Tenth avenue north – Control (Somehow You Want Me)

Following three Dove awards, Tenth Avenue North released in 2016 “Followers”, which includes their hit song “Control”.  “This album is about following Jesus wherever He calls us,” explains frontman Mike Donehey. “Everyone says let’s follow Jesus – let’s do all these extravagant things but what we’re saying is not to follow Jesus in what we do but to follow Jesus in the WHY we do it.”

I too have been highly concerned with this mentality, given my conversations with self-professing Christians both on the streets and online.  We need to know what we believe and why we believe it!  Far too many do not.  This is a breath of fresh air.

“Over the last year as we started working on this new album, it became clear that most of the themes of these songs point to where we are in our lives right now eight years after our label debut,” states Donehey. “We have settled into that maybe God isn’t as interested in the success of our career as He is about the posture of our hearts and what would it look like if we lived every day of our lives the way God commanded. One of the most repeated commands in the Bible is ‘Do not be afraid,’ and the one thing we know is that God does not want us to follow Him in fear.”

How humbling.

With so many great hits, how will “Control” stand up to he berean test?  Read on to find out!

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 is essentially a prayer to God put to song.  Many things he had hoped in and planned to do; however, they were shattered and broken.  However, God had a different plan: restoration.  Realizing that God wants to adopt him as a son, he lays down his intentions and obsessions into God’s hands, surrendering control to God.  He understands that God is not dependent on him for anything.

Score: 10/10

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

All if it!  I am happy that God’s aseity is at the forefront.  That is, His independence in respect to His creation.  Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Here I am
All my intentions
All my obsessions
I want to lay them all down
In Your hands

Understanding the cost to become a disciple of Jesus, they surrender their lives to Him (Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23).  “Your” is defined in the chorus.

Only Your love is vital

It is not only vital, but it came at a huge price.  We are expected to love as God does.  See 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, 1 John 4:8, and 1 John 4:16-19.

Though I’m not entitled
Still You call me Your child

touch on an important doctrine in Christianity called “adoption”.  All of us who have broken the Law of God relationally separate ourselves from Him (Genesis 3:7-8, Isaiah 59:1-2, Matthew 7:23, Romans 6:23, and 2 Thessalonians 1:3-9).  We became sons of the devil through our sinful actions (John 8:31-47 [pay close attention to verse 44] and 1 John 3:10).  When we are forgiven for sins, we are “adopted” as a son of God.  We did not earn it.  We do not deserve it.  But, God offers it to us freely, though it came at a terrible price (Romans 5:6-8).  More information can be found at https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/adoption/.  Also, see John 1:12-13, John 14:18, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:11-22, Hebrews 9:15, and 1 John 3:1-3.

[Chorus]

God You don’t need me

God is the creator of all things (Genesis 1:1, Psalm 90:1-2, Job 38:4-7, John 1:1-4, John 17:5, and Revelation 4:11) and is sovereign over everything He has made; He does not depend on us (Deuteronomy 4:39, Deuteronomy 10:14, Joshua 2:11, Nehemiah 9:6, Psalm 29:10, Psalm 45:6, Psalm 50:7-15, Psalm 93:1-2, Psalm 115:3, Psalm 135:6, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 45:9-10, Isaiah 46:10, Lamentations 5:19, Daniel 4:35, Romans 9:19-21, Ephesians 1:11, Hebrews 1:8, James 4:15, Revelation 4:11, and Revelation 20:11).

But somehow You want me

To our amazement, God still desires a relationship with His creation despite our failures.  See Genesis 3:9, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Jeremiah 22:15-16, Matthew 22:36-38 and Mark 12:28-30 [combined with 1 John 4:8, that is, to love God is to know Him], John 17:3, 2 Peter 3:9, and 1 John 4:9.

Oh how You love me

See Verse 1, line 6, above.

Somehow that frees me

Indeed, we are freed from the slavery of sin.  See Isaiah 58:6, Isaiah 61:1, John 3:16-21, John 8:31-36, John 10:10, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:1-23, Romans 8:1-2, Romans 8:21, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 7:21-23, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, Hebrews 2:14-15, and 1 Peter 2:16.

To take my hands off of my life
And the way it should go

We are no longer masters of our lives.  God is now in control, freely given to Him.  Sin no longer has slavery over us.  See Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6.

And give You control
Yeah, I give You control

Repeated ideas directly from earlier lines, including Verse 1, lines 1-5 and Chorus, directly above.

[Verse 2]

I’ve had plans
Shattered and broken
Things I have hoped in
Fall through my hands

God’s plans are bigger and better than ours.  On some occasions, He will frustrate our plans to have His way.  See Job 5:12-13, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 19:21, and Psalm 33:10.

You have plans
To redeem and restore me

Speaking of God’s plans, one of them is to save and redeem Christ followers.  See Psalm 51:12, John 3:16, Acts 3:19-21, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Galatians 6:1, Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 9:28, James 5:16, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 1:9, and 1 John 2:2.

You’re behind and before me

No one can escape the gaze of God’s eyes and reach of His hands.  See 1 Kings 8:27, Psalm 139:7-12, Proverbs 15:3, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Colossians 1:17, and Hebrews 4:13.

Oh help me believe

Akin to the man in Mark 9:24 who asked Jesus, who has an intellectual ascent, to have active faith.  Also, see John 6:29, Romans 10:17, Ephesians 1:18-20, Philippians 2:13, and Colossians 2:12.

[Bridge]

Oh You want me
Somehow You want me
The King of Heaven wants me

Repeats from Chorus, line 2

So this world has lost it’s grip on me

Occurs due to surrender, which is listed in the Chorus, lines 5 and 6.

[Refrain]

Oh, give You control
Oh I want to give You control
I give You control

Repeats from Chorus, final lines.

[Outro]

Oh You want me
Somehow You want me
The King of Heaven wants me
So this world has lost it’s grip on me

See Bridge.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

It is evident that he is referring to a relationship in this song.  It speaks to those who feel unloved and unwanted, that there are acceptance and wholeness with God.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

God’s love for mankind, not out of need, but because of who He is.  It also touches on the concept of surrender.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Tenth Avenue North’s hit song “Control” is a lyrical powerhouse, constructed with over 100 Bible references! With beautifully-crafted lyrics woven with raw emotion, this is something both thinkers and feelers alike can appreciate.

Final score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Control (Somehow You Want Me) (listen to the song)

Artist: Tenth avenue north

Album: Followers

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), Rock, Pop

Release Year: 2016

Duration: 4:09

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