Photo by Dominik Schröder
This request originally came to me under the famous artist Josh Groban. True to his form, he did not write You Raise Me Up. Rather, he covered it, popularizing it among the masses.
Originally written as the instrumental Silent Story, Secret Garden felt that it needed lyrics, requesting the aid of Brendan Graham to write it and Brian Kennedy to sing it. Josh Groban performed this song on Ellen Degeneres, American Idol, Oprah Winfrey, and Super Bowl XXXVIII among others.
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Secret-garden-you-raise-me-up-lyrics.
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?
Unfortunately, this song has fallen into the “Jesus as my boyfriend” trap. Not a single attribute of God is given nor does it contain an explicit reference to God, Jesus, the Father, or the Holy Spirit. “You” seems to carry no specific identity. Stanzas 1 and 4 could have vague connections to God; However, it is also easily interpreted as boyfriend language.
While I find the message emotionally moving, the repeated Stanza 2 also seems highly self-serving given our response to what “You” has done. “You” does all these wonderful things so that I can ascend to the heights of mountaintops, navigate by foot the tumult of oceanic activity, or find strength when “You” bears the brunt of our standing. It fits well within the westernized culture of “me”, but not in line with Biblical teaching.
Score: 2/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
We will assume “You” as God and invoke a 2 point penalty for this section.
While some lines have clear agreement with Scripture, others require an educated guess to find Biblical support. The first two lines of Stanza 2 are contrary to the Word of God.
Since there are no verses, I designated a stanza for each paragraph.
[Stanza 1]
Lines 1 and 2: This sounds like the start of a Psalm, for example, Psalm 60:1-4.
Line 3 and 4: Probably a reference to Psalm 46:10-11.
[Stanza 2]
Lines 1-4: That is not why God raises us up. Rather, it is to do good works that glorify God (John 15:8, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Galatians 1:3-5, and Ephesians 2:10).
[Stanza 3]
Repeats stanza 2.
[Stanza 4]
Line 1: A vague reference perhaps to spiritual hunger in Matthew 5:6, though not entirely clear.
Line 2: Another vague line that might refer to the sinful state of mankind in Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10, and Romans 3:23.
Lines 3 and 4: Summarized in Psalm 33:8, the natural result of experiencing God’s Presence is amazement, awe, and wonder. This gives us a foretaste of life with God in heaven.
[Stanza 5]
Repeats stanza 2.
[Stanza 6]
Repeats the last line of Stanza 1.
Score: 4/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
In short, those who do not yet follow Jesus can interpret this almost any way they want. It could be a boyfriend. Perhaps a parent. It might be God, but that is not implicit in these lyrics.
Score: 1/10
4. What does this song glorify?
Given the self-centeredness described in section 1, I can only conclude that this glorifies self, the complete opposite of God. It does have some vague notions that might point to God, but they are few and far between.
Score: 2/10
Closing Comments
Secret Garden’s You Raise Me Up is emotionally satisfying, but biblically meh. Though I understand that many have found healing and indeed, have strengthened their relationship with God through it, this “Jesus as my boyfriend” song has endless interpretations that make it difficult for unbelievers to find Jesus through it. Its overt focus on self does not glorify God.
Final Score: 2.5/10
Artist Info
Track: You Raise Me Up (listen to the song)
Artist: Secret Garden (Feat. Brian Kennedy)
Album: Once in a Red Moon
Genre: Celtic
Release Year: 2002
Duration: 5:04
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Comments
Robert (Paddy) Gallaugher
May I compliment you for encouraging honest and quite personal reviews of Brendan Graham’s song. I have found it instructive to compare your bold rejection of the message as without Biblical foundation with those comments that credit God with responding to non-religious sentiments in our lives. Thank you for this helpful discussion. Paddy Gallaugher
Vince Wright
Robert,
Thank you for your generous compliments! I am thrilled that I created a space where such discussion can happen openly, peacibly, and thoughtfully.
-Vince Wright
dadraypa
All those promises of this song continue to run through my mind, as I need someone to raise me up and quiet my spirit most of the time. I still recognize that the author (Brandan Graham) did NOT specifically refer to our loving God, but these promises, which are reinforced by the Holy Scriptures, are blessing and strengthening me these days (some very difficult). May God also raise YOU up!
dadraypa
This wonderful, expressive praise song still refers to “ALL of the above,” but ESPECIALLY to my heavenly Father and His loving son Jesus. I repeat it to myself while mowing, resting, playing, living! (I read Brandan Graham’s comments, too. Maybe it’s bigger than even he thinks!)
dadraypa
See also Brendan Graham’s own comments at https://www.hotpress.com/culture/brendan-graham-the-you-in-you-raise-me-up-22816691
dadraypa
I thoroughly enjoyed the comments here on this song. I wrestled with these same concepts for a couple of weeks before chosing it as my pipe organ prelude this Sunday. For me, it was a praise I offered to Him for “sitting a while with me when I am down and Oh, so weary”; for “raising me up to more than I could be” on my own; and for His promised strength and help to “walk on the troubled seas” I have and will encounter.
Hannah Schaitel
“You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains”
This lyric could possibly relate to Matthew 4 (when Satan tempted Jesus to have the whole world and worship him…and get on top of a mountain).
Red flag.
Soon Lawrence
Here is what the song writer, Brendan Graham, revealed who “YOU” in his song is… ….https://www.hotpress.com/culture/brendan-graham-the-you-in-you-raise-me-up-22816691
Vince Wright
Soon,
Thank you for your comment!
Just because the artist explains who “You” is doesn’t mean that the lyrics are clear on who “You” is.
