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/
Road to Zion
Petra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The few that find it never die
Past mountain peaks graced white with snow
The way grows brighter as it goes
There is a road inside of you
Inside of me there is one too
No stumbling pilgrim in the dark
The road to Zion's in your heart
The river runs beside the road
Its waters living as they flow
In liquid voice the water calls
On thirsty knees the pilgrim falls
Sometimes a shadow dark and cold
Lays like a mist across the road
But be encouraged by the sight
Where there's a shadow, there's a light
Sometimes it's good to look back down
We've come so far - we've gained such ground
But joy is not in where we've been
Joy is who's waiting at the end
In Petra's song "Road to Zion," the lyrics reflect on the journey of life and the search for meaning and purpose. The song speaks to the idea that there is a path in life that leads to true fulfillment and happiness, and those who find it will never truly die. The way grows brighter as it goes, indicating that as we continue along our path, we become more enlightened and more fulfilled.
The song also encourages a sense of self-discovery and introspection. There is a road inside each of us, and it's up to us to find it. The journey can be challenging and dark, but we are not alone in our search. The river runs beside the road, offering nourishment and guidance along the way. We may encounter shadows and obstacles, but we should take heart in the knowledge that where there is a shadow, there's also a light.
The final verses of the song offer hope and encouragement. It's essential to look back at our past and see how far we've come, but true joy is not found in the journey but in who we find waiting for us at the end. This sentiment suggests that we must focus on our purpose and our connection to a higher power or force to find true fulfillment and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a way that leads to life
There is a path that leads to everlasting life
The few that find it never die
Only a handful are able to discover this eternal path and reach eternal rest
Past mountain peaks graced white with snow
As one journeys along the path, he or she would find themselves traveling through breath-taking mountain ranges covered in snow
The way grows brighter as it goes
As travelers continue to progress towards their destination, this path becomes easier to see and follow
There is a road inside of you
The path towards everlasting life lies within each and every one of us
Inside of me there is one too
Just as everyone else, the singer has this path within his own heart
No stumbling pilgrim in the dark
There is no one lost or uncertain about where to go along this path
The road to Zion's in your heart
This eternal path leads to Zion, and it is within us to follow it
The river runs beside the road
As the traveler follows the path, they will also find a river running along beside them
Its waters living as they flow
These living waters flow continually, offering refreshment to the thirsty travelers
In liquid voice the water calls
The sound of the flowing water seems to invite weary travelers close
On thirsty knees the pilgrim falls
Scorched by their journey, the weary travelers kneel beside the river to drink deeply
Sometimes a shadow dark and cold
While following this path, travelers may sometimes encounter dark, dim and forbidding places
Lays like a mist across the road
These obstructions would come between the traveler and the clarity of the path
But be encouraged by the sight
Along the path, unyielding faith and perseverance would be crucial to overcoming challenges that present themselves
Where there's a shadow, there's a light
In every instance of encountering difficulty within this dark path, there would surely be a companion light brightening the way
Sometimes it's good to look back down
At times, it's necessary to take a break and look back upon where one has been on this path to reassess progress
We've come so far - we've gained such ground
The progress thus far made by one on this path would be evident in all its glory
But joy is not in where we've been
The things achieved so far may be inspiring, but they would not be the ultimate source of joy
Joy is who's waiting at the end
The final destination of the path would be where true joy is found, and that's in the person waiting at the end of this path - Zion.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Mike Hudson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leslieb6881
I have to say I believe these guys were truly anointed by the Holy Spirit. Their lyrics were totally scriptural and their melodies were most tasteful and tuneful.
@astronomy7911
One of a very few real Christian bands
@BusArch42
I saw them once live. There is no doubt in my mind that the Spirit was there. It was like worship not a concert.
@jordistarchild9526
Agreed mate agreed 🙂
@planodoprojeto
Yes. Aleluia!
@ForestWolf58_
AMEN & AMEN! YES THEY WERE! ⚔️⛪️🇺🇸
@meenadaae
I love the lyrics 'On thirsty knees the pilgrim falls'. It is exactly how I feel coming to God at church and when I pray
@mikeandrews9574
Wonderful song from psalm 84. Came to mind while praying this morning , loved to listen to it, thanks Petra
@calebengelhart5524
I'm 13 in 2021 and I love Petra best artist/band ever
@journeytoinfiniteself7520
How can anyone even dislike this. Wonderful song