Time in a Bottle & Timeless Classics

For relaxation entertainment, I don’t stream TV shows. When I am vegging out, I watch YouTube videos. One of my go-to YouTubers is called the “Professor of Rock.” He looks back at the music from the Rock n Roll era and talks about the bands and the stories behind the music. One of the shows he does is called “Time in a Bottle.” He looks at some of the songs that epitomized the year they were released. They are good songs but can be a little dated.

The series inspired me to look at the Christian songs I have in my playlist. What are some songs that are “time in a bottle”? They were big for a time but they can sound a little dated now. They really shouldn’t be played anymore. (By the way, that might be a way to look at some of the songs from the 70’s your parish is still playing at Mass.) They were cutting edge and spoke to that generation but now sound tired and old. As I write this, about a dozen songs come to mind; I will let you insert your own song here.

While some songs are “time in a bottle” others are timeless classics. They were not limited to the era in which they were created. These are songs that could still be sung a hundred years from now. So many hymns fit the criteria of timeless classics.

As an aside, it is okay to say songs were dated. Every generation will have contemporary music. Psalm 33:3 says, “Sing a new song to the Lord.” Some music will serve only a generation and some will serve multiple generations. It is good for us to distinguish between the two so we don’t keep playing songs that don’t speak to the current generation. We have to be intentional in our music selection so that we move people’s minds and hearts to God and not just fill time.

Time in a Bottle songs:

“Lord, I lift your name on high”

This song by Marantha came out in 1989. It was still being played in the late 90’s when I was doing youth ministry and was one of the first “contemporary” songs we played. So, it had some staying power. Like many of the songs of that age, it had verse/chorus and repeated it. 68 words in total. I think that is why I would call it dated.

“Mighty to save”

This song by Hillsong was everywhere in 2006 and 2007. I remember visiting a few different evangelical churches and would hear it every time. It was one of the first times I had heard of Hillsong. I remember this song being so powerful and moving. “So take me as you find me; All my fears and failures; fill my life again; I give my life to follow; Everything I believe in; now I surrender.” As I copy those lyrics, I am moved again by them. When I listen to the song though, it feels of an era.

“I could sing of your love forever”

This song by Delirious? is a great song for its simplicity. “Over the mountains and the seas, your river runs with love for me; I will open up my heart and let the healer set me free.” Like “I lift your name on high,” the limited lyrics are what keep it to its time. At the end, it repeats, “I could sing of your love forever” and it starts to feel a bit like eternity, and not in a good way.

“Jesus freak”

This song, by DC Talk, is not a song that would ever be sung at Mass or as any kind of worship, but I felt compelled to put on the list. I actually still love the song. I remember hearing it for the first time on one of the Wow CD’s and listening to it with Father Michael and Al Walsh in Father Michael’s office. It was one of the first times I heard an electric guitar riff in a Christian context and I loved it. It is dated and I don’t want anyone to hear me singing it, but it is still fun. “What will people think when they hear that I’m a Jesus freak, what will people do when they find that it’s true? I don’t really care if they label me a Jesus freak; there ain’t no disguising the truth.” ...I had to play the song as I wrote this blog.

Timeless Classics:

“How great is our God”

This is on the album “Arriving” by Chris Tomlin. The whole album is really good and worth listening to. Early on, this captured why I wanted local parishes to thrive. Through our work and ministry, I hope people see how great our God is and that it is worth serving and giving our lives. He is the “name above all names; he is worthy of all praise, my heart will sing, how great is our God!”

“Lord I need you”

This song by Matt Maher came out in 2013. We are currently playing it as part of our post-Communion reflection and you can hear how it still resonates with people. “And where you are, Lord I am free; holiness is Christ in me.”

“Shout to the Lord”

This worship song was first released in 1993, but has been recorded by various Christian artists over the decades. It was written by Darlene Zschech. Here is a fun fact: It was actually sung on American Idol on April 9, 2008. According to Wikipedia, the opening lyrics were changed from “My Jesus” to “My Shepherd” without approval from the authors. And so, at their request, the song was sung again the following night with the original lyrics. Jesus proclaimed on national TV.

“Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing; power and majesty and praise to the king. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name. I sing for joy at the work of your hands, forever I love you, forever I’ll stand. Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.”

“10 thousand reasons (Bless the Lord oh my soul)”

Matt Redman released this song in 2012. The power of this song comes in part through its arc. It starts out in the morning and then moves into eternity by the end. Also, the lyrics build and play off one another, as in the one verse that says, “For all your goodness, I will keep on praising; 10 thousand reasons for my heart to find.” And then “Still my soul will sing your praises; 10 thousand years and then forevermore.”

That’s my list. There are more I could add. Let me know if I should do another blog on this topic? If you have titles of songs you thought should have been added, e-mail me at tom@rebuiltparish.com.

Rooting for you,
Tom