Shane & Shane – Yearn

Contemporary Christian duo Shane & Shane started in 2001. They released a staggering 32 albums (including solo and Christmas), 4 live albums, and 3 EP’s.  Studio albums include:

• Psalms (2002)
• Carry Away (2003)
• Upstairs (2004)
• Clean (2004)
• An Evening with Shane & Shane (2005)
• Pages (2007)
• Glory in the Highest: A Christmas Record (2008)
• Everything Is Different (2009)
• The One You Need (2011)
• Bring Your Nothing (2013)
• The Worship Initiative (2015)
• Psalms, Vol. 2 (2015)
• Hymns, Vol. 1 (2018)
• Hymns (Live) (2019)

Also, check out my reviews of Though You Slay Me, and Psalm 23 (Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy).

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?

The song’s title summarizes the entire song: It is about Shane & Shane’s longing for God.  It is Him who puts this hunger in their hearts.  The same God who created them and gave them breath.  It is in Him that Shane & Shane live, move, and have their being.  In response, they sing about how much they want God.

Score: 10/10

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

The entire song aligns with Scripture.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

Holy Design
This place in time
That I might seek and find

Shane & Shane’s striving is a work of God (1 Samuel 10:9, Psalm 51:10, Jeremiah 24:7, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 2:29, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and 2 Corinthians 7:10).

My God, my God
Lord, I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You

In response, Shane & Shane seeks, thirst for, and longs for God (Psalm 63:1).

Lord, I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You

Repeats lines 5-7.

Lord, I want to yearn

That is, they yearn for God.  Essentially repeats line 5.

Your joy is mine

The joy of the Lord is Shane & Shane’s strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

Yet why am I fine?
With all my singing and bringing grain
In lights of Him

Shane & Shane answer this later in the song.

I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You
Lord, I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You

Essentially repeats lines 5-7.

Oh, You give life and breath

Ideeed!  God is responsible for our existence (Genesis 1:12,Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:24-25, Genesis 1:31, Genesis 2:07, Genesis 9:09, Genesis 9:10, Ruth 4:13, 1 Samuel 2:21, Job 1:21, Job 33:04, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 71:06, Proverbs 22:02, Jeremiah 23:24, and John 10:10).

And in You we live and move

As quoted from part of Acts 17:28, in God we live and move and have our being.

That’s why I sing

Shane & Shane sing because God created them and changed their hearts to yearn for Him.  This answers the question posed earlier in the song.

Lord, I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You
Lord, I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You
Lord, I want to yearn
I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You
Lord, I want to yearn for You
I want to burn with passion
Over You, and only You
Lord, I want to yearn

Essentially repeats lines 5-7.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Those outside Christianity will likely know that Shane & Shane worship their deity, desiring Him because He created them and changed their hearts.  While I am tempted to think that it could apply to any god whose adherents claim created them and changed them, aside from Judaism, to which Christianity derives, how many would call their god “Lord”?  I can’t imagine many unbelievers would conclude it’s not Christian; However, Commenter JM gave one instance where it occurred.  Perhaps it’s more prevalent than I initially realized.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God when we yearn for Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Shane & Shane’s Yearn is Scriptural.  God created Shane & Shane and changed their desires so that they would long for God, bringing Him glory.  Those who are not yet Christian will likely interpret similarly.

Those looking for simplicity in their worship set may want to consider adding this song.

Final Score: 9.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Yearn (listen to the song)

Artist: Shane & Shane

Album: Upstairs

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2004

Duration: 4:22

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

*Copyright © 2004 True Bliss Music (BMI) WAITING ROOM MUSIC (BMI) River Oaks Music Company (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.

Subtracted two points from section 3 based on JM’s comment, slightly lowering its overall score from 10/10 to 9.5/10.