-Vince Wright
Ezekiel David Salinas
Wait, Really? I thought this was meant to depict Jesus/God as a father figure.
richard in obihiro
Don’t know how “I am strong when I am on your shoulders” could be interpreted as having anything to do with Jesus or God. Never heard of Jesus holding children on his shoulders. Only fathers do that, and that is, for me at least, the true meaning of that song: a child looking up to his father (and certainly not to some sort of imagined “Father who art in heaven”).
Becky Spitzack
You are right on about this song. It crept again into my church tonight with the pastor’s blessing.
The message must get out…..”You Raise Me Up” is not a song about Jesus as your Savior.
Jonathan Collins
While this song may not directly glorify god by naming him it does do so by extension of the individual speaking in awe of how god blesses them and brings them up out of turmoil,
“when i am down and oh my soul so weary, when troubles come and my heart burdened be, then i am still and wait here in the silence, until you come and sit awhile with me”
This talks about how god is present when the troubles of life get them down, how he empowers and raises them up. He sits in the silence waiting for God (prayer), God raises him up to walk on stormy seas (Jesus called peter to walk to him on the stormy sea of Galilee), God raises him up to walk on mountains (mountain tops have always been associated with communing with God, Abraham going to sacrifice Isaac on the mountain top, Moses going up the mountain top to receive the 10 commandments, mount Sinai covered in smoke when God descended upon it, and other examples),
“i am strong when i am on your shoulders” and “you raise me up to more than i can be”
In other words my accomplishments and strength are due to you/God, you raise me up and make me more than i could be otherwise, not by my own power but as a result of your grace acting in my life.
While the song is subtle and not very direct in what it is saying, opting instead to use flowery language, I don’t know how it could be referring to anyone but God, he is the only one i know of who can do all that.
mirco
Thank for this comment, in my mind when I listen to this song that’s what I feel, but i think you can also interpret it in a way not tied to Jesus or God, but also to a moment of extreme falling when you are helped by someone who loves you deeply…. Anyway where someone needs to receive and someone else to give… help or love
Emanuel E. Harrison
I agree 100% with Jonathan’s interpretation. It is one reason why we hear this beautiful song being performed in so many Christmas celebrations. A Blessed Christmas to all.
Rejoice in the words of John 3:16. AMEN!
Andy
Sounds like my friend Jesus is coming.
But it’s not!!!
Not a bit of Chtist.
Christ promised his grace，which is entity not concept.
We need HIS grace，not emotional comfort.
This song is religious,it’s NEW AGE.
Charyl S. Liss
This song means a lot to me. Unfortunately like most all of modern faith music its self centric and short of doctrine. But that is why I make sure to listen Fanny Crosby, PPBliss,Issac Watts,
When I hear you raise me up, I see in my head the portraits of Jesus carrying the lamb across His shoulders, the Lord reaching down for the lamb fallen from the clifff
Owen
Thank you Vince. I’ve been struggling to connect this song with our Heavenly Father. I believe any song out there that claims to be a Gospel song must be just that, clearly proclaiming in a reverent way the name God the Father, Jesus His Son, and Holy Spirit and because Worship is dear to God’s heart, emotion and tears do not move Him, while these do not necessarily draw us nearer to Him. As true believers we need to constantly “test the spirits” It might be useful to remember that lucifer (satan) was a skilled musician and is master of deception targeting Believers. Just navigate through the music world and discover what is being labeled as Gospel music.
Eric Miller
I don’t understand how this article lifts anyone up, especially Jesus. Many psalms would appear to be completely selfish and not portraying the character of Jesus. Why can’t we allow the Holy Spirit to use songs and music how He wants, instead of telling people what to think about it.
Vince Wright
Eric Miller,
Thank you for your comments!
I agree that we should allow the Holy Spirit to use songs however He wishes. In fact, I said so in my evaluation criteria for section 4:
“When I say ‘glorifies God’, I am not suggesting that God cannot use a low-rated song to glorify Himself. God can use any song to draw attention to Himself, bringing Him glory. The score given is about the inherent glorification directly from the lyrics.”
I also agree that it’s not my job to tell people what to think about it. It’s up to us to decide for ourselves how we interpret and respond to music. My article provides my opinion on the song, which is subject to change.
-Vince Wright
Soon Lawrence
I agree with you… as the Holy Spirit works and moves within us… Thank you Lord, for guiding us.
Michael Wong
THANK YOU. So much contemporary music depict God, if that’s their actual intention, as the man upstairs, or huggable Santa Claus. Another “strike” against these cloying lyrics is their overuse at weddings, NON-Christian weddings. It is as you say, a Jesus as boyfriend TRAP. Like all vacuous worship songs that imply, or actually say outright, that we can “fall in love” with Jesus. Good Grief!!!
Vince Wright
Michael,
Thank you for your compliment! I appreciate that.
-Vince Wright
Willem Louis
Sometimes we fall in love with nice melodies and lyrics, without taking the time to check if the texts fall in line with Bible principles.
The logical analysis and the explanations provided to the public on how the song came about open my eyes real big to make careful choices of what I feed to my Church Congregation and the Worship Team as songs to glorify God Sunday after Sunday.
Thank you very much and may God bless you.
Vince Wright
William,
Thank you for letting me know! I am glad that my review helped.
-Vince Wright
Soon Lawrence
I was preparing our family service this morning and was thinking of using this as a theme hymn. Very happy to stumble upon this web. Very informative and educated me. Thank you!
Vince Wright
Soon,
My pleasure!
-Vince Wright
Denny
I heared a lot of issues with Bethel and Hillsong songs which prompted to check on the song “You Raise Me Up”. I am glad I came across this website. I agree with the analysis done here that its does not glorify God rather focuses on self.
Vince Wright
Denny,
Thank you for your support!
-Vince Wright