Bloodgood - Awake! Lyrics
Lyrics
There's evil in the air, there're voices everywhere
And yet you lie asleep you fools, Awake!
My time is drawing short, your faith will soon abort
And yet your eyes are closed you fools, Awake!
They're coming can't you hear them?
A kiss will seal my fate
And still you lie in disbelief
Awake, my God, Awake!
My final hour is here, my death is drawing near
And now your hearts are filled with grief, Awake!
My soul is torn in two, there's nothing you can do
Pray that you'll not fall my friends, Awake!
I sweated drops of blood for you
And all the human race
And still you lie in disbelief
Awake, my God, Awake!
When darkness reigns (Where will you be hiding?)
When darkness reigns (It's me you will deny!)
When darkness reigns (Take your swords and fly!)
My Father, hallowed be Thy name
My Lord, this is what I pray
Not my will but Yours be done
You're my Father, I'm your Son
When darkness reigns (Where will you be hiding?)
When darkness reigns (It's me you will deny!)
When darkness reigns (Take your swords and fly!)
(Where will you be hiding?)
When darkness reigns (It's me you will deny!)
When darkness reigns (Take your swords and fly!)
Video
Awake!
Meaning & Inspiration
"Awake!" from Bloodgood’s self-titled debut album, released on January 1, 1986, stands as a profoundly moving and biblically resonant piece, immediately immersing the listener in one of the most agonizing moments of Christian scripture. The song’s narrative unfolds with stark immediacy, placing us squarely within the final hours of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, specifically focusing on His struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane and the betrayal that followed. From the very outset, with the imagery of "evil in the air, voices everywhere," we are drawn into Christ's intense spiritual and emotional torment. The urgent plea, "And yet you lie asleep you fools, Awake!" echoes Jesus' repeated exhortation to His disciples to stay awake and pray with Him, as recorded in Matthew 26:36-46 and Mark 14:32-42, where He finds them repeatedly succumbing to sleep despite His profound anguish. This initial call to spiritual vigilance establishes the core theme of the song, highlighting not only Christ's impending suffering but also the human tendency towards complacency in the face of spiritual urgency.
As the narrative progresses, the lyrics meticulously detail the unfolding events leading to Christ’s arrest and crucifixion. The line "My time is drawing short, your faith will soon abort" speaks to Jesus' foreknowledge of His impending death and the temporary but devastating collapse of His disciples' courage and faith, particularly their flight mentioned in Matthew 26:56. The chilling premonition, "They're coming can't you hear them? A kiss will seal my fate," powerfully foreshadows Judas's betrayal, a moment of profound perfidy recounted in Matthew 26:47-50, where a kiss became the signal for Christ's arrest. Even in this dire moment, the speaker laments, "And still you lie in disbelief," a testament to the disciples' inability to fully grasp the spiritual magnitude of what was transpiring, a struggle Jesus Himself acknowledged when He said, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). The song then pivots to the moment of ultimate surrender and sacrifice: "My final hour is here, my death is drawing near." The later realization of "And now your hearts are filled with grief" speaks to the despair that gripped the disciples post-crucifixion, before the resurrection brought hope.
The heart of Christ’s suffering and submission is laid bare in the powerful confession, "I sweated drops of blood for you / And all the human race." This vivid line directly references Luke 22:44, which describes Jesus' agony in Gethsemane as so intense that "His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground." This profound image encapsulates the immense physical and spiritual burden Christ bore for humanity’s redemption, a suffering that transcended mere human pain. Even in this moment of extreme self-sacrifice, the underlying frustration with human spiritual lethargy persists, "And still you lie in disbelief," reinforcing the song’s overarching message. The refrain, "When darkness reigns (Where will you be hiding?) (It's me you will deny!) (Take your swords and fly!)," is a direct and poignant reference to Christ’s prophecies concerning His disciples’ reactions—their desertion (Matthew 26:56) and Peter's infamous denial (Matthew 26:69-75). Yet, amidst this struggle and the failure of others, the song culminates in an act of profound obedience and trust: "My Father, hallowed be Thy name / My Lord, this is what I pray / Not my will but Yours be done / You're my Father, I'm your Son." These lines are a direct quotation of Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39, Luke 22:42), highlighting His unwavering submission to God’s divine plan, even unto death, as described in Philippians 2:8.
Bloodgood's "Awake!" transcends a mere retelling of biblical events; it serves as a powerful and timeless call to spiritual awareness for believers across generations. While the narrative is rooted in Christ's historical passion, its message resonates deeply with contemporary Christian experience. The disciples' spiritual slumber in Gethsemane becomes a mirror reflecting our own potential for complacency and spiritual lassitude in the face of the ongoing battle against evil. The song challenges us, much like the Apostle Paul in Romans 13:11-12, who wrote, "The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." It urges us to heed the warnings of Scripture to "be alert and of sober mind" (1 Peter 5:8), recognizing that spiritual dangers are ever-present. This piece is a potent reminder that our faith demands active participation and vigilance, not passive observance. It implores us to engage in prayer, to discern spiritual realities, and to align our will with God's, just as Christ exemplified. In an age often characterized by spiritual distraction, "Awake!" stands as an inspiring musical sermon, a rallying cry for sustained spiritual watchfulness, encouraging us to resist the temptation to fall asleep when the battle is most intense, and instead, to stand firm in faith, always ready to answer the call.