Maverick City Music (Feat. Mav City Gospel Choir, Chandler Moore, DOE & Jonathan McReynolds) – Breathe

Maverick City Music is essentially a congregation that sings together.  They released six EP’s and eight albums, including:

• Maverick City Vol. 1 EP (2019)
• Maverick City Vol. 2 EP (2019)
• Maverick City Vol. 3, Part 1 (2020)
• Maverick City Vol. 3, Part 2 (2020)
• You Hold It All Together (EP, 2020)
• Maverick City Christmas (EP, 2020)
• Move Your Heart (EP, 2021)
• Jubilee (EP, 2021)
• Como En El Cielo (Spanish, 2021)
• Old Church Basement (with Elevation Worship, 2021)
• Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition (2021)
• Tribl I (with Tribl, 2021)
• Venga Tu Reino (2021)
• A Very Maverick Christmas (2021)

They were really busy in 2021!

They won three awards last year, including one Billboard Music Award for Top Gospel Album for their album Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 and two GMA Doves: New Artist of the Year and Worship Album of the Year (Old Church Basement).

Also, check out my previous Maverick City Music reviews.

Lyrics can be found at https://gospelmetrics.com/maverick-city-music-breathe/.

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?

This song’s title reminds us of our NEEDTOBREATHE.  Kidding!

It starts by identifying experiences that some people are going through, including worries, stress, and those who wait patiently for things to get better, as if to say “this song is for you”.  Maverick City Music suggests that, rather than responding naturally by holding our breath, we should control our breathing to relieve anxiety.  We do this spiritually by giving God our burdens, praising God, and telling others about Him.  As for our physical response, Healthline also recommends controlled breathing.

Maverick City Music admits that God sometimes allows us to go through hard times, yet, we should continue to trust Him.  They also follow their advice, worshipping God instead of making a fuss.  They are not suggesting we should avoid venting.  It’s important to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).  However, we shouldn’t make complaints a pattern of our lives.

I take exception with part of Chorus.  Specifically, where it calls breathing a “miracle”.  As I’ll explain in section 2, we should avoid describing natural phenomema as miracles.

Side Notes: For those sensitive to massive repetition, Bridge and Refrain are the biggest heavy hitters.  Bridge repeats the same two lines, with very little difference, eight times in a row.  Refrain does it three times with one set of two lines, followed by a second set of three with two different lines.

Also, Maverick City Music stated that this song was written in response to the verdict of the Derek Chauvin Trial involving the death of George Floyd.

Score: 9/10

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

Though most of the song is Biblical, claiming breathing as a “miracle” is somewhat incorrect.

[Intro]

Lines 1 and 2: Humming.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-6: That is, this song is meant for people who experience uneasiness, unsorted thoughts, hopelessness, and frustrated with their current situation.

Line 7: While the idiom “don’t hold your breath” normally means that something will take a long time, shortness of breath is a symptom of anxiety.

[Chorus]

Side Note: This commentary is based on Chorus’ second iteration, which gives context to its first and third refrains.  I’m aware that its second refrain comes after Verse 2; Hoever, Chorus first appears before Verse 2.

Line 1: Maverick City Music offers practical advice to those experiencing stress: breathe!  If you examine the link posted in my commentary to Verse 1, line 7, Healthline offers the same advice, albeit more detailed.

Line 2: We should be careful how we use the word “miracle”.  Miracles are rare events that occur, requiring a basic understanding of how nature normally works to recognize them.  Yes, it was miraculous that God breathed into Adam and he became a living being (Genesis 2:7); However, I am reluctant to call normal, everyday breathing as “miraculous”, especially since all the miracles I’ve read about in Scripture defy natural explanation.

Line 3: There’s three ways we can interpret “release the breath of God”.  First, all Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16) that we give to others (Matthew 28:18-20).  Second, the same Holy Spirit breathed on Jesus’ disciples (John 20:22) should be given to others.  Third, it is healing via Word of Faith, that faith-speaking into someone’s darkness guarantees healing.

Of these, the first interpretation makes the most sense.  We exhale the Word of God planted in our hearts through obedience (James 1:21-22), walking by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). The second interpretation is included in the first because Jesus’ words regarding the Holy Spirit is part of Scripture.  The third interpretation contradicts Verse 2, line 3.  For more information on this concept, check out Michelle Nezat’s breakdown of Exhale by Plumb.

Finally, the aforementioned Healthline article, linked in Verse 1, line 7, confirms controlled breathing as a powerful mechanism to control anxiousness.

Lines 4 and 5: We who breathe give God our worries (Matthew 11:28-30) by praising Him (Psalm 150:6).

Side Note: In Chorus’ first and third iterations, these two lines are combined as a single line.

Line 6: We were created to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7).

Lines 7-13: Essentially repeats lines 1-6.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: See Verse 1, lines 1-6.

Line 3: Yes, He literally calms storms (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25); However,  Maverick City Music meant the storms of our lives. I appreciate Maverick City Music’s acknowledgement that sometimes God allows us to suffer, that our petitions will be answered according to the Father’s glory (John 14:13).  The rain and wind discipline us, making us better people full of hope (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 12:4-11, and James 1:2-4).

Line 4: Repeats Verse 1, line 7.

[Interlude (1)]

Line 1: Southern baptist lingo (usually in black churches) for “everyone praise the Lord”.  This is confirmed in lines 7 and 8.  See Chorus, lines 4 and 5.

Lines 2 and 3: Repeats line 1.

Lines 4-8: As summarized in1 Timothy 1:17 and Revelation 4:11, God is worthy to receive honor, glory, and praise.  Also contains part of line 1.

[Bridge]

Lines 1-3: Maverick City Music describes their feeling upon receiving physical and spiritual breathing:  They feel stronger.

Line 4: Essentially repeats line 2.

Lines 5-18: Essentially repeats lines 1-4, though including “heart beating” as another feeling Maverick City Music experiences.

[Interlude (2)]

Line 1: Repeats Chorus, line 5.

Lines 2 and 3: Maverick City Music Quotes from Psalm 34:1, that His praise will remain on their lips.

Lines 4 and 5: Regardless of storms or rescue, Maverick City Music will praise God.

[Refrain]

Lines 1 and 2: Maverick City Music quotes from Psalm 103:1, that every fiber of their being will bless God.

Lines 3-6: Essentially repeats lines 1 and 2, inviting others to bless.

Lines 7-13: Maverick City Music practices what they preach in Interlude (1).

[Outro]

Lines 1-3: Maverick City Music chooses to use their words to bless rather than grumble (Philippians 2:14-15).

Lines 4-7: Rather than moan, Maverick City Music will use their breath to:

• Worship God (Psalm 86:12, Psalm 103:1-2, Psalm 103:22, Psalm 119:10, and Psalm 138:1)
• Trust God (1 Corinthians 16:13, 2 Corinthians 1:24, Ephesians 6:11, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 4:1, Colossians 1:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 4:14, Hebrews 6:11, Hebrews 10:23, and 1 Peter 5:9)
• Tell others about God (Matthew 28:18-20)

Lines 8 and 9: Essentially repeats Chorus, line 6.

Lines 10-12: All other uses of our breath that do not glorify God are rubbish (Philippians 3:8). Maverick City Music admitted to it from personal experience.

Line 13: Summarizes the entire song.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Many unbelievers will recognize that Maverick City Music is addressing their situation, depending on their level of suffering. Maverick City Music recommends controlled breathing, alongside surrender and praise the Lord. They also quote from passages of Scripture that some unbelievers might recognize come from the Bible. It might be possible that those outside Christianity to interpret this as Judaism, but I have my doubts. Regardless, they will know that Maverick City Music wants them to continually praise God while avoiding complaints. Some will likely pick up on Maverick City Music making light of miracles.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God that Maverick City Music offers practical advice to overcome anxiety, it minimizes “miracles” from rare events to common phenomena.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

Maverick City Music’s Breathe is overall positive.  It calls us to forsake our worries and our strive to praise God, engaging in spiritual and physical practices that help us breathe better.  These include giving God our problems, telling others about God, and positive thinking.  These glorify God.  While Maverick City Music should avoid calling breathing a miracle, unbelievers should be able to piece together their message.

If you disagree with my stance on miracles or have alternative lyrics for it, consider worshipping with this song.  Those annoyed by massive repetition might want to avoid it.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Breathe (listen to the song)

Artist: Maverick City Music (Feat. Mav City Gospel Choir, Chandler Moore, DOE & Jonathan McReynolds)

Album: Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition

Genre: Gospel

Release Year: 2021

Duration: 8:01

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