Elevation Worship (Feat. Chandler Moore) – No One

Elevation Worship, much like Bethel and Hillsong, is a church-based worship band that competes for global Christian Music dominance and influence.  With their home in Charlotte, North Carolina, and led by controversial pastor Steven Furtick, it’s hard to deny how successful their worship division has become.

 They released many albums and EP’s.

They also won nine awards, including two Billboard for Top Christian Artist (2021) and Top Christian Song (Graves into Gardens, 2021), two GMA Dove awards for Spanish Language Album of the Year (Aleluya (En La Tierra), 2020) and Worship Recorded Song of the Year (The Blessing (Live), 2020).

Also, check out my other Elevation Worship reviews. 

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.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

It says many things about God:

• His name is YHWH/YHVH (Christians pronounce it as “Yahweh”)
• His name is set apart and shall not be taken in vain
• All creation is beneath Him
• No other gods exist
• God is incomparable
• Liberator
• Healer
• Walked upon the waters
• Responded to naysayers with fire amid a watery sacrifice
• Fells giants
• Shuts up lions
• Worthy of praise
• Comforts
• Provides
• Source of inner-peace
• Satiates
• Precious

My only beef with this song is part of its closing lyrics.  Specifically, “You’re everything I need You to be”.  I need You to be?  This sounds like Elevation Worship is ordering God around.  I realize that this is probably not their intent (other lyrics point to His Majesty over creation), and it was probably a spur-of-the-moment remark; However, it’s recorded and part of Elevation’s release.  I can’t just let it go without a small penalty.

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, This song goes:

• Verse X2 (with a small break in between)
• Chorus X2
• Verse
• Chorus X2
• Bridge (this one mirrors Psalm 136 in structure; it’s fine)
• Refrain (first half essentially repeats the same line 8 times; second half repeats the same block twice)
• Vamp (begins with six repeats of same line; ends with 4 repeats of same line followed by another 4 of a different line)
• Chorus X2
• Outro

Score: 9/10

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

Almost the entire song agrees with the Bible, except for part of Outro.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse]

Yahweh, Yahweh (Yahweh)

The English pronunciation of the tetragrammaton “YHWH” or “YHVH”.  We’re not sure if “Yahweh” is the correct way to pronounce it; However, we know what we mean, and God knows what we mean when we pronounce it this way.  Besides, if it was that important that we pronounce His name correctly, He would have preserved it.

Holy is Your name (Holy is Your name)

The name of God is holy (Mark 1:24, Luke 4:34, Acts 3:14, Acts 4:27-30, 1 John 2:20, Hebrews 7:26, and Revelation 4:8).

I don’t want to take it in vain

Lest they violate the third commandment (Exodus 20:7).

Yahweh (Yahweh), Yahweh (Yahweh)
Holy is Your name
I don’t want to take it in vain

Repeats lines 1-3.

[Chorus]

There will be no other God before You

Putting other gods before God violates the first commandment (Exodus 20:3).

There will be no other God before You

Repeats line 1.

‘Cause there is no one above You

God is sovereign (Genesis 1:1, Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11).

No one beside You

No other gods exist (Deuteronomy 4:35-39, Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Kings 8:60, Isaiah 44:6-8, Isaiah 45:5, Isaiah 45:21-22, Isaiah 46:9, and Joel 2:27), except as idols (Psalms 96:5).

And nobody like You

God is unique (Exodus 8:10, Exodus 9:14, Deuteronomy 3:24, Deuteronomy 33:26, Jeremiah 10:6, 1 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 7:22, 1 Kings 8:23, 1 Chronicles 17:20, Psalm 86:8, Psalm 89:6, Psalm 113:5-6, Jeremiah 10:7, Isaiah 40:18, and Isaiah 46:9).

There will be no other God before You

Repeats line 1.

There’s no one, no one, no one

No one else possesses the qualities that Elevation Worship attributes to God.

There’s no one, no one, no one

Repeats line 7.

[Bridge]

Who else can lead us, lead us to freedom?
(No one, no one, no one)
Who else can heal all our sins and diseases?
(No one, no one, no one)
Who else can walk, walk on the water?
(No one, no one, no one)
And who else can answer, answer by fire?
(No one, no one, no one)
And who else can bring down the tallest of giants?
(No one, no one, no one)
And who else can silence the roar of the lion?
(No one, no one, no one)
And who else is worthy, worthy of worship?
(No one, no one, no one)
Who else is worthy, worthy of worship?
(No one, no one, no one)

None but God can:

• Free us (Psalm 119:45, Isaiah 58:6, Isaiah 61:1, John 3:16-21, John 8:31-36, John 10:10, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:1-23, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 8:20-21, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 7:21-23, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 3:22, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, Colossians 1:21-23, Hebrews 2:14-15, and 1 Peter 2:16)
• Heal all infirmities (Matthew 8:3, Matthew 9:29-30, Matthew 20:34, Mark 1:41-42, Mark 8:22-25, Luke 5:13, Luke 7:14-15, and Luke 22:51)
• Walk on water (Matthew 14:22-34, Mark 6:45-53, and John 6:15-21)
• Respond with fire (1 Kings 18:20-40)
• Destroys giants (1 Samuel 17:1-58)
• Closes the mouths of lions (Daniel 6:1-24)
• Become worthy of worship (1 Chronicles 16:25, 2 Samuel 22:4, Psalm 96:4-5, Psalm 145:3, and Revelation 4:11)

[Refrain]

No one nowhere, no one nowhere
No one nowhere, no one nowhere
Nobody like You, nobody like You
No one nowhere, no one nowhere
No one nowhere, no one nowhere
No one nowhere, no one nowhere
Nobody like You
Nobody like You, nobody like You
There’s no one nowhere
No one nowhere, no one nowhere

Essentially repeats Chorus, line 7.

