Cochren & Co. - Grave Lyrics

Album: Don't Lose Hope
Released: 22 Jan 2021

iTunes Amazon Music

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
If there hadn't been a darkness
I would've never seen the light
I wouldn't long for the sunrise
If it wasn't for the night

[Verse 2]
If there hadn't been a Father
Who made a way when there was none
I'd still be an orphan
If it wasn't for His Son

