Amy Grant - 1974 Lyrics
Lyrics
We were young,
And none of us know quite what to say,
But the feeling moved
Among us in silence anyway.
Slowly we had made
Quite a change--
Somewhere we had crossed a big line.
Down upon our knees,
We had tasted holy wine,
And no one could sway us
In a life time.
Purer than the sky,
Behind the rain.
Falling down all around us,
Calling out from a boundless love.
Love had lit a fire;
We were the flame.
Burning into the darkness,
Shining out from inside us.
Not a word.
And no one had to say we were changed.
Nothing else we lived through
Would ever be same the same,
Knowing the truth
That we had gained.
Purer than the sky,
Behind the rain.
Falling down all around us,
Calling out from a boundless love.
Love had lit a fire;
We were the flame.
Burning into the darkness,
Shining out from inside us.
Stay with me.
Make it ever new,
So time will not undo,
As the years go by,
How I need to see
That's still me.
Falling down all around us,
Calling out from a boundless love.
Yeah....
Burning into the darkness,
Shining out from inside us.
Purer than the sky,
Behind the rain.
Falling down all around us,
Calling out from a boundless love.
Love has lit a fire;
I am the flame.
Burning into the darkness,
Shining out from inside us.
Purer than the sky,
Behind the rain.
Falling down all around us,
Calling out from a boundless love. (Ohh....)
Love has lit a fire;
I am the flame.
Burning into the darkness,
Shining out from inside us.
Purer than the sky,
Behind the rain.
Falling down all around us,
Calling out from a boundless love.
Video
1974
Meaning & Inspiration
Amy Grant’s "1974," released on June 28, 1988, as part of her album *Lead Me On*, stands as a profound lyrical testament to a pivotal spiritual awakening. The song immediately transports us to a specific moment in time, not merely a date on a calendar but a defining experience of profound transformation. It speaks of a communal encounter, a group of young people quietly but definitively crossing a spiritual "big line." This experience isn't described with dramatic fanfare but rather with an intimate sense of awe, as "the feeling moved among us in silence anyway." This echoes the subtle yet undeniable presence of the Holy Spirit, often experienced not in thunderous proclamations but in a deep, internal stir, as described in 1 Kings 19:12 where God speaks in a "still small voice." The imagery of being "down upon our knees" and tasting "holy wine" powerfully conveys acts of humble surrender and partaking in sacred communion, symbolizing an initiation into a new covenant with God, much like the fellowship and teaching of the apostles in Acts 2:42. The resulting conviction is absolute: "no one could sway us in a lifetime," reflecting the unshakeable foundation laid by a genuine encounter with divine truth, a rock-solid faith that Jesus speaks of in Matthew 7:24-25.
The song delves deeper into the nature of this transformation by describing it as "Purer than the sky, behind the rain." This vivid image suggests a cleansing, a clarity that emerges after a period of struggle or obscuration, revealing an immaculate truth and grace. It speaks to the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in Titus 3:5, where sin is cleansed, and a new, pure identity in Christ is given. This purity is directly linked to an overflowing, "boundless love," described as "Falling down all around us, Calling out from a boundless love." This speaks to the omnipresence and infinite nature of God’s love, a love that surrounds and draws us in, far surpassing human comprehension, as Ephesians 3:18-19 beautifully articulates: grasping "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ." This boundless love is not passive; it is the catalyst, having "lit a fire" within the believers, making them "the flame." This powerful metaphor illustrates that God initiates the spiritual passion, and we become the living embodiment of that ignited love, burning brightly for His glory.
This divine fire within ignites a purpose: "Burning into the darkness, Shining out from inside us." Here, the song beautifully articulates the call to be a light in a fallen world. When Christ's love sets a fire in us, we are commissioned to let that light shine, not to hide it. This directly brings to mind Jesus' words in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." The change described is so profound that "not a word" needed to be spoken; it was evident, permeating every aspect of their being. "Nothing else we lived through would ever be the same, knowing the truth that we had gained." This reflects the reality of becoming a new creation in Christ, where "the old has passed away; behold, the new has come," as affirmed in 2 Corinthians 5:17. This truth fundamentally alters one's perspective and trajectory, marking an irreversible spiritual rebirth.
The song's bridge introduces a heartfelt plea for endurance and steadfastness: "Stay with me. Make it ever new, So time will not undo, As the years go by, How I need to see That's still me." This poignant supplication acknowledges the human struggle to maintain the initial fervor and identity found in Christ. It’s a prayer against spiritual drift and the fading of zeal, a desire for God to continually renew and refresh that initial encounter, preventing the "first love" from being lost, a theme echoed in Revelation 2:4. This yearning for constancy resonates deeply with the human need for God’s continued presence and transformative power, a reminder to lean into His faithfulness, knowing that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" (Philippians 1:6). The song concludes by re-emphasizing the boundless love and the personal commitment, shifting from "we are the flame" to "I am the flame," underscoring that this communal awakening ultimately requires an individual, abiding walk with the divine fire continually shining out from within. "1974" ultimately stands as an inspiring anthem of conversion, renewal, and the enduring call to live as a radiant testament to God's all-consuming love.