Lauren Daigle – Look Up Child

Lauren Daigle is quickly becoming my second most popular artist to review, behind the juggernaut, Hillsong.  Thus far, I have reviewed O’Lord, Trust in You, and You Say.  This review, Look Up Child, is the title track for her most successful album to date, debuting at #3 on Billboard’s top 200 chart on September 16, 2018.  It was behind Paul McCartney’s Egypt Station (his first #1 album in 36 years) and Eminem’s surprise hit Kamikaze.  It also made #1 for top Christian albums, had the biggest sales week for a Christian music album in almost 9 years, and the highest ranking Billboard Christian album by a woman in over 20 years.  The last one was Rimes’ You Light Up My Life in 1997.

Needless to say, Look Up Child is a popular album.  How will her title track fare in my evaluation?  Let’s find out together.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Daigle’s message is simple: “You” is in control, regardless of our feelings or circumstances.  This probably refers to God, given that only God attains control regardless of wars, natural phenomena, or our own personal struggles.  Some additional pointers to God would have helped solidify my confidence that this interpretation is correct.

Side Note: To those bothered by massive repetition, the phrase “look up” appears 28 times.

Score: 9/10

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

Assuming that “You” refers to God, the lyrics agree with the Bible.  For this review, I’ve only taken one point away, since there are one or two pointers.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Where are You now
When darkness seems to win
Where are You now
When the world is crumbling

An expression of distress, asking God where He is.  Job, Jeremiah, and many of the Psalmists express similar feelings towards God, as though He is distant, far off, abandoning them to their fate (see Job 13:24, Psalm 10:1, Psalm 22:1, Psalm 13:1-3, Psalm 44:24, Psalm 88:14, and Jeremiah 14:8).

[Pre-Chorus]

Oh, I, I
I hear You say
I hear You say

Build up to the Chorus.

[Chorus]

Look up child
Look up child

Based on the Bridge, I can ascertain that “look up” is shorthand for “You have nothing to worry about, I am in control, just fix your eyes on me!”, per Hebrews 12:2.

[Verse 2]

Where are You now (Where are You?)
When all I feel is doubt
Where are You now
When I can’t figure it out

See commentary on Verse 1.

[Bridge]

You’re not threatened by the war
You’re not shaken by the storm
I know You’re in control
Even in our suffering
Even when it can’t be seen
I know You’re in control

That is, God is sovereign over His creation (see 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).

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This is always the fun part, peering into the minds of unbelievers and ascertaining their probable interpretation.  Would they make the connection between God’s control with the message “look up”?  It’s hard to say.  There isn’t a lot for them to go on, though perhaps if they knew Daigle followed Jesus, then it might be more probable.  However, I cannot expect them to make that connection.  More pointers would have been helpful.

Score: 5/10

4. What does this song glorify?

Given that His authority is on front display in the Bridge, Daigle’s focus is certainly on God’s glory.  However, this is the only connection that points the identity of “You” in that direction, sending a slight fog over God’s Shining Light.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Lauren Daigle’s Look Up Child is average.  If we assume God, there is much agreement with Scripture, highly bolstering the overall score and certainly worthy of applause.  However, the aforementioned drawbacks, in my humble opinion, makes Daigle’s Look Up Child somewhat unlistenable.  If you get some spiritual significance upon hearing, great!  I am happy for you.  However, it’s not for me.

Final Score: 8/10

Artist Info

Track: Look Up Child (listen to the song)

Artist: Lauren Daigle

Album: Look Up Child

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 4:34

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

*Copyright © 2018 CentricSongs (SESAC) See You At The Pub (SESAC) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) / Flychild Publishing (SESAC) / Fellow Ships Music (SESAC) / So Essential Tunes (SESAC) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.  I moved my commentary to a side note, updated sections 1, 4, and conclusion, and increased the score for sections 1 and 4.  This raised the overall score, from 7.5/10 to 8/10.