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/
Dead Reckoning
Petra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If left up to your head, you'd remember the past
But a new day has come and new life has begun
Let the old pass away, reconsider it done
There's got to be a reckoning
When you feel the Spirit beckoning
It's a dead reckoning
It's a dead reckoning
Learn to die daily till the new life comes through
It's a dead reckoning
You've got nothing to lose but you do have to choose
When the Spirit says yes but the flesh will refuse
And although you feel odd there are many who trod
Till they're dead to the world but alive unto God
Some still believe it can't be done
To the steady the race is still won
And the battle is already through
And it's hard to believe but it's true
On a hill long ago where the blood runs below
Died a King, two thieves, and you
The lyrics to Petra's song Dead Reckoning speak about starting anew and letting go of the past. At the start of the song, the lyrics say that although a new day has come, the person addressed in the song is still sinking fast due to their recollections of their past. The song encourages this person to let go of the old and embrace the new, reminding them that they have nothing to lose but have to choose to do so. The Spirit is beckoning them to trade the old for the new, and it's a dead reckoning, or an estimation of where they stand in the present.
The lyrics continue to explain that while it may feel strange, many people have trod this same path before and have come out on top. It emphasizes the need to learn to die daily and let the new life come through. The song then speaks of a hill long ago where a king and two thieves died, along with the one being addressed in the song. Likely, this refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and how his death and sacrifice were meant to grant life to those who believe in him, and letting go of the past is a part of that journey.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a new day at last, but you're sinking so fast
Despite it being a new day, you're diving deeper into your despair and struggles.
If left up to your head, you'd remember the past
If you let your thoughts consume you, you'll be stuck in the past, preventing growth and moving forward.
But a new day has come and new life has begun
A fresh start has emerged, and it's time to let go of the past and embrace a new beginning.
Let the old pass away, reconsider it done
It's time to leave behind the old, find closure, and confidently move forward.
There's got to be a reckoning
There must be a moment of truth and realization about the choices made and their consequences.
When you feel the Spirit beckoning
When you hear a call from a higher power, listen and follow it.
It's a dead reckoning
This is a final, certain decision to leave the past behind and pursue a new life.
Trade the old for the new
Swap out old habits and ways of thinking for new ones that benefit growth and change.
Learn to die daily till the new life comes through
In order to fully embrace the new life, it's important to let go of the old completely and continue to work towards personal growth every day.
You've got nothing to lose but you do have to choose
While it may be difficult, it's important to make the conscious choice to leave behind the past and start anew for personal growth and betterment.
When the Spirit says yes but the flesh will refuse
Although it may be tempting to return to old habits, it's important to listen to a higher calling and resist the temptation.
And although you feel odd there are many who trod
While it may feel strange or new to pursue a new life, many others have done it before and succeeded.
Till they're dead to the world but alive unto God
After leaving the past behind and fully committing to personal growth, one can become free from worldly desires and instead fully live for a higher purpose.
Some still believe it can't be done
Despite people's doubts, it is possible to leave behind the past and pursue a new life.
To the steady the race is still won
With patience and persistence, success is achievable.
And the battle is already through
The fight has already been fought and won, as exemplified by Christ's death on the cross.
And it's hard to believe but it's true
While it may be difficult to fully comprehend, God's plan for personal growth and change is possible and true.
On a hill long ago where the blood runs below
Refers to the location of the crucifixion of Christ and the redemption that came from his sacrifice.
Died a King, two thieves, and you
Through Christ's sacrifice, we are all saved and given the opportunity for personal growth and renewal.
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BOB HARTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mick leeds
On hill down, long ago..where the blood run's below...Died our King..2 theive's and You..!!! AMEN THANK YOU JESUS..!!!!!
george peters
This still is a JAMMING tune! I believe that Petra was the Def Leppard of Christian music back in 1987!
Daviy7
Very very beautyful music! I love the bass and the drum in this song! God bless you!
OG-DAPO
This is a good song and very 80's. I like the way Petra's music takes you to different frontiers
Rachel Russo
Yeah!!! The lyrics always takes me back to God with Zeal and Joy!!!
Rudy Briskar
Great message, RAWKIN' SONG!
Roy Belmont
Thank you for posting this!!!!
Tony Schlitt
PETRA,PETRA,PETRA....
THE BEST
whomyguy1
this album came out in '88 it was the second release with new singer John Schlitz following back to the street and preceeding on fire
whomyguy1
I loved this band growing up. Bob Hartman was an inspired musician and song writer.
I was more than sad and a little confused when he let John take over as the band and it's name.
I was even more shocked to learn John fired Louie Weaver.
I kinda think that "Classic Petra" was Bob's way of keeping the peace and making sure that Petra wouldn't be completely ruined by Schlitz's and his hot headed temper.
Just an opinion though.