief dream team" lineup: Bob Hartman, John Schlitt, John Lawry, Louie Weaver, Ronny Cates
Late 90's Petra Praise 2 - We Need Jesus lineup: John Schlitt, Louie Weaver, Lonnie Chapin, Pete Orta, Kevin Brandow
Farewell CD lineup: John Schlitt, Bob Hartman, Greg Bailey, Paul Simmons, with special appearances by Greg X. Volz and John Lawry
More members: Rob Frazier, Jim Cooper, David Lichens, Trent Thomason, Bryce Bell, Quinton Gibson, Justin Johnson
See also http://www.petraband.com/
Backslidin
Petra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been down to the bottom and I don't want to stay
Tell me what can I do
To get back to you?
I got the blues
Those backslidin' blues
And I'm too tired to carry such a heavy load
Satan's marking me now
I can't take it no more
I got the blues
Those backslidin' blues
Have mercy, take me back once again
I'll never be perfect and I sure haven't been
I know that you will
But you know that until
I got the blues
Those blackslidin' blues
The lyrics of Petra's song "Backslidin" convey the emotions of a person who is feeling lost and disconnected from their spiritual beliefs. It is a cry for help, a plea for guidance and an acknowledgement of having gone astray. The opening lines of the song, "Please tell me what makes me feel this way, I've been down to the bottom and I don't want to stay" set the tone for the song, emphasizing the sense of desperation and hopelessness that the person is feeling. The repetition of "Tell me what can I do, to get back to you?" emphasizes their desire to return to their faith and seek guidance to overcome their struggles.
The lyrics also touch on the concept of sin and the struggle to resist temptation, with lines such as "I can see it, I've been on the wrong road, And I'm too tired to carry such a heavy load", and "Satan's marking me now, I can't take it no more". The person is acknowledging that they have sinned and fallen short of their spiritual beliefs, and the weight of their actions is weighing heavily on their conscience. The use of the word "marking" suggests a sense of being branded by sin and the devil, which only adds to the sense of hopelessness.
The final verse of the song brings a sense of hope and redemption, with the person asking for mercy and acknowledging their imperfections. The line "I'll never be perfect and I sure haven't been, I know that you will, but you know that until" demonstrates their understanding that achieving spiritual perfection is a lifelong journey, but they are willing to put in the effort to get back on track.
Overall, "Backslidin" is a lyrical representation of the struggle between temptation and faith, and the desire to return to one's spiritual beliefs. It conveys a sense of desperation, guilt, and ultimately, hope for redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Please tell me what makes me feel this way
Petra expresses her confusion and seeks clarity on the cause of her emotions.
I've been down to the bottom and I don't want to stay
She has experienced the lowest depth and does not want to continue in that state.
Tell me what can I do, to get back to you?
She seeks help on the actions she needs to take to return to the good graces of God.
I got the blues, those backslidin' blues
Petra admits to feeling down as a result of backsliding from God's path.
I can see it, I've been on the wrong road
Through reflection, Petra acknowledges that she is no longer on the right path.
And I'm too tired to carry such a heavy load
The burden of her missteps has become too heavy for her to bear alone.
Satan's marking me now, I can't take it no more
She feels the weight of oppressive spiritual attacks.
Have mercy, take me back once again
Petra appeals to God for forgiveness and restoration.
I'll never be perfect and I sure haven't been
She admits to being flawed and expresses remorse for her shortcomings.
I know that you will, but you know that until
Petra acknowledges God's willingness to forgive, but knows she must do better.
I got the blues, those backslidin' blues
The song concludes with Petra reaffirming her current emotional state and the cause behind it.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rob Stoppard
Earning awards on earth is nothing; pleasing God through faithful expression of the gifts given to you is the only thing important! Love the messages Petra expresses through their music!
J Stewart
Amen!
gearmaestro
The guitar, bass and drum tones on this song are sublime!
MsCharm888
Today's CCM music cannot compare.
scott sanderson
Love that guitar riff
Eugene Cook
This album is from the original Petra lineup thanks for all the free concerts that you gave us at Huntingdon College
Hillbilly Beer Reviews
Momma played this religiously and was hooked on this band. First hear in 1983
Clint the Cool Guy
DANG. Bob Hartman could ROCK before I was even born!
pbailey232
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was laying the foundation for Christian Rock back in the 40's way before A-N-Y-B-O-D-Y!!!!!!!
She was playing guitar better than anybody before anybody. She was the first performer to reach rock star status. Check her out!!!!
Stevie Ray 2
Love them blues