Pat Barrett (Feat. Ben Smith) – Canvas and Clay

Former Housefires member Pat Barrett went solo recently, releasing his first self-titled album in 2018.  He released Canvas and Clay in 2019.  Its title track is the recipient of this Berean Test review.  He is the first to sign with Bowyer & Bow.

This will be my third Berean Test review for Barrett.  Fourth if you include Good Good Father.  My other Barrett reviews include The Way (New Horizon) and Build My Life, which received average to great scores.

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?

Its major themes include God’s involvement in our individual creation, foreknowledge, love for us, works all things together for His glory and our benefit, and healer.  When we doubt, we turn to God for assistance.

Side Note: To those who are sensitive to massive repetition, Pre-Chorus 1 shows up four times.  Pre-Chorus 2 also appears four times.  Chorus is sung three times.  Bridge contains the same phrase that repeats eight times with succession, with each containing two almost identical sentence pairs.

Also, there is a studio version available at https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/patbarrett/canvasandclaystudioversion.html, which contains less repetition and no Bridge.

Score: 10/10

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

All of it agrees with Scripture.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

In my mother’s womb
You formed me with Your hands

Borrows from Psalm 139:13. God does not literally form us with His hands, but acknowledges as Him who is responsible for our creation.  Also, see Job 3:16, Psalm 51:5, Psalm 139:14–16, Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 49:1, Isaiah 49:5, Jeremiah 1:5, Jeremiah 20:15–18, Luke 1:36, and Luke 1:44.

Known and loved by You
Before I took a breath

References the foreknowledge of God (1 Kings 8:39, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Psalm 44:21, Psalm 139:4, Psalm 147:4-5, Isaiah 40:28, Matthew 10:30, John 16:30, John 21:17, Acts 1:24, Hebrews 4:13, 1 John 3:20) and the love He gives to us (Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 17:7, Psalm 36:5-7, Psalm 63:3, Psalm 69:16, Psalm 117:2, Isaiah 54:8, John 3:16, John 13:34, John 15:13, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 8:37-39, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 2:4-5, Ephesians 5:25, Titus 3:4, 1 John 4:8, and 1 John 4:16-19).

[Pre-Chorus 1]

When I doubt it, Lord, remind me
I’m wonderfully made

Upon doubt, Barrett requests of God a reminder of the truths described in Verse 1.

You’re an artist and a potter
I’m the canvas and the clay

God’s and man’s roles, as described in Isaiah 29:16, Isaiah 64:8, Jeremiah 18:1-9, and Romans 9:14-24

[Chorus]

You make all things
Work together
For my future
And for my good

Borrowed from Romans 8:28-30, which also implies our future with Him in glory.

You make all things
Work together

Repeats lines 1 and 2.

For Your glory
And for Your name

This is the purpose described in Romans 8:28 and confirmed in Isaiah 43:7.

[Verse 2]

There’s a healing light
Just beyond the clouds

That is, Jesus (Matthew 8:3, Matthew 9:29-30, Matthew 20:34, Mark 1:41-42, Mark 8:22-25, Luke 5:13, Luke 7:14-15, and Luke 22:51).

Though I’ve walked through fire
I see clearly now

That is, I was once spiritually blind, but now I see (2 Kings 6:17, Luke 24:31, John 3:3, John 9:39, Acts 26:12-18, 2 Corinthians 3:12-18, 2 Corinthians 4:6, and Ephesians 1:18).

[Pre-Chorus 2]

I know nothing has been wasted
No failure or mistake

See commentary in Chorus, lines 1 and 2.

You’re an artist and a potter
I’m the canvas and the clay

Repeats Pre-Chorus 1, line 3 and 4.

[Bridge: Pat Barrett]

Oh, You’re not finished with me
You’re not finished with me yet

God still has a purpose and a plan for us while we still live and breath on earth.  See commentary on Chorus, lines 1-4.

You’re not finished with me
You’re not finished with me yet
You’re not finished with me
You’re not finished with me yet
You’re not finished with me
You’re not finished with me yet
You’re not finished with me
You’re not finished with me yet
You’re not finished with me, no
You’re not finished with me yet (Oh, You’re not finished)
You’re not finished with me
You’re not finished with me yet
You’re not finished with me
You’re not finished with me yet (Oh, when I doubt it)

Essentially repeats lines 1 and 2, with the last line borrowing from part of Pre-Chorus 1.

[Outro]

Yeah
Lord, remind me
Lord, remind me
Oh, remind me

Repeats the second part of Pre-Chorus, line 1.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Considering the massive onslaught of “formed in my mother’s womb” from pro-life advocates (including me), it would be difficult for non-Christian Westerners to not make the connection between this phrase and Christianity.  The rest of it is easy to comprehend.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God through its truthful statements.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Pat Barrett’s Canvas and Clay is a good song.  It reminds us that God created us for His purpose and has our best interests in mind, glorifying Him.  Unbelievers will find interpretation easy.

Despite its many self-references, much of this song’s focus and praise are primarily directed toward God.  Therefore, this song is appropriate for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Canvas and Clay (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Pat Barrett (Feat. Ben Smith)

Album: Canvas and Clay (Live)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2019

Duration: 6:40

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

*Copyright © 2019 Bread and Wine Sounds (ASCAP) (adm. at breadandwineonline.com), S.D.G. Publishing (BMI) Vamos Publishing (ASCAP) Housefires Sounds (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.  I moved my commentary to a side note and increased section 1’s score.  This raised my overall rating, from 9.5/10 to 10/10.

11/19/2020 – Added a link to the studio version in section 1.  Also, I increased section 1’s score.  I penalized it too much for repetition, increasing its overall score from 9/10 to 9.5/10.

03/27/2020 – Upon further reflection and prayer, I decided that repetition does not impact an unbeliever’s interpretation or the lyrics’ inherent glorification of God. Therefore, I changed my score in sections 3 and 4, raising this review from 8.5/10 to 9/10.