His funeral was open to the public and had a massive gathering. He is buried in the Harrison Township Cemetery in Hollansburg, Ohio, alongside his baby brother who died as an infant and his father.[
Between 1974-78, Mullins attended Cincinnati Bible College. He worked in a parking garage to help pay for his schooling. [7] From 1975 -1978 he was also the Music Director and Youth Director at Erlanger United Methodist Church in nearby Erlanger, Kentucky. [8]
In the mid-1980s he moved to Nashville, Tennessee to begin his professional recording career.
Mullins is best known for his worship songs "Step by Step" (later incorporated into his hit single "Sometimes by Step") and "Awesome God", both of which have been embraced as modern classics by many Christians. Some of his albums are also considered among Christian music's best, including Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth (1988), The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume One (1991) and A Liturgy, A Legacy, & A Ragamuffin Band (1993). His music has been covered by many artists, including Caedmon's Call, Five Iron Frenzy, Amy Grant, Jars of Clay, Michael W. Smith, John Tesh, Chris Rice and Third Day.[1]
In 1988, Mullins moved to Wichita, Kansas where, in 1991, he enrolled as a student at Friends University and lived with his best friend, David Strasser (a.k.a. Beaker). He graduated with a B.A. in Music Education on May 14, 1995 [12]. After graduation, he and musician Mitch McVicker moved to a Navajo reservation in Tse Bonito, New Mexico to teach music to children. They lived in a hogan at the reservation until his death.
Rich Mullins is also remembered for his devotion to the Christian faith, which was often an inspiration to others. He was heavily influenced by St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226). In 1997, he composed a musical called Canticle of the Plains, a retelling of the life of St. Francis set in the Old West. [2]
His biggest hits were the praise choruses Awesome God and Step by Step. Three of his albums are considered among Christian music's best: Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth (1988), The World As Best As I Remember It, Volume 1 (1991) and A Liturgy, a Legacy & a Ragamuffin Band (1993). The posthumous The Jesus Record include one disc of demos he had recorded shortly before his death, and a second disc of recordings of the songs completed by The Ragamuffin Band, several with guest vocalists.
Mullins often called St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) his hero. He modeled his life after St. Francis by showing great compassion towards the poor and adhering to a vow of poverty. In 1997, he composed a musical about the life of St. Francis set in the Old West titled Canticle of the Plains.
Mullins was seen as an enigma to the Christian music industry. Often barefoot, unshaven, and badly in need of a haircut, Mullins did not look like the average American Gospel music writer. He was very much at home among the non-Christians, and unafraid to name his own sin and inadequacies in public. This baffled some in the American Christian culture where he seemed an odd member. His lifestyle was unquestionably marked by devotion and discipline, yet his simultaneous refusal to subscribe to contemporary Christian "niceties" made him a bit of an uncomfortable presence in the Christian music culture. Although he achieved a significant amount of success on Christian radio, he never received a Dove Award until after his death.
Unlike most artists in Contemporary Christian music, Mullins did not consider his music his primary ministry, but rather a means to pay his bills. Instead, his ministry was the way he treated his neighbors, family, enemies, and those outside the church. Taking a vow of poverty, he accepted a small church salary and spent the last years of his life on a Navajo reservation teaching music to children.
The River
Rich Mullins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another mile farther down the road
A man can drive as hard as he can drive
And never get as far as his heart was meant to go
Sometimes when you look up in the sky
You think we might be closer than you know
Another tune forms in my head
Oh, I could play these songs til I was dead
And never approach the sound that I once heard
I remember when I was just a kid
Listening in the sky
Believing that the wind would stir
And I know the river is deep
I found out that the currents are tricky
And I know the river is wide
And oh the currents are strong
And I may lose every dream
I dreamt that I could carry with me
But I have failed so many times
And You've never let me fall down alone
Maybe she could come to Wichita
And maybe we could borrow Beaker's bike
We'd let the rogue wind tie our hair in knots
Let the speed and the freedom untangle the lines
Maybe fear can vanish before love
Oh God, don't let this love be denied
Cause I know the river is deep
I found out that the currents are tricky
And I know that the river is wide
And oh, the currents are strong
And I could lose every dream
I dreamt that I could carry with me
Oh, but I will reach the other side
Please don't let me have to wait too long
Another hour deeper in the night
Another mile farther down the road
We could be closer than you know
In "The River," Rich Mullins uses driving metaphors to talk about the human journey and our search for meaning and purpose. The first verse speaks to the frustration of feeling like we're not making progress in our lives, even when we're working hard. The second verse is about Mullins' creative process as a songwriter, and how he feels like he's only scratching the surface of the beauty and truth he's trying to express. The third verse harkens back to Mullins' childhood, when he believed that the wind could stir up messages from God in the sky.
In the chorus, Mullins returns to the metaphor of the river to talk about the challenges we face when we're trying to find our place in the world. He acknowledges that the currents are tricky and the river is wide, but he's determined to keep moving forward, even if he loses some of the dreams he started out with. The final verse is a more personal plea to God for help and guidance, and a reminder that even when we feel lost, we may be closer to our destination than we realize.
Overall, "The River" is a song about perseverance and hope in the face of uncertainty and doubt. Mullins' language is poetic and evocative, and he uses the driving and river metaphors to great effect to create a sense of movement and urgency in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Another hour deeper in the night
As time passes, we are getting further into the darkness of the unknown, as we travel through life's journey.
Another mile farther down the road
As we journey through life, distances are covered, goals are realized and lessons are learned.
A man can drive as hard as he can drive
No matter how determined we are, we can only push ourselves so far in pursuing our ambitions.
And never get as far as his heart was meant to go
Despite our efforts to aim high, without aligning ourselves with our true inner purpose, we can never live up to our potential.
Sometimes when you look up in the sky
At times, contemplating the vastness of the universe can give perspective to the finite nature of our existence.
You think we might be closer than you know
The unknown can be daunting, but sometimes we are closer to our destination than we think.
Another tune forms in my head
As creative beings, we are often inspired with new ideas that we can use to express ourselves.
More harmonies, more empty words
Although it may be easy to produce many empty pieces of work, true creativity requires depth and meaning.
Oh, I could play these songs til I was dead
Creating art is a lifelong pursuit, and true passion can transcend even death.
And never approach the sound that I once heard
Despite our best efforts, the magic of inspiration can often elude us and we may never truly capture the brilliance of our initial vision.
I remember when I was just a kid
Childhood memories can have a profound impact on our present, and remind us of the things we hold dear.
Listening in the sky
As children, we may have found solace in looking towards the sky, and reflecting on the mysteries of the universe.
Believing that the wind would stir
As we grow up, we lose some of the innocence and wonderment that allowed us to believe in the impossible and have faith in the world around us.
And I know the river is deep
Life is complex and full of uncertainties, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by its depths.
I found out that the currents are tricky
Navigating life's challenges requires resilience and adaptability, as the currents of fate can shift unexpectedly.
And I know the river is wide
Our journey may seem long and arduous, as we traverse the vast expanse of time and space.
And oh the currents are strong
We may be swept away by the force of life's circumstances, and feel powerless to control our own fate.
And I may lose every dream
Our aspirations may not always be realized, and we may face disappointment and heartache.
I dreamt that I could carry with me
We may hold onto our hopes and dreams, seeking comfort in the idea that they will one day be achieved.
But I have failed so many times
Life can be a series of setbacks and failures, but it is important to keep striving for success despite these challenges.
And You've never let me fall down alone
Even when faced with adversity, we can draw strength and support from our faith, and the knowledge that we are not alone in our struggles.
Maybe she could come to Wichita
Love can bring us hope and inspiration, and we may find ourselves longing for the presence of our loved ones.
And maybe we could borrow Beaker's bike
Shared experiences and moments of joy can bring us closer to those we care about, and create lasting memories.
We'd let the rogue wind tie our hair in knots
In moments of happiness and carefree abandon, we can revel in the beauty of life's simple pleasures and fleeting moments of joy.
Let the speed and the freedom untangle the lines
The freedom of movement and the rush of the wind in our hair can be a metaphor for the liberation we may feel when we let go of our worries and embrace the present moment.
Maybe fear can vanish before love
The courage we gain from love can embolden us to overcome our fears and face life's challenges head-on.
Oh God, don't let this love be denied
Love is a powerful force, and we may pray that it will not be thwarted by circumstances beyond our control.
Oh, but I will reach the other side
Despite the numerous obstacles we may face, we can hold onto the hope that we will one day achieve our dreams and reach our destination.
Please don't let me have to wait too long
We may yearn for success and fulfillment in our lives, and pray that these desires will be fulfilled without unnecessary delay or hardship.
We could be closer than you know
Even when times are hard and challenges seem insurmountable, we may be closer to our goals and dreams than we think.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: RICHARD MULLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind