Unspoken – Good Fight

Unspoken is an American band.  They became active in 2002 and released seven albums and one EP, including:

• Unspoken (EP, 2006)
• Get to Me (2012)
• The World Is Waking (2013)
• Unspoken (2014)
• Follow Through (2016)
• Just Give Me Jesus (2018)
• Reason (2019)
• Good News (2020)

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Unspoken-good-fight-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?

“I” encourages us to keep fighting the good fight, keep our light flickering, and sing/dance with a joyful heart about “my” love.

Who is “I/my”?  Christians will conclude God given this song’s explicit references to Scripture.  Most notably, 2 Timothy 4:6 and Matthew 5:15.  It also tells us that “I” holds tomorrow, an explicit reference to God’s omniscience that applies to no mere human.

What is this “good fight”?  Unspoken hasn’t told us.  Christians could piece together that the good fight is proclaiming God’s love to others, based on Bridge line 4.  They also might assume that it’s faithfulness when 2 Timothy 4:6 is combined with 2 Timothy 4:7.  However, Unspoken could be clearer on this point, especially given that some Christians think that “fighting the good fight” means to take matters into one’s own hands apart from God’s will.  Similarly, “light” could be the light God gives us, or perhaps self-righteousness.

If these are true, then Unspoken speaks from God’s perspective.  Speaking for God is a very dangerous prospect that ought to be handled with care. Old Testament prophets were killed for falsely speaking on God’s behalf.  In my opinion, Unspoken has the character of God right.  He is encouraging and helps us to become more holy, with reminders that, as I said in the preceding paragraph, are assumed to be understood by Christians.

Score: 7/10

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

The song is mostly Biblical, except that it doesn’t explain what the “good fight” and “light” is about.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-8: See commentary on Chorus, line 1.

[Chorus]

Line 1: This completes the long sentence that began in Verse 1.  Essentially, it’s saying to fight the good fight no matter the obstacle (2 Timothy 4:6) and that He is with us (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Joshua 1:5-9, Psalm 23:4, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 139:7-10, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 23:23-24, Zephaniah 3:17, Matthew 6:25-34, Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:38-39, and Revelation 3:20).  However, Unspoken has not told us what this “good fight” is, that is, keeping the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

Line 2: Though not explained in this song, this “light” is our good works that reflect God’s goodness (Matthew 5:15-16).

Line 3: God will not abandon His children (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:8-9, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 118:6, Lamentations 3:22-23, and Hebrews 13:5-6).

Line 4: That is, God will guide us (Psalm 32:8, Psalm 37:23-24, Psalm 73:23-24, Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 30:21, Isaiah 48:17, Isaiah 58:11, Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 20:24, Psalm 25:4-9, Psalm 25:9-10, Luke 1:78-79, John 14:26, John 16:13, and Romans 8:14).

Line 5: Essentially repeats line 1.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-3: Essentially repeats the same idea as Verse 1, lines 1-3.  See commentary on Chorus, line 1.

Lines 4 and 5: See Chorus, line 4.

Line 6: God encourages us to continue fighting the good fight.

Lines 7 and 8: Essentially repeats the same idea as Verse 1, lines 7 and 8.  See commentary on Chorus, line 1.

[Bridge]

Lines 1-4: We shall sing God’s praises (1 Chronicles 16:23, Psalm 33:3, Psalm 96:1-2, Psalm 98:1, and Psalm 149:1), dance before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14-16), to have a joyful heart (Proverbs 17:22), and to proclaim God’s love through song (Psalm 89:1-4).

Lines 5 and 6: God knows what will happen tomorrow because He knows all things (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, and 1 John 3:20).  We would do well to remember this, lest we become arrogant (Proverbs 27:1 and James 4:13-15).

[Outro]

Line 1: Essentially repeats Chorus, line 1.

Score: 7/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

It depends on how much Biblical knowledge unbelievers have.  If we assume little to none, this song sounds more like “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” talk that encourages them to continue to fight for whatever cause they believe in, and that their side is the side of light.  Bridge’s “I’m holding your tomorrow” is the biggest hint that this song might have religious overtones, which is easy to miss for the untrained eye.  However, those who are aware of the “fight the good fight” and “let your light shine” tropes will probably associate them with Christianity.

Score: 5/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God that He guides us to continue to fight and let our light shine, these are undefined and require clarification, veiling His glory.

Score: 7/10

Closing Comments

Unspoken’s Good Fight could be better.  They speak from God’s perspective, encouraging Christians to “fight the good fight” and “let your light shine” amid God’s guidance.  Though these concepts are Biblical, unspoken expects us to know what these mean, making it difficult to discern their meaning.  This is especially true of unbelievers who are unaware of their Christian origins.

I cannot recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 6.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Good Fight (listen to the song)

Artist: Unspoken

Album: Unspoken

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2015

Duration: 2:56

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