Lover of my soul, lover of my soul

As demonstrated on the cross (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, and 1 John 4:9-10).

Lover of my soul, lover of my soul

Repeats line 11.

There’s nobody, nobody
Nobody like You, nobody like You
There’s no one nowhere
No one nowhere, no one nowhere

Essentially repeats Chorus, line 7.

Lover of my soul, lover of my soul
Lover of my soul, lover of my soul

Repeats line 11.

Nobody like You
Nobody like You
No one nowhere, no one nowhere

Essentially repeats Chorus, line 7.

[Vamp]

I searched and I found nobody like Jesus

Essentially repeats Chorus, line 7.  Explicitly identifies Jesus as God (Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 43:10-11, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26, John 1:1-3, John 1:14, John 5:17-18, John 8:23-25, John 8:28, John 10:30-33, John 14:9, John 20:28-29, Philippians 2:5-6, Colossians 1:16-19, Colossians 2:8-9, Titus 2:13, 1 Timothy 6:14-16, Hebrews 1:10-12, Revelation 1:8, and Revelation 22:13).

I searched and I found nobody like Jesus
I searched and I found nobody like Jesus
I searched and I found nobody like Jesus
I searched and I found nobody like Jesus
I searched and I found nobody like Jesus
Yes, I’ve looked and I found nobody like Jesus

Repeats/essentially repeats line 1.

Who can heal me like Jesus (Nobody like Jesus)
Who can hold me like Jesus (Nobody like Jesus)
Who can keep me like Jesus (Nobody like Jesus)
Who can love me like Jesus (Nobody like Jesus)
Who can provide for me like Jesus (Nobody like Jesus)

In addition to the list of God’s acts provided in Bridge, Elevation Worship adds:

• Comforter (Psalm 23:4, Psalm 71:21, Psalm 119:50-52, Psalm 119:76, Psalm 119:82, Isaiah 51:3, Isaiah 57:18, Isaiah 61:2, Isaiah 66:13, Zechariah 1:17, Matthew 5:4, Matthew 11:28-30, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
• Sustains (Genesis 2:15-16, Genesis 9:3, Genesis 22:8, Exodus 16:1-36, Psalm 18:2, Psalm 34:10, Psalm 81:10, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 107:9, Proverbs 10:3, Malachi 3:10, Matthew 6:25-30, Matthew 7:7-8, Matthew 21:22, John 14:13-14, John 14:26, John 15:1-10, John 15:16, Romans 8:32, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8, and 2 Corinthians 12:9)

There’s nobody like Jesus (Nobody like Jesus)

Essentially repeats Chorus, line 5.

There’s nobody like Jesus (Nobody like Jesus)

Repeats line 13.

Can’t nobody do me like Jesus (Can nobody do me like Jesus)

A southern Gospel dialect for line 13.  Most likely spontaneous.

Can’t nobody do me like Jesus (Can nobody do me like Jesus)
Can’t nobody do me like Jesus (Can nobody do me like Jesus)
Can’t nobody do me like Jesus (Can nobody do me like Jesus)

Repeats line 15.

Nobody, nobody (Nobody, nobody)
Nobody, nobody (Nobody, nobody)
Nobody, nobody (Nobody, nobody)
Nobody, nobody (Nobody, nobody)

Essentially repeats Chorus, line 7.

[Outro]

There’s nobody like Jesus
I’ve tasted and I’ve seen nobody like Jesus
I’ve tried it for myself, there’s nobody like Jesus

Essentially repeats Vamp, line 1.

He’s kept my mind, all of my life, there’s nobody like Jesus
He who keeps me in perfect peace

Jesus is the source of Elevation Worship’s internal peace (John 14:27, John 16:29-33, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, and Colossians 3:15).

There’s nobody, nobody, there’s nobody like Jesus

Essentially repeats Vamp, line 1.

The one true and living God, no

See Chorus, line 5.

You’re everything I need You to be

I hate the wording of this because it assumes that, despite Elevation’s earlier statements of God’s rulership over creation, Elevation has the right to tell God what He needs to be for them.  Since this was probably a spontaneous statement, I’ll go easy on Elevation Worship.

You’re more than enough for me

Only God can satiate Elevation Worship’s thirsty souls (Psalm 34:10, Psalm 107:9, Jeremiah 31:25, and Revelation 7:16-17).

You’re everything I need You to be

Repeats line 8.

You are, You are
You are, You are
You are, You are
You’re everything to me, Lord

God is Elevation Worship’s most prized possession (Philippians 3:8-10).

You’re everything to me, Lord

Repeats line 14.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will see that Elevation Worship explicitly identifies Jesus as their object of worship.  The lyrics are written so that a child could understand it, much less an outsider to Christianity.  I’m not sure if they will pick up on Elevation Worship’s mistaken remark that God is everything they need Him to be, but it doesn’t belong.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God through His many acts and attributes listed in section 1, including His Authority, lovingkindness, and uniqueness, Elevation Worship’s off-hand comment that He is “everything I need You to be” does not.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Elevation Worship’s No One is great overall.  It presents Jesus as the living, existing God who rules, provides, loves, helps, and acts.  He is worthy of worship, cannot be compared, and provides peace, bringing Him glory.  Unbelievers will easily interpret similarly.

This song’s only issue is Outro’s “You’re everything I need You to be”.  This could be easily gutted, which will have earned this song on my corporate worship recommendation list.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: No One (listen to the song)

Artist: Elevation Worship (Feat. Chandler Moore)

Album: LION

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2022

Duration: 10:19

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2022 S.D.G. Publishing (BMI) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com), Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (BMI) / My Magnolia Music (BMI) / Be Essential Songs (BMI) / For Humans Publishing (BMI) / Maverick City Publishing (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.