Phil Wickham – Reason I sing

Contemporary Christian artist Phil Wickham was 18 years old when he began his career in 2002.  Since then, he released 11 albums, including:

• Give You My World (2003)
• Phil Wickham (2006)
• Cannons (2007)
• Heaven & Earth (2009)
• Response (2011)
• The Ascension (2013)
• Children of God (2016)
• Living Hope (2018)
• Christmas (2019)
• Hymn of Heaven (2021)
• Hymn of Heaven (Acoustic Sessions) (2022)
• I Believe (2023)

He received four Dove awards for his work, including Songwriter of the Year – Artist (2022), Worship Recorded Song of the Year (2019, 2022), and Worship Album of the Year (2022).

Also, check out my other Phil Wickham reviews.

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?

Wickham provides reasons why he will sing about Jesus forever, that He:

• Liberated him from eternal damnation
• Clothes him in garments of praise
• Takes away his weariness
• Paid for his lawbreaking
• Resurrected
• Offers hope, joy, and eternal life
• Is good to him

For these reasons, Wickham will forever testify of His love in song unimpeded.

Score: 10/10

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

This song is completely Biblical.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

You brought me from darkness

Wickham was rescued from his former life of sin (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

And clothed me in garments of praise

Borrows from part of Isaiah 61:3.

Jesus, forever
My song will be You

Jesus is Wickham’s most important possession (Philippians 3:8-10).

Yeah!

Yes.

[Verse 2]

I’m living in freedom

See Verse 1, line 1.

You’ve taken my burdens away

As Jesus promised in Matthew 11:28-30.

Jesus, forever
My song will be You
Only for You

Repeats/essentially repeats Verse 1, lines 3 and 4.

[Chorus]

For the cross that You bore
And the debt that You paid (Paid!)
For the victory You won over death and the grave
And this is the reason I sing
For the hope that You give
And the joy that You bring
For the promise that Heaven
Is waiting for me

Wickham proclaims Christ in song because He:

• Paid his sin-debt on the cross (Isaiah 53:1-12, Matthew 20:28, Mark 10:45, John 1:29, John 3:16, John 19:30, Acts 4:12, Acts 20:28, Romans 5:6-10, Romans 6:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 1:3-4, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 2:14, 1 Timothy 2:6, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:15-26, 1 Peter 1:17-21, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 1:7, 1 John 2:1-2, and Revelation 5:9).
• Defeated death (Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 20:35-36, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 2 Timothy 1:10, and Hebrews 2:14).
• Gives him hope (Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, and 1 Peter 1:3-6).
• Brings him joy (Philippians 1:25, Philippians 4:4, and 1 Peter 1:8).
• Promises eternal life to him (Mark 10:29-30, John 3:15-16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 5:39-40, John 6:27, John 6:40, John 10:28, John 17:3, John 20:31, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22-23, Romans 8:18, 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Galatians 6:8, 1 Timothy 1:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:11, Hebrews 5:9, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:23-27, 1 John 5:10-13, 1 John 5:20, Jude 1:20-21, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 7:16-17, and Revelation 21:3-4).

And this is the reason I sing

Repeats line 4.

(Oh-ooh)

Calls to Casper the friendly ghost.

(Ooh-oh)

Repeats line 10.

[Verse 3]

I will not be silent
I’ll testify of Your grace

Much like Jesus in John 18:38, Wickham will testify to the truth.

Jesus, forever
My song will be You
Only for You

Repeats Verse 2, lines 3-5.

[Bridge]

So good
So good
You’re so good to me

God’s goodness is also exampled in 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 31:19-20, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 119:68, Psalm 135:3, Psalm 136:1, Psalm 145:9, Lamentations 3:25, Nahum 1:7, Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, and Luke 18:19.

Forever
I’ll sing
You’re so good to me

Wickham will sing of God’s goodness for all eternity.  Line 6 repeats line 3.

Hey!

Hello!

You’re so good
You’re so good
You’re so good to me
Forever
I’ll sing
You’re so good to me

Repeats lines 1-6.

Yeah!

Yes again.

[Outro]

(Oh-ooh)
(Ooh-oh)

Repeats Chorus, line 10.

Jesus, the reason I sing

Summarizes the entire song.

Jesus, the reason I sing
Jesus, the reason I sing

Repeats line 3.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

This song’s opening lines make it explicitly clear that this song is about worshipping Jesus.  Reasons offered are written in everyday language and easy for unbelievers to follow along.  Its only head-scratcher is “clothed me in garments of praise”, which is not important to understand this song’s overall theme.

Score: 9/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies Jesus as the One worthy of Wickham’s praise with rationale listed in section 1.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Phil Wickham’s Reason I sing is great.  Wickham intends to proclaim Jesus to the masses in song.  He sings because Christ rescued him from despair, paid for his sin, defeated death, and brings him joy and hope that cannot be found anywhere else.  These bring Him glory.  Aside from being clothed in praise, unbelievers should easily interpret similarly.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Reason I sing (listen to the song)

Artist: Phil Wickham

Album: Hymn Of Heaven

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2021

Duration: 4:29

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

*© 2021 Phil Wickham Music (BMI) / Simply Global Songs (BMI) / Cashagamble Jet Music (BMI) / Be Essential Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.