Housefires – Yes and Amen

Housefires is an American Contemporary Christian band originally began as Grace Midtown, releasing two live albums, Songs for the City (2009) and Unhindered (2010) before switching names in 2014.

Under the name Housefires, they released five albums and one EP, including:

• Housefires (2014)
• Housefires II (2014)
• and Housefires III (2016)
• We Say Yes (2017)
• Housefires V (2019)
• Housefires + Friends (Live) (EP, 2020)

Housefires lead singer, Pat Barrett, also released two solo albums, including Pat Barrett (2018) and Canvas and Clay (2019).

Also, check out my reviews of Build My Life and Good Good Father.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Housefires-yes-and-amen-lyrics.

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?

It makes many truthful claims about God.  He is:

• Kind
• Gracious
• Rescuer
• Peacemaker
• Merciful
• Steadfast
• Liberator
• Promise-keeper
• Attractive
• Redeemer
• Blessed

In response, Housefires expresses their gratitude in song, proclaiming God’s faithfulness.  They are confident that His promises are “yes”, where they can give the “amen”.

Score: 10/10

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

This song and the Bible are in agreement.

[Verse 1]

Line 1: God is kind (Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 17:7, Psalm 31:21, Psalm 36:7, Psalm 63:3, Psalm 69:16, Psalm 117:2, Isaiah 54:8, Isaiah 63:7, Ephesians 2:7,  and Titus 3:4-6).

Line 2: He lavishes His grace upon Housefires (Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20-30, Romans 4:1-7, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:16, Romans 9:31-32, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 3:21, Galatians 5:2-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:3-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 6:1-2, and James 2:10-11).

Line 3: Housefires is no longer dead in sin (Proverbs 21:16, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1-2, Colossians 2:13, and 1 Timothy 5:6).

Line 4: That is, internal peace (John 14:27, John 16:29-33, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:14-15, and Colossians 3:15).

Line 5: God grants mercy because He is a merciful God (Exodus 33:19, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 145:9, Lamentations 3:22-23, Luke 6:36, Romans 9:15-16, Ephesians 2:4-5, Titus 3:5, Hebrews 4:16, and 1 Peter 1:3).

Line 6: That is, God rescues Housefires (Genesis 15:1, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 34:4, Psalm 56:3-4, Psalm 94:19, Psalm 115:11, Psalm 118:6, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 41:10-13, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 54:4, John 14:25-27, Romans 8:15, Romans 8:38-39, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Peter 3:13-14, 1 Peter 5:6-7, and 1 John 4:18).

Line 7: This is Housefires’ response to who God is and what He has done stated in previous lines.

[Chorus]

Lines 1 and 2: Yes, 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).

Line 3: Repeats line 1.

Line 4: God’s promises are “yes” and in response, Housefires give the “amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Line 5: Repeats line 4.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: It is the kindness of God that is attractive as it leads to repentance (Romans 2:4).  He transformed Housefires from wicked sinners worthy of eternal separation from God, cursed and marred by their lawbreaking, to a life full of hope, light, and God (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

Line 5: God is both blessed (Psalm 113:2, Job 1:21, and Daniel 2:19-20) and Housefires’ redeemer (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 John 1:9, and 1 John 2:2).

Line 6: As prophecied by Isaiah 61:1 and fulfilled in Luke 4:18-20 by Jesus.

Line 7: Repeats Verse 1, line 7.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: Housefires expresses trust in God on His promises and faithfulness, pointing to Chorus, lines 1, 2, and 4.

Lines 3-8: Repeats lines 1 and 2.

[Outro]

Lines 1 and 2: Housefires thanks God for His faithfulness.  See Chorus, lines 1 and 2.

Line 3: The pronoun shifts from “me” (Housefires) to “we” (all of us) thanking God.

Line 4: Repeats line 3.

Lines 5 and 6: This is a good reason to hang onto hope.

Line 7: This line is for people who did not know previously before hearing this song, that God is faithful.

Lines 8 and 9: Repeats lines 5 and 6.

Line 10: Combines Verse 1, line 1, with Chorus, lines 1 and 2.

Line 11: Essentially repeats line 10.

Line 12: That is, we agree that our Heavenly Father is faithful.

Line 13: Repeats line 11.

Lines 14: Essentially repeats line 12.

Lines 15-20: Essentially alternates between lines 13 and 14.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Verse 2 and Outro explicitly state the words “Lord” and “God”, lending to a religious interpretation.  The combined set of attributes in section 1 will not be lost on unbelievers, pointing to Christianity.  Housefires combines Christianese with common language to communicate their message, making interpretation easy for those who do not yet follow Jesus.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies the Father as Housefires’ faithful Savior who keeps His promises and source of internal peace.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Housefires’ Yes and Amen is superior.  It describes God through attributes, including merciful, gracious, steadfast, and kind, worthy of Housefires’ adoration and thankfulness who brings glory to God in song.  Unbelievers will easily interpret this as Christian, following Housefires’ intended meaning.

I highly recommend this for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Yes and Amen (listen to the song)

Artist: Housefires

Album: Housefires III

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2016

Duration: 7:06

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

Updates:

03/24/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.