Hillsong Young & Free – Highs & Lows

Hillsong Church is a megachurch founded in 1983 in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, Australia.  It was formerly led by Hillsong Founder Brian Houston.  Hillsong possesses a massive discography, spanning across four music ministries.  These include Hillsong UNITED, Hillsong Worship, Hillsong Young & Free, and Hillsong Kids.

Hillsong has won several awards within their Hillsong UNITED and Hillsong Worship artist groups.  As of this writing, there are no awards for Hillsong Young & Free or Hillsong Kids.

Also, check out my entire list of Hillsong reviews and Christmas songs, Seasons and Prince of Heaven.

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?

Despite Hillsong’s present dark situation, God is with them.  He will not let them go.  He is the light that illuminates their shadows.  He is merciful, gracious, loving, forgiving, and trustworthy.  Hillsong was chosen before the foundation of the world.

Score: 10/10

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

All the lyrics line up.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

When it feels like the dark
Lingers longer than the night
When the shadows feel like giants
Are You chasing me down?

Hillsong ponders if God is there amid the storms of their lives.  Verse 2 answers this in no uncertain terms.

[Verse 2]

Tell me where could I run
From Your light, where could I hide
Hemmed within Your precious thoughts
There’s no hiding from Your love

Hillsong cannot run or hide from God (Psalm 139:7-12).  He repairs their broken hearts (Psalm 147:3 and Hebrews 12:4-11).  He is light (Psalm 27:1, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130, Matthew 4:16, John 1:1-8, John 8:12, Ephesians 5:14, James 1:17, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:5-7, and Revelation 21:23).

[Chorus 1]

Highs and lows
Lord, You’re with me either way it goes
Should I rise or should I fall
Even so

Whatever Hillsong faces, God is with them (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 139:7-10, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39, and Revelation 3:20).

Lord, Your mercy is an even flow
You’re too good to let me go

God will not relinquish those who are His (John 6:39, John 10:27-29, John 17:12, and John 18:9).

[Verse 3]

Should I dance on the heights
Or make my bed among the depths
Your mercy waits at every end

Essentially repeats the same ideas as Chorus (1).

Like You planned it from the start

References election (Exodus 33:19, Deuteronomy 7:7-8, Deuteronomy 9:4-6, Isaiah 65:1, Matthew 22:1-14, John 15:16-17, Romans 8:29-39, Romans 9:10-24, Romans 11:1-6, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Ephesians 1:3-14, Colossians 3:12-14, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15, 2 Timothy 1:8-9, 2 Timothy 2:10 James 2:5, and 2 Peter 1:3-11).

[Verse 4]

Should the dawn come with wings
Or find me far-side of the sea
There Your hand still fastens me
Ever closer to Your heart, ooh

Essentially repeats the same ideas as Chorus (1).

[Chorus 2]

Highs and lows
Lord, You’re with me either way it goes
Should I rise or should I fall
Even so
Lord, Your mercy is an even flow

Repeats Chorus (1), lines 1-5.

Should I rise or should I fall

Repeats line 3.

You are faithful through it all

God is faithful (Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 7:9, Psalm 33:4, Psalm 91:4, Psalms 119:90, Lamentations 3:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:13, Hebrews 10:23, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 John 1:9).

You’re too good to let me go

Repeats Chorus (1), line 6.

[Interlude]

Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh

References Casper, the friendly ghost.  This is sung a number of times.

[Chorus 3]

Highs and lows
You surround me either way it goes
Should I rise or should I fall
Lord, You’re with me through it all, ooh
Highs and lows
In the rhythms of Your grace I know
Should I rise or should I fall
You are faithful through it all
And You’re too good to let me go

Repeats/essentially repeats Chorus (2), except for line 6, which references God’s undeserved favor (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).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers should easily conclude it’s Christian given that it speaks of a forgiving, gracious, and loving “Lord”.  Hillsong’s language is everyday and easy to comprehend.  They essentially repeat the same idea over and over again using different words: Whatever Hillsong faces, God is there with them.  Should they follow Jesus, He will be there with them as well.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies the Lord.  He is present, merciful, unyielding, illumination, whose chosen will not be given up.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Hillsong Young & Free’s Highs & Lows has its ups but not any downs.  Whatever we face, God is there with us to be our beacon of light and hope amid dark times.  He is loving, faithful, gracious, and forgiving.  He chose us before the world started and will not let us go.  No matter where we go, we cannot escape Him.  These bring Him glory.  Unbelievers should have little to no issues interpreting similarly.

While not my personal favorite, this song is appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Highs & Lows (listen to the song)

Artist: Hillsong Young & Free

Album: III

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 5:55

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*Copyright © 2018 Hillsong Music Publishing (APRA) (adm. in the US and Canada at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.