Lauren Daigle – Remember

Multiple American Music, Billboard Music, Grammy, and GMA Dove winner Lauren Daigle, much like all other artists, have been unable to perform live concerts.  They must find creative ways to adapt to the current COVID-19 pandemic, doing the unexpected.  We expect churches such as Hillsong and Elevation Worship to live stream; However, Daigle did something unexpected. She released the social distancing version of her hit song Still Rolling Stones.

Well played, Daigle!

While you’re streaming Daigle’s song, also consider reading my other 11 Lauren Daigle reviews, including O’Lord, Trust in You, You Say, Look Up Child, Rescue, Come Alive (Dry Bones), First, Light of the World, Rebel Heart,  Love Like This, and Everything.

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?

Daigle’s life is falling apart.  Fear has gripped her, making it difficult to see light at the end of her tunnel.  Daigle is unclear as to the source of her peril: is it external sources?  Is it because she believed lies.

In the midst of her self-loathing, she remembers “You”.  “You” has always been faithful to her.  She can’t stop thinking about how good “You” is!  Although unstated, it puts her focus off herself and onto “You” instead.

Who is “You”?  The only clues we get are the last two lines of Verse 2.  There is a connection to the accounts of David and Goliath, the statement that Jesus made about moving mountains, and Moses parting the Red Sea.  This puts me on the fence on how easily this could be interpreted as boyfriend/girlfriend language.  Surely Daigle could have used the name of God, or mentioned His attributes, or took more time to tell us about what God has done?  It is a watered-down version of the Psalms.

Side Note: To those who are sensitive to massive repetition, Bridge repeats four times, with “I can’t stop thinking about” repeating three times each iteration.

Score: 7/10

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

In section 1, I mentioned that I was on the fence about boyfriend/girlfriend language.  I’m in the same position about invoking a two-point penalty to assume God throughout these lyrics.  Therefore, I decided to only deduct one point.

Assuming God is “You”, all of it agrees with the Bible.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

In the darkest hour when I cannot breathe
Fear is on my chest, the weight of the world on me
Everything is crashing down, everything I had known
When I wonder if I’m all alone

Daigle is at a low point in her life, self-loathing about her scenario.  How did she get here?  She hints at it in Verse 2.

[Chorus]

I remember, I remember
You have always been faithful to me
I remember, I remember
Even when my own eyes could not see
You were there, always there

God is faithful even when we are not (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).

[Verse 2]

I will lift my eyes even in the pain
Above all the lies, I know You can make a way

This clarifies Daigle’s statement in Verse 1.  She believed lies.  Rather than thinking about herself, she chooses to fix her eyes on the One who makes a way out, to give her rest (Matthew 11:28-30).

I have seen giants fall, I have seen mountains move
I have seen waters part, because of You

Though she did not witness David slew Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1:51) or Moses part the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1-31), much like the mountains that fall (Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21, and Mark 11:23), Daigle allegorizes these events, stating that in the figurative sense, she’s seen God move in her life.

[Bridge]

I can’t stop thinking about
I can’t stop thinking about
I can’t stop thinking about
Your goodness

She fixes her eyes on the goodness of God (Philippians 4:8 and Hebrews 12:2)

I can’t stop thinking about
I can’t stop thinking about
I can’t stop thinking about
Your goodness

Repeats lines 1-4.

I can’t stop thinking about
I can’t stop thinking about
I can’t stop thinking about
Your goodness

Repeats lines 1-4

I can’t stop thinking about
I can’t stop thinking about
I can’t stop thinking about
Your goodness

Repeats lines 1-4

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unless unbelievers comprehend the references in Verse 2, lines 3 and 4, they will likely interpret this song as boyfriend language.  This is obviously not what Daigle intended; However, with little references to God, it is difficult to avoid this conclusion.

Score: 3/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God if we assume that “You” refers to God; However, Daigle’s failure in clarity veils it.

Score: 7/10

Closing Comments

Lauren Daigle’s Remember is average.  Although Christians will likely recognize it as a Christian song, where God rescues His followers from their darkness, its paltry references to God eases unbelievers into a boyfriend interpretation, veiling God’s glory.  Still, Daigle is correct: we should remember that God is faithful.

I cannot recommend this for corporate worship.

Final Score: 7/10

Artist Info

Track: Remember (listen to the song)

Artist: Lauren Daigle

Album: Look Up Child

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2018

Duration: 3:58

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

*Copyright © 2018 S.D.G. Publishing (BMI) Alletrop Music (BMI) CentricSongs (SESAC) See You At The Pub (SESAC) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com), Fellow Ships Music (SESAC) So Essential Tunes (SESAC) Flychild Publishing (SESAC) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.   I moved my commentary to a side note.