THE STORY BEHIND SING
I never thought I’d believe in God again, much less sing about Him. But one afternoon there I was doing the unthinkable: Sitting under the hackberry trees in my front yard, smiling, singing, strumming, amazed and overjoyed that I’d survived July.
It was the worst month of my life. Depression, despair, and doubt swallowed me up and I think now that they only spit me out because I wasn’t alone.
Adam had Eve. Moses had Aaron. Jesus had the twelve and the seventy-two. Paul had Barnabus and Timothy. In July, I discovered that I had about a dozen close friends, family and mentors willing to stand with me and pray for me. Worshipful listeners. Diligent prayers. Wise teachers. People who loved God and loved me and did both with such unwavering intensity and gentleness that they literally saved my life and my faith.
When they stood with me I saw God-in-the-flesh. When they prayed Heaven listened, the darkness trembled, and let me go.
So, as July ended I sat down under the trees and sang a new song. I couldn’t have stopped myself if I wanted to. What came pouring out of me was the first song I’d written in a few years. WIth a little rewriting it eventually became Sing – a song written about the power of confiding and relying on each other when we’re all out of strength and faith of our own.
Stand. Pray. Together. Because there’s no surviving alone. And one day we’ll sing.
LYRICS
Sing
Words and music by Shaun Groves
(C) 2009 shaungroves.com/ASCAPIn this brawl between the empires
Of our good Lord and the liar
Will you stand
Please stand with meRight now my faith can take it
But, oh, when they come to break it
Will you pray
Please pray with meAnd we’ll stand and pray
‘Till the dark gives way
And then we’ll sing, sing, sing
We will sing, sing, sing
We will sing, sing, sing, sing, singIf doubt and fear conspire
To steal away your fire and leave you cold
I’ll stand with youAnd we’ll stand and pray
‘Till the dark gives way
And then we’ll sing, sing, sing
We will sing, sing, sing
We will sing, sing, sing, sing, singHallelujah sing, sing
Hallelujah sing, sing
Hallelujah sing, sing, sing
We will singIn this brawl between the empires
Of our good Lord and the liar
Will you stand
Please stand with meAnd we’ll stand and pray
‘Till the push the dark away
And on that Day we will sing, sing, sing
We will sing, sing, sing
We will sing, sing, sing, sing, sing
CREDITS
Shane Wilson: recording & mix engineer, incense
Stephen Leiweke: pre-production, electric & acoustic guitar
Ken Lewis: drums
Chris Donahue: bass
Andrew Osenga: Beach Boyish background vocals on bridge
Jim Demain: mastering
Shaun Groves: production, acoustic guitar, vocals
A FEW LAST LINKS
- RADIO: Download the radio edit version of Sing here. Interview requests can be made by e-mailing publicity@shaungroves.com
- BOOKING: I’ll sing or speak or both for free if I’m allowed just a few minutes to speak on behalf of Compassion International. To book me all you need to do is visit shaungroves.com/booking.
- FACEBOOK AND TWITTER: Join me on Facebook and Twitter to be the first to know about future free downloads.
- MORE FREE MUSIC: Visit shaungroves.com/freemusic
Shaun, Thank You brother! Love it. We will sing! We might as well start practicing and stand and SING!!!!
You’re very welcome, Pam.
Thank you for this and for sharing your story so honestly. You have moved and inspired me at a level I can scarcely communicate with words. Thank you
I know so many people whose hearts and lives will resonate with this song…thanks for putting it out there for us!
Many times what you have written has ministered to me. I have felt that soul-wrenching doubt you’ve spoken of; wondering if God is real, and if He loves me. The guilt that washes over me during times like these is nearly as bad as the doubt itself… how could God forgive me for not believing in Him?
Then I read your admission and realize that if a man like you can feel, and so eloquently put into words, the same things I’ve felt, thought and wondered, maybe I’m not as horrible as I think I am. Maybe God can love me anyhow despite how many times I’ve doubted. Maybe… I know you don’t know me, but I have felt sometimes that you stand beside me, encouraging me because of your authenticity.
Thank you.
*claps*
God is so very good!
wow–rock it
that’s a bit different than an acoustic in your studio room
thanks for sharing….
that’s good music shaun…i find that my greatest source of inspiration comes out of my darkest moments…i only find it on the other side and only via the road called process…
That song is amazing and the story behind it makes it all the more powerful!
I will have to catch up as I must have joined the blog post the “beggar’s fortune” and it looks amazing.
Thankful for those that stood and fought with you and will rejoice as we all SING! To God be the glory!
Jen
Ah….about time.
I almost thought about recording your livestream of you recording it so I could do a Shaun Groves: Bootleg. 
Great song man. Thank you.
Shaun,
I love this song! It’s one of your best. To me it sounds like what I’d hope Big Tent Revival sounded like if they were still making records- catchy, thoughtful, inspiring, and a little bit of retro sound as well.
Keep it up!
Thanks for this – Having walked through your posts since July it has been an amazing journey. What a challenge – to remember that we are called to a very intense Spiritual battle where the liar will do anything to steal our very soul back. Praise God for fellow warriors to stand beside us. It gives me great hope for my own situation. Thanks again for being vulnerable and sharing your life so honestly with us.
I’m so glad I found your blog! Your music throughout the years has brought me to deeper places with God. When you write and sing I enter into the presence of the Lord in a powerful way. I’m grateful that your loved ones surrounded you with prayer and support and the Lord broke through and gave you reason to “sing.” Praising God with you!
Jen
Shaun – your words touched me
I have been suffering panic attacks since Feb and I too contacted several friends and prayer warriors to pound on Heaven’s door on my behalf
God was faithful and I am now able to say that the attacks are almost gone
Thank you again for your honesty and that beautiful song
May God be praised!
Kim (connorcolesmom)
Recently, I’ve camped there in that dark place. Every year of faith added, though, is one that solidifies the knowledge that He’s coming for me, eventually. Thank God for flesh and blood hands sometimes. Other times, I thank God for His invisible one.
When I’m there, my husband always prays that God will give me a new song. This is good. The Holy Spirit is like wind but still so consistent.
Thanks for this.
I went through a very dark time recently, and it was the prayers of my friends that lifted me out of the pit. I have only told five people the details of the struggle I have had, but each time I have shared my burden, God has brought me to a new level of victory over it. He has been so good to me.
Thanks for the song and for sharing the story behind it. It’s amazing how God leads us to other people who share similar situations so we know we are not alone in our trials.
Over the years, I’ve moved away from listening to contemporary Christian music for various reasons (not because I’ve stopped being a Christian), but I truly love this song. I know it was inspired out of pain, but it’s incredibly uplifting without being corny. I don’t know that I’ll go back to CCM, but I love your blog and will keep listening to your music. Thanks for sharing this song and your beautifully written, thought provoking blog.
Thank you for your honesty and your story. Thank you for writing a beautiful song. GOD bless!
Heard you at St. Marks – Mebane during that dark time and prayed frequently for you….I am so happy that this beautiful song came out of the ashes and so happy that you are “back”….