Audrey Assad - Be Still Lyrics
Lyrics
Heart in my throat and my body on fire
High over the ground walking on a wire
Hands held tight around all I desire
Calling your name but I'm scared I won't find you
Would you hold, would you hold, would you reach out and hold me?
'Cause I'm out on a limb learning how to keep going
Do you know, do you know, do you know what is coming?
I'm afraid to be still and too tired to keep running
Would you show, would you show, would you reach out and show me?
'Cause I'm losing my mind and I'm leaving my body
Do you know, do you know, do you know where we're going?
I'm afraid to be still and too tired to keep running
I'm afraid to be still and too tired to keep running
I'm afraid to be still and too tired to keep running
I'm afraid to be still and too tired to keep running
Be still
Be still
Oh be still (when my body's on fire)
Oh be still (when I'm out on a wire)
Be still (when I'm scared I won't find you)
Be still (when my body's on fire)
Oh be still
Video
Be Still - an unreleased song for hope and healing
Meaning & Inspiration
Audrey Assad's "Be Still," released as a single on November 20, 2023, is a profound and deeply relatable sonic exploration of human vulnerability and the quiet strength found in surrender. The song emerges from a place of raw honesty, articulating the internal turmoil that often accompanies periods of intense uncertainty. The narrative begins with a visceral description of anxiety, a "heart in my throat and my body on fire," a feeling of precariousness as if "walking on a wire." This imagery captures the frantic energy of trying to control every outcome, clinging tightly to fleeting desires, and desperately calling out for a presence that feels distant. The lyrical questions, "Would you hold... reach out and hold me?" and "Do you know what is coming?" resonate with the universal human experience of facing the unknown, grappling with fear, and feeling utterly exhausted by the effort of constantly moving forward. It's this profound fatigue, the weariness of "too tired to keep running," that sets the stage for the song's central message.
The "Be Still" refrain isn't a passive command but an invitation to a transformative encounter with peace, a counterpoint to the internal chaos. Its power lies in its direct contrast to the agitated state described in the verses. The repeated plea to "Be still" acts as an anchor, a gentle yet insistent reminder of a deeper reality beyond the immediate anxieties. This echoes the biblical imperative found in Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God." The song masterfully unpacks the difficulty of achieving this stillness when the world, and our internal landscape, feel overwhelming. The lyrics suggest that true peace isn't a default state but a discipline, a choice to relinquish the frantic grip and trust in a power greater than our own. The act of "learning how to keep going" while also being "afraid to be still" highlights the wrestling match between our desire for control and the necessity of letting go.
Assad's "Be Still" invites listeners to consider the spiritual implications of this internal struggle. The lyrics imply a search for a divine presence, a plea for guidance and reassurance. The question "Do you know where we're going?" speaks to a longing for a sense of purpose and direction, something that often feels obscured when we are consumed by our immediate circumstances. This resonates with passages like Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." The song’s power is in its ability to vocalize the silent anxieties that many carry, offering a spiritual path toward peace through the simple, yet challenging, act of stillness. It's a reminder that in moments of greatest desperation, when we feel "losing our mind and leaving our body," the invitation to "Be still" offers not an end to our struggles, but a new way to navigate them, finding strength not in motion, but in profound, trusting rest.