Austin French - Freedom Hymn Lyrics
Lyrics
I push, I pull
Go back and forth finding myself pounding on a locked door
I try to make it out alone without your help
But I know I'll never win this war
I can never be, never be, free without you
I can never be, never be, me without you
This is the sound of chains breaking
This is the beat of a heart changing
This is a song of a soul forgiven
This is my freedom hymn
This is my freedom hymn
This is my freedom hymn
I breathe the air of freedom in knowing my life
Is better off in Your hands
The past is gone what's done is done
Now I'm alive
I'm never gonna look back
I can never be, never be, free without you
I can never be, never be, me without you
Who the Son sets free
Is free indeed
Who the Son sets free
Is free indeed
Who the Son sets free
Is free
I'm free
Video
Austin French - Freedom Hymn (Official Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Austin French's "Freedom Hymn," released on September 19, 2017, is a powerful declaration of liberation found not in personal strength, but in divine surrender. The song grapples with the universal human struggle of feeling trapped, of "push[ing] and pull[ing]" against insurmountable barriers, a sentiment echoed in Ecclesiastes 1:14, which speaks of the futility of striving under the sun. French articulates a profound realization: this internal war, this striving for self-sufficiency, is ultimately unwinnable without external aid. The core message revolves around the acknowledgment of absolute dependence on a higher power for true freedom and self-identity, a concept deeply rooted in Christian theology. The repeated lines, "I can never be, never be, free without you" and "I can never be, never be, me without you," underscore this dependence, aligning with the Apostle Paul's assertion in Philippians 4:13 that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
The song then transitions into a vibrant affirmation of this newfound freedom. The "sound of chains breaking" and the "beat of a heart changing" paint a vivid picture of spiritual transformation, a release from bondage and the renewal of the spirit. This imagery powerfully evokes the liberation promised in Isaiah 61:1, where the Spirit of the Lord is said to be upon the anointed to "proclaim freedom for the prisoners and... release from darkness for the captives." The chorus, "This is the sound of chains breaking... This is my freedom hymn," is a direct testament to experiencing God's forgiveness and the resultant liberty, mirroring the Psalmist's cry in Psalm 30:11: "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy."
The latter part of the song reinforces this message of liberation through faith. French sings of breathing "the air of freedom in knowing my life / Is better off in Your hands," signifying a peaceful relinquishing of control to a benevolent Creator. This trust is central to biblical faith, as articulated in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." The assurance that "the past is gone what's done is done / Now I'm alive" speaks to the redemptive power of Christ, the cleansing from sin, and the promise of a new beginning, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" The song culminates with a direct scriptural affirmation, "Who the Son sets free / Is free indeed," quoting John 8:36, a foundational verse that unequivocally states the authentic and unassailable freedom available through Jesus Christ. "Freedom Hymn" is therefore more than a song; it is a testament to the transformative power of faith, a spiritual anthem celebrating the liberating truth found in Christ alone.