“For me, there’s a magic in the live connection,” Ronnie says, explaining the bond he feels with his audience. “I think it comes from being vulnerable. In a strange kind of way I feel like I’m the guy in the audience. It’s like I’m sitting out there next to him listening. I don’t feel like the stage separates me from anyone else in the room. I don’t believe in pretension. I just love going out and connecting with people. I think every artist hopes people will connect with their songs, and I do hope that, but even more than that I want them to connect with my heart, personally.”
While Ronnie continued touring vigorously, he made a conscious decision not to rush the creative process simply to get another record out in the typical 18-month industry cycle. Instead, he began to write at a more leisurely pace, waiting for moments of inspiration, allowing the songs time to simmer as he shaped and reshaped them. Over a period of three years he crafted the 10 songs that now comprise his second release, God Speaking.
Freeman’s willingness to be patient with his muses is evidenced in the subtlety and organic fluidity his new project displays. As with his debut, the smooth vocals and articulate, emotive piano riffs take center stage, but there’s an even deeper yearning at play here, something that Ronnie says he’s only really beginning to understand in retrospect.
“A close friend of mine listened to my new record and said ‘You had no idea that what you were writing two years ago would be perfectly orchestrated for this time and season,’” Ronnie observes. “I think he’s right. I think these songs came out of a longing for something to take place that’s only just happened in the last few months. Everybody’s got those closets in their heart, the ones that are filled with all sorts of trash and clutter, that you don’t want to open or acknowledge. For me, I see now that that’s what I was doing with my life. I let God and other people into some parts of my life, but there were those closets I just kept closed. There were some dark corners I needed to open up and let the light into and just clean out.”
As Ronnie recognized the need to progressively surrender more fully to the convicting and illuminating work of God’s Spirit, the Nashville-area church where he serves on staff as a worship leader and “artist-in-residence” encouraged him to take a three-month sabbatical in order to “reach a new place of intimacy with the Lord.” The paradox of the process was that as Ronnie worked through some deep heart issues, he found that he had already documented the journey--sometimes years in advance--in the cycle of songs that he had recorded for God Speaking.
“I don’t want to misrepresent the record as being dark,” he says. “At the heart of these songs is a message of light and freedom and victory. If you look at them together, the songs reflect the struggle and the hope, as well as the freedom that’s found on the other side. It’s a journey, and this project stretches from the beginning of that journey to the end point. It’s about what happens when you let the light in. The funny thing is, I was in the middle of it when I wrote these songs. Now it’s going to be cool to be able to be the guy on the outside of the hole, reaching in and saying to those who are in some hard places, ‘Come on, grab hold.’”
The project’s first single, “God Speaking,” is an understated, melodic, rock ballad that centers on the Creator’s faithfulness to meet us wherever we are in that journey toward freedom. While other standout songs on the CD—such as the guitar-driven “Breakaway” and the worshipful duet with Christy Nockels (Watermark), “My Inheritance”—mark the beginning and ending points of the journey, “God Speaking” is, musically and lyrically, the heart of the album.
“I could take you directly to the spot on McEwen Road where I pulled over while listening to Nichole Nordeman’s Brave album,” Ronnie remembers. “I was so moved and aware of God speaking to me through a song that I scribbled down the lyric, ‘Have you ever heard a love song that set your spirit free…’ Of course He speaks through His Word, but even when we’re ignoring that, He speaks through songs, through stories, through sorrow, through sunsets. Sometimes I just find my heart beating fast because God is using something to make His Truth or His character known. He brings His message of hope to the believer and the nonbeliever both, and it’s freeing to know He’s so much bigger than us, and we can’t contain the way He speaks.”
Presenting his new collection of songs from a posture of greater freedom and humility, Ronnie Freeman expresses hope that God Speaking will become for others what it has already been for him: a soundtrack for their spiritual journeys.
“I hope these songs will inspire people to reflect,” he concludes, “to come to that crossroads of faith where they examine their own hearts and lives. I personally played church for so long, and I want to call people out of that. Not in a scolding way, but in an inviting way. I want to call them into a new place. A place, where together, we can hear God Speaking.”
Don't Give Up On Me
Ronnie Freeman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen you cry of sins to pay
So many ways that I've tried to love you
Tried to show you a better way
Just when I think there's nothing more that I can do
There's a look in your eyes that's sayin'
Love me like you do today
See beyond my pain and sorrow
Even if I push you away"
This same mercy knows no measure
And if this is what you believe
Don't give up on me, yeah, don't give up
Not long ago, I can remember
Crying out for another chance
A prisoner of heartbreak and weakness
Just a victim of a circumstance
Somebody chose to love their way into my world
'Cause they heard me say, yeah, yeah
Don't give up on me tomorrow
Love me like you do today
See beyond my pain and sorrow
Even if I push you away
Your same mercy knows no measure
And if this is what you believe
Don't give up on me
(Don't give up, don't give up)
Yeah, oh, oh
Yeah, don't give up
Don't give up on me
Don't give up
Don't give up, Lord
Don't give up on me tomorrow
Love me like you do today
See beyond my pain and sorrow
Even if I push you away
Don't give up on me tomorrow
Love me like you do today
See beyond my pain and sorrow
Even if I push you away
Your same mercy knows no measure
If this is what you believe
Don't give up on me, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Don't give up on me, yeah, yeah
Don't give up
The song "Don't Give Up on Me" by Ronnie Freeman is a moving plea for unconditional love and mercy in the face of personal struggles and pain. The first verse speaks of the years that the singer has known the listener and the struggle that they have undergone. Despite the ways that the singer has tried to love and help the listener, there can be moments of despair when it feels like there is nothing more that can be done. However, there is a look in the listener's eyes that seems to say, "Don't give up on me tomorrow. Love me like you do today. See beyond my pain and sorrow, even if I push you away."
The second verse reveals that the singer himself has been in a similar situation. He was once a "prisoner of heartbreak and weakness" and someone chose to love him and bring him into their world. The chorus repeats the plea for mercy and love that is not based on deeds or accomplishments but simply on belief. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and a final plea not to give up.
The song is a powerful reminder that love and mercy can transcend any circumstances or personal struggles. It is a call to extend grace and forgiveness to others, just as someone once did for the singer. The song encourages us to look beyond people's actions or words and to love them unconditionally, as God loves us.
Line by Line Meaning
So many years I have known you
I have known you for many years
I've seen you cry of sins to pay
I have seen you cry because of the consequences of your mistakes
So many ways that I've tried to love you
I have tried to love you in many different ways
Tried to show you a better way
I have tried to show you a way to improve your life
Just when I think there's nothing more that I can do
When I feel like I have exhausted all my resources
There's a look in your eyes that's sayin'
I see a certain expression in your eyes that makes me feel like you haven't given up yet
"Don't give up on me tomorrow
Please don't abandon me
Love me like you do today
Continue to love me as you do now
See beyond my pain and sorrow
Try to understand me even when I'm struggling
Even if I push you away"
Even if I seem to be pushing you away, please don't go
This same mercy knows no measure
The power of mercy is limitless
And if this is what you believe
If you believe in mercy and compassion
Not long ago, I can remember
I can still remember not too long ago
Crying out for another chance
Begging for another opportunity
A prisoner of heartbreak and weakness
Feeling stuck because of heartbreak and emotional struggles
Just a victim of a circumstance
Feeling like a victim of circumstances outside of your control
Somebody chose to love their way into my world
Someone decided to show me love and care even when I didn't deserve it
'Cause they heard me say, yeah, yeah
Because they heard me expressing my need for help
Yeah, oh, oh
Don't give up on me
Please don't give up on me
Your same mercy knows no measure
The mercy you show is boundless
If this is what you believe
If you truly believe in mercy and compassion
Don't give up on me, yeah
Please don't give up on me
Don't give up on me, yeah, yeah
Please don't abandon me
Don't give up
Please don't give up on me
Don't give up on me tomorrow
Please don't abandon me in the future
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RONNIE FREEMAN, GINNY OWENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind