Draylin Young (Feat. Kelsey Young) – New

Draylin Young is a relatively new artist.  He serves as the lead worship pastor of First Church Sterling Heights in Sterling Heights, MI. Young released a slew of singles, as well as his 2023 album Psalms, Hymns & Spirit Songs, Vol. 1.

Lyrics can be found at https://sonichits.com/video/Draylin_Young/New.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

God/Jesus:

• Is enough for Young
• Sacrificed Himself to purchase Young’s redemption
• Transforms lawbreakers into new creations
• Is the Way and the Truth
• Is the solid rock of Young’s faith

Young:

• Trusts in Christ
• Loves Jesus
• Yields to God
• Is set loose from sin’s snare
• Will enter heaven after he dies physically, peering at the streets of gold and angelic choirs singing.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

This song aligns with Scripture.

This song does not contain a Verse/Chorus/Bridge structure.  Therefore, I assigned stanzas for each paragraph.

[Stanza 1]

Side Note: This song starts with references to food that horses eat followed by calls to Casper the friendly ghost.  Also known as “hey” and “ooh”.

Lines 1-3: Young’s eyes are fixed on God (Hebrews 12:2) who is his portion (Numbers 18:20, Deuteronomy 10:9, Deuteronomy 18:2, Joshua 13:33, Psalm 16:5, Psalm 23:5, Psalm 73:26, Psalm 142:5, Psalm 119:57, Psalm 142:5, Lamentations 3:24, and Ezekiel 44:28).

[Stanza 2]

Lines 1 and 2: His shed blood paid the penalty for Young’s lawbreaking (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15-26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).

Line 3: See Stanza 1, lines 1-3.

[Stanza 3]

Lines 1-6: Describes Young’s surrender to God (Psalm 43:5, Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6), as well as God’s mercy on Young (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23).

[Stanza 4]

Line 1: Young is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Line 2: More Casper calls.

Lines 3 and 4: Repeats lines 1 and 2.

Line 5: Young clarifies that it’s Jesus who is making him new (Revelation 21:5).

Line 6-8: Repeats line 2, 1, and 2.

[Stanza 5]

Lines 1-3: Repeats previous ideas of Christ’s sacrifice (Stanza 2).  Also contains Young’s faith in Him (1 Corinthians 16:13, 2 Corinthians 1:24, Ephesians 6:11, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:1, Colossians 1:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 6:11, Hebrews 10:23, and 1 Peter 5:9).

[Stanza 6]

Lines 1-3: Quotes from part of John 14:6, as well as repeating ideas of surrender (Stanza 3).

[Stanza 7]

Repeats Stanza 3.

[Stanza 8]

Repeats Stanza 4.

[Stanza 9]

Lines 1 and 2: Lost and found are supported in Luke 15:1:32.

Line 3: That is, Jesus is the foundation (Deuteronomy 32:4, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 22:47, Psalm 18:31, Psalm 28:1, Psalm 62:2, Psalm 94:22, Psalm 118:22, Isaiah 28:16, Matthew 7:24-27, Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Ephesians 2:20, 2 Timothy 2:19, and 1 Peter 2:6)

Line 4: See Stanza 4, line 1.

[Stanza 10]

Lines 1 and 2: Young is freed from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

Line 3: The Holy Spirit lives in Young (Acts 6:5, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18, and 2 Timothy 1:14)

Line 4: Scripture verses on my commentary on lines 1 and 2 contrast deadness in sin with being alive in Christ.

[Stanza 11]

Repeats Stanza 9.

[Stanza 12]

Repeats Stanza 10.

[Stanza 13]

Repeats Stanza 4.

[Stanza 14]

Lines 1 and 2: Streets of gold are in New Jerusalem, where Young will take residence post-physical death (Revelation 21:21).

Lines 3 and 4: Probably not a reference to Revelation 4:8-11 since the four living creatures aren’t singing in this context. The angels may be singing in Young’s presence post-physical death.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song’s language is a mix of Christianese language and plain English, yet, unbelievers can follow along. They will conclude that Jesus saved Young from the consequences of his mistakes, making him into a new creation who trusts, adores, and loves God for His shed blood on the cross. Young will one day see Jesus after he dies.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as the One whom Young adores, worships, and follows. He is Young’s savior, redeemer, and liberator.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Draylin Young’s New is redemptive. It calls us to remember that Jesus is the source of our hope. He saved us from the consequences of our bad choices, transformed us into new creatures, and woos us to trust, adore, and worship him both now and in eternity. These bring Him glory. Unbelievers should be able to interpret similarly.

This song is suitable for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: New (listen to the song)

Artist: Draylin Young (Feat. Kelsey Young)

Album: N/A

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year:  2020

Duration: 4:03

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