The City Harmonic is a Canadian Christian rock band formed in 2009 in Hamil… Read Full Bio ↴The City Harmonic is a Canadian Christian rock band formed in 2009 in Hamilton, Ontario. Elias Dummer (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Eric Fusilier (bass), Aaron Powell (guitar), and Josh Vanderlaan (drums) collectively make up The City Harmonic. Their music has been described as "nostalgic Brit-pop meets campfire sing-along mix that features raucous gang vocals along with agile, soaring anthems crafted to include the listener". Musically, their sound is often compared to artists like Coldplay, Keane, Aqualung, The Fray, or Arcade Fire. In 2011 they won three Covenant Awards from GMA Canada for New Artist of the Year, Recorded Song of the Year and Modern Worship Song of the Year and a Juno Award for the 2013 Christian/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year.

The band released their debut EP, Introducing the City Harmonic, on November 23, 2010 in Canada and the United States, Their début single, "Manifesto" appeared in the charts in several categories.After appearing on the K-LOVE Morning show on February 8, 2011, Introducing The City Harmonic rose to No. 5 on the iTunes sales charts in the Christian & Gospel Albums category. As of May 4, 2011, "Manifesto" remained on Billboard Magazine's Christian charts for 15 weeks.The song has also been featured as the walk-up song for Oakland Athletics outfielder Seth Smith, was recently played at a San Diego Padres game, and was selected as the anthem for the National Day of Prayer celebrations in Nashville.
The EP was also released in January 2011 in Britain.

The band released their first full-length album titled I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home) on October 18, 2011. On the iTunes Christian/Gospel chart it hit No. 1 in Canada and stayed in the top 4 in the U.S.On November 5, 2011 it peaked at 34 on Billboard's 'Christian Albums' chart, and at 6 on the 'Heatseekers Albums' chart. A song from this album, "Holy (Wedding Day)" was released on September 21, 2012. As of January 22, 2012 it had reached 39 on the Billboard chart of Christian Songs and had the fifth biggest jump.
The group was nominated for a 2012 GMA Dove Award for "New Artist of the Year."
On April 20, 2013, the band won a Juno award for Christian/Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year.

I Am
The City Harmonic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I am a man who built his house on sand
I am a thief upon a cross
I’m just like Judas, that sorry fool who can’t be glad for what he’s got
That’s why I’m hanging on to the cross on which I’ve flung my hopes and dreams
It’s by the grace of God I hang my head and sing

My God
You are good,

You are great,
You are love
I Am

I am a man who has been bought by love.
I am a man who sold his soul.
I’m like the man, who when he found his pearl:
He gave up everything he owned.

That’s why I’m hanging on to the cross on which I’ve flung my hopes and dreams
It’s by the grace of God I lift my hands and sing – sing!

My God,
You are good.
You are great,
You are love, You are love, You are love, You are love

And I am loved.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The City Harmonic's song I Am express a strong sense of humility and recognition of one's faults and shortcomings. The opening lines of the song, "I am a man who built his house on sand / I am a thief upon a cross," speaks of one's vulnerability and the realization that we are all flawed and have fallen short of the glory of God. The song then goes on to reference Judas, who betrayed Jesus, and makes a parallel to how we can be ungrateful for what we have and always want more. However, despite our imperfections, the singer finds hope in the cross, recognizing that it is only through the grace of God that we can find redemption.

The chorus, "My God, You are good, You are great, You are love / I Am," is a powerful declaration of faith and reminds the listener that no matter how small or insignificant we may feel, we are loved by God. The second verse picks up on this theme, emphasizing that we are bought by love and that we should be willing to give up everything we own in return. The song ends with a hopeful affirmation of love, that "I am loved," and a repetition of the chorus.

Overall, The City Harmonic's song I Am is a powerful reminder that despite our flaws and failures, we are loved unconditionally by God and can find hope and redemption through the cross.

Line by Line Meaning

I am a man who built his house on sand
I am someone who has made foolish choices and built his life on an unstable foundation.

I am a thief upon a cross
I have committed wrongs and am in need of redemption.

I’m just like Judas, that sorry fool who can’t be glad for what he’s got
I identify with Judas, who betrayed Jesus despite receiving so much, and recognize my own inability to be grateful for what I have.

That’s why I’m hanging on to the cross on which I’ve flung my hopes and dreams
I am placing my trust and faith in Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself on the cross for the redemption of humanity.

It’s by the grace of God I hang my head and sing
I am humbled by God's grace and mercy, which allow me to find hope and joy even in the midst of my struggles.

My God
Addressing and acknowledging the existence of God.

You are good,
God is kind, benevolent, and morally upright.

You are great,
God is powerful, mighty, and majestic.

You are love
God's fundamental nature is one of love, expressed through his love for humanity.

I Am
God identifies himself to Moses in the Old Testament as 'I Am', indicating his divine nature as the eternal and self-existent one.

I am a man who has been bought by love.
I recognize that my redemption and salvation are a result of God's love for me and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

I am a man who sold his soul.
I acknowledge that I have made mistakes and done wrong in my life, and that I am in need of forgiveness and redemption.

I’m like the man, who when he found his pearl:
I relate to the parable of the pearl of great price, in which a man gives up everything he has to obtain something of great value.

He gave up everything he owned.
I recognize that true fulfillment can only be found in God, and that I must be willing to let go of anything that holds me back from fully committing myself to him.

It’s by the grace of God I lift my hands and sing – sing!
I am filled with gratitude and joy as I praise God for his goodness and mercy towards me.

You are love, You are love, You are love, You are love
Repeating and emphasizing the central truth that God's nature is love.

And I am loved.
I recognize and accept God's love for me, which gives me worth and significance even in the midst of my flaws and shortcomings.

Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing

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