While founder Belville is a devout Christian, it is difficult to apply the same label to the band itself; while the lyrics are at times clearly infused with a strong element of faith, they are not specifically based around praise and at no point could they be considered to be preaching a message.
The music of The Echoing Green is heavily based in electronic sounds, however these are used more for their melodious structure than any desire to create an electronic dance outfit. As such, the music comes across as a well shaped, driving flow of intricate harmonies, underpinned with somewhat reflective, even introverted, lyrics.
Terra Firma
The Echoing Green Lyrics
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And your heart is pushing the flowers up
From where your feelings died
And you look and you see the sand
You see the wind is blowing
From where you are to where you used to
Stand
Stand
You used to stand
The thunder rolls and comes crashing in
And the lightning shows you where you are
Remembering where you've been
You feel the blood falling from your hands
You try to find the strength
That picks you up to find your place to
Stand
Your place to stand
(When you fall it's the fear)
Your place to stand
Your place to stand
(When you fall it's the fear)
Your place to stand
(When you fall it's the fear)
Your place to stand
(When you fall it's the fear)
The fear of the ground is holding you down
A scream with no sound
Your parallel rise and fall
Your life is hanging from a strand
You're falling away
The end of your day
Your reason to stay
Condemned by the words you say
An extended nail-pierced hand
Can find your place to
Stand
Your place to stand
(When you fall it's the fear)
Your place to stand
Your place to stand
(When you fall it's the fear)
The fall you took has been pushed aside
And your heart is pushing the praises up
To the One who died
Get up!
Get up!
When you fall it's the fear...
The fear of the ground is holding you down
(When you fall it's the fear)
The fear of the ground is holding you in the sand
(When you fall it's the fear)
So find your place to stand
(The fear of the ground is holding you down)
Your place to stand
(The fear of the ground is holding you down)
(When you fall it's the fear)
Your place to stand
(The fear of the ground is holding you down)
Your place to stand
(The fear of the ground is holding you down)
(When you fall it's the fear)
Your place to stand
The Echoing Green's song "Terra Firma" depicts a person's struggle with fear, pain, and uncertainty while eventually finding strength through faith. The song starts with the singer having fallen from within with their feelings having died. They look around, seeing the wind blowing from where they are to where they used to stand. The thunder rolls and crashes into the person, reminding them where they are and where they've been. The singer is shown trying to find the strength to get up and find their place to stand, despite the fear of falling again.
The fear of the ground is holding the person down, as they scream without sound, parallel with their rise and fall. The person's life is hanging from a strand, and they're falling away, giving up. But the song's climax comes when the person finds a God-given strength to get up, once again finding a place to stand. The singer's heart changes, and instead of being pushed down by fear, they now push their praises up to the One who died for them.
In conclusion, "Terra Firma" is a song about overcoming fear and self-doubt through faith. The song shows that falling is normal, but what matters is our resilience and courage to get back up and find our place to stand.
Line by Line Meaning
The fall you took was from inside
You've been struggling internally and the effects of it are now showing.
And your heart is pushing the flowers up
You're starting to heal and grow, and your heart is thriving despite the pain.
From where your feelings died
You've experienced deep emotional pain and trauma that has caused you to feel completely numb.
And you look and you see the sand
You're reminded of where you stand in life and what's holding you down.
You see the wind is blowing
You're aware that life is constantly changing and out of your control.
From where you are to where you used to stand
You're reflecting on the past and how much you've lost or changed since then.
The thunder rolls and comes crashing in
You're constantly faced with obstacles and challenges that feel overwhelming.
And the lightning shows you where you are
You're getting a clearer picture of your current situation and what's holding you back.
Remembering where you've been
You're reflecting on your past experiences and how they've shaped you.
You feel the blood falling from your hands
You're feeling guilty or responsible for things that have happened in your life.
You try to find the strength
You're searching for the courage to move forward and overcome your challenges.
That picks you up to find your place to stand
You're looking for a way to stand on your own two feet and take control of your life.
The fear of the ground is holding you down
You're too afraid to take risks and make changes because you fear failure and the unknown.
A scream with no sound
You're silently suffering and struggling to vocalize your pain and distress.
Your parallel rise and fall
You're experiencing ups and downs at the same time, making everything feel chaotic.
Your life is hanging from a strand
Your life feels fragile and uncertain, and you're afraid it could fall apart at any moment.
You're falling away
You're losing your grip on your life and feel like you're falling apart.
The end of your day
You feel like you're nearing the end of your life or reaching a final breaking point.
Your reason to stay
You're searching for a reason to keep going and find purpose in your life.
Condemned by the words you say
Your negative self-talk and criticism are keeping you from moving forward and finding peace.
An extended nail-pierced hand
You're being offered help and support, possibly from a higher power or from someone who's been in your shoes.
Can find your place to stand
You can overcome your struggles and find your way back to a stable and fulfilling life.
The fall you took has been pushed aside
You're no longer dwelling on past failures and are pushing forward with a fresh perspective.
And your heart is pushing the praises up
You're finding joy and appreciation for the positive things in your life.
To the One who died
You're looking to a higher power, specifically Jesus Christ who died for our sins, for guidance and strength.
Get up!
You're being motivated to get up and take action towards improving your life.
When you fall it's the fear...
You're recognizing that fear is what's been holding you back and causing you to stumble.
So find your place to stand
You're being encouraged to find your stability and move forward, despite your fears.
Your place to stand
You have the power to take control of your life and find your place in the world.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: John Jorgenson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind