“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” —John 3:16. “Drops in the Ocean,” written by the Christian band Hawk Nelson, demonstrates how much God loves His people by incorporating key song-writing devices. Hawk Nelson wrote this song from God’s perspective, as He would speak. Essentially, then, this piece acts as a letter from God, telling His children about His everlasting love. Overall, “Drops in the Ocean” uses key musical and poetic devices in order to convey the general meaning of the song in an effective way.
On the technical side of this piece, the musical aspect plays a large role in the effectiveness on the song, as do the poetic devices. For the
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From the beginning of the chorus, “If you wanna know how far my love can go… If you wanna see how much you mean to me,” it becomes apparent that this song talks about God’s great love. While “Drops in the Ocean” targets those who might feel alone, or rejected, this song can draw anyone closer to the greatness of God’s unending love. In addition, the voice of “Drops in the Ocean” seems kind, accepting, and understanding, as it represents God’s voice. Likewise, a sense of sympathy arises in the line “It breaks my heart to see you suffering,” creating a warm tone and atmosphere and bringing the piece to a personal level. This song also implies that God cares about each and every person as the lyrics seem directed to a single person with the constant repetition of the pronoun “you,” further enhancing the personal aspect. Finally, Hawk Nelson wrote this song in order to help listeners feel the power of God’s love and become closer to Him. “Drops in the Ocean” uses subject, audience, voice, and purpose in order to create a sturdy frame to support the meaning of the …show more content…
At the beginning of the song in the lines, “I want you as you are not as you ought to be, Won’t you lay down your guard and come to me,” Hawk Nelson relates how people should stop striving to reach perfectionism. No one existing on this earth at any point in time (except Jesus) can live without sin; rather, they can seek forgiveness from God and accept his everlasting love. “Drops in the Ocean” suggests that God always stands with his arms opened wide, waiting for His people to repent and come to Him for forgiveness, grace, and redemption, for only through repentance can anyone fully experience the greatness and power of His grace and love. Likewise, the most prominent part of the song, the chorus, reminds listeners of the greatest love ever shown and the greatest gift ever given to mankind. In addition to their stated meaning, the lines “If you could count the times I’d say you are forgiven, It’s more than the drops in the ocean…” also imply that God’s love surpasses the size of the ocean and suggest that He washes away the stains of sins like water cleansing the unclean. Within these lyrics lies a significant truth about God’s love: no matter what, it lasts forever. Hence, the infinite number of “drops in the ocean” represents the infinite number of times that God forgives—His love knows no limits. Overall, Hawk Nelson emphasizes God’s love in “Drops in the Ocean” and this theme plays
To start with, no matter age or gender, even the ones facing severe problem of surviving, these individuals trust God. For example, when LeAlan and Lloyd try to investigate the murder, they meet Tymeka, a teenage mom who still lives in the high-rise the murder took place in. Although she is having a hard life, she stays religious to “pray for all them children” (p.111), for both the young victim and murderers in the crisis. This is connected to the title gospel element of the song. “Is God a Three Letter Word ...
“When I fall” is a lyrical song written by Steven Page and Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies. It is about a window washer who is at a critical moment in his life. The song is structured in such a way that a progression and transformation is seen in the window washers troubles from worrisome to life threatening. The window washer is the persona of the poem, and in the first stanza he expresses a fear. He is somewhere he doesn’t want to be and is scared. This is followed by the chorus of the song in which it is made clear that he wants to make a change in his life, but is afraid of failure. At this point the window washers troubles take on the form of deep mental anguish where he resorts to prayer and laments on the physically and mentally troubling aspects of his world. In the next stanza, the window washer comments on the prestige of the boardroom he looks into as he washes the windows. Here he addresses the change he wants to make in his life and states that he would like to swap places with the business men in the room. However, he realizes that this is impossible because they would never agree to lower themselves to the stature of a window washer. When he realizes this, his thoughts become radical and he contemplates suicide. By the end of the song however, he pulls himself together and realizes that what he does and who is does have some value in the world.
As he hits an angle of actuality, he says, “Survivors would have us believe … some bolt of truth forking across the water” (17-18). In a mocking tone, Collins suggests that the ones who live speak of a life changing moment that was shone upon them and the world is meant to believe the absurdity. He also emphasizes the ‘Light’, describing it as “dawning on you with all its megalithic tonnage” (20) to show much it is exaggerated by these so called ‘survivors’. He is a part of the minor crowd that does not believe in such ridiculous talk and states his opinion as, “But if something does flash before your eyes as you go under, it will probably be a fish” (21-22). Speaking harshly realistic, he points out that the person drowning is most likely to see something as minor as a fish than a grand truth or life vision. Throughout this stanza, he defines this type of death to be a quick, irrelevant death. Along with this, he accentuates the small difference it would make, like someone spitting in the
For example, one line, “Soon our pilgrimage will cease; Soon our happy hearts will quiver, with the melody of peace,” which is saying that one day we will die, and you can’t stop that. “Lay we every burden down; Grace our spirits will deliver, and provide a robe and a crown,” also reveals that you should appreciate what we’ve had, and what was given to us. This song is telling you, in every line, that you can’t live forever, but appreciate what you have, while you
..., but still pleads for God to "take me in" (ll. 41), and promises to "pay...in happiness" for mercy. Once again, the speaker demonstrates the same desires for physical treasures that he expresses in the first stanza as he asks God to "give mine eye / A peephole there to see bright glory's chases" (ll. 39-40). Even in the God's kingdom, the speaker reveals his humanity as he focuses on ornamentation which starkly contrasts with God's divinity as He has the ability to show love even for sinners.
Throughout the movie Snow Falling on Cedars, the sea represented life and death on many occasions and Scott Hicks was trying to convey the idea that one mans blessings can also be his downfall. The sea was a way of life for the fishermen, but i...
The elements in the poem work very well together to help set the theme of this poem. The tone set the overall mood of the poem, so show that it was rushed but not in a chaotic way. The imagery helps to show us little details of the setting, which are very helpful. And finally, the figures of speech, help the reader to compare the scene to things they have experienced in their lifetime to fully understand the poem.
Even though we believe there are so many happy things around us, these things are heartbreaking. The poems “Tips from My Father” by Carol Ann Davis, “Not Waving but Drowning” by Stevie Smith, and “The Fish” by Elizabeth Bishop convey the sorrow of growing up, of sorrowful pretending, and even of life itself. The poem “Tips from My Father” depicts an episode of the life of a father and his son. The pain from the childhood, the betraying of a lover, countless secrets are settling during the period of life, which can absolutely not be shared and understood by others.
There are two main rhythmic ideas that are present in this piece. The first is the regular rhythmic pulse in the pianos and mallet instruments
Amazing Grace is a legendary song” published in 1779”(www.princeton.edu/-achaney/tmve/wiki100/docs/Amazing-Grace.html) that is also a poem where there are verses in this poem that suggest that the composer John Newton (1725-1807) was going through a pivotal point in his life and he felt that by writing these harmonic verses in rhythmic metaphors could captivate and inspire not only those that read “Amazing Grace” but especially everyone that listened to its meaning. Conviction can come at a time when it seems you are most likely going to die from an act of God, and all the wrong that someone has done becomes a consciously enormous burden when they start to consider what the after life may have as punishment or reward. There are many different responses to this poem. Most of the responses are positive, but when you look at the author John Newton’s life you will start begin to understand the gist of what he is saying and the meaning behind them. The point of view, tone, and content are some elements that prompt some very interesting responses that may alter ...
Deep inner thoughts that no one wants to tap into. The speaker is accepting the idea of death in the ocean through his unconscious, but his conscious mind is trying to push back and begin the “measured rise” (Hayden 4) back to the surface.
Also, the word “pours” carries a much heavier connotation than the word “rains,” thus alluding to the fact that on some days, the decision to come out feels like the weight of the world resting on your shoulders. These are the days that make one want to scream as described in Mercury’s next lyric: It's the terror of knowing/ What the world is about/ Watching some good friends/ Screaming 'Let me out'.” Here, the terror of knowing that society will criticize and label you as an outsider is what frightens the homosexual community. Thus, with the immense amount of pressure pushing down on them, those screaming “let me out” are the ones losing their minds and identities as they struggle to accept the fact that they will be ostracized by society if they reveal their true sexual
The second verse tells us about the many attempts the mentor has made to rejuvenate the teens life, ?Lay down a list of what is wrong/The things you've told him all along.? The last two lines in the second verse are repeated ?and pray to God he hears you/and pray to God he hears you? which is emphasizes the angst of the mentor because of the numerous times he has tried to save the teen.
It is the duty of the sea to act as a navigation system, so humanity is always going in the right direction. It also acts as a way for us to get the water we need to survive, to catch the food man needs for nourishment, and provide cleanliness, which is equal to godliness. This stanza portrays water as a friend, that guides us in the right direction, and a parent that provides us with everything needed to survive and be prosperous. This once again strikes home the point that the world is an extension of God, created to bring mankind ultimate pleasure - the water that He created acts as a willing servant, and parental figure, such as God is usually
The character sets himself on religion and makes that his "sanctuary" from the sea. Thus the joys of God are fervent with life, where life itself fades quickly into the earth." (lines 64-66). The feeling of exile is presented throughout the writing.