Casting Crowns - Slow Fade Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1:
Be careful, little eyes, what you see.
It's the second glance that ties your hands, as darkness pulls the strings.
CHANNEL A
Be careful, little feet, where you go.
For it's the little feet behind you, that are sure to follow.
Hook 1
It's a slow fade, when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade, when black and white have turned to gray.
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid, when you give yourself away, people never crumble in a day. It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade.
Verse 2:
Be careful, little ears, what you hear, when flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near.
CHANNEL B
Be careful, little lips, what you say.
For empty words and promises, lead broken hearts astray.
Hook 2
It's a slow fade, when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade, when black and white have turned to gray.
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid, when you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day.
Bridge:
The journey from your mind to your hands is shorter than your thinking.
Be careful, if you think you stand, you just might be sinking.
Hook 3
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray.
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid, when you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day, daddies never crumble in a day. Families never crumble in a day.
Ending Child lead
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see. Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love, oh, be careful little eyes what you see.
Video
Casting Crowns - Slow Fade
Meaning & Inspiration
Casting Crowns' powerful track "Slow Fade," released on their 2007 album *The Altar and the Door*, serves as a profound and timely reminder of the insidious nature of compromise and the gradual erosion of conviction. The song's central message, delivered with a poignant earnestness that resonates deeply, is a direct call to vigilance in the face of subtle temptations that can steer one away from steadfast faith. The lyrics, framed as gentle yet firm admonishments—"Be careful, little eyes, what you see," "Be careful, little feet, where you go"—mirror the wisdom found in Proverbs 4:23, which urges, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." This emphasis on intentionality in our daily choices is paramount, as the song illustrates how seemingly small concessions, the "second glance" or the "little feet behind you that are sure to follow," can initiate a "slow fade" where clarity gives way to ambiguity, where "black and white have turned to gray."
The song intricately details how this spiritual decline often begins with internal thoughts and external influences. The vulnerability of our "little ears, what you hear" is highlighted when flattery or enticing words lead to compromise, echoing the warning in 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character." The cautionary line about "empty words and promises" that "lead broken hearts astray" directly confronts the reality of deceit and betrayal, underscoring the importance of discerning truth and integrity in our interactions. The bridge, with its stark observation, "The journey from your mind to your hands is shorter than your thinking," powerfully connects our internal processing of information to our outward actions, suggesting that deliberate thought, not impulse, should guide our steps. This resonates with Philippians 4:8, which encourages us to focus on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, thereby guarding our thought life. The recurring motif of the "slow fade" is not about catastrophic failure but about the cumulative effect of minor deviations from righteous paths, a concept that speaks to the biblical understanding of sin's incremental nature. The profound conclusion, where the vulnerability of "daddies" and "families" is mentioned, broadens the scope to include the impact of personal compromises on those closest to us, a sobering reflection on our responsibility as stewards of influence and a call to maintain our integrity for the sake of those who look to us. The repetition of the admonition to "be careful little eyes, what you see," especially with the added layer of the Father's loving gaze, reinforces a foundational biblical principle: that our awareness of divine presence should inform every aspect of our lives, encouraging a continuous orientation toward Him, much like Joshua 1:9 implores us to be strong and courageous, not to be afraid or discouraged, because the Lord our God will be with us wherever we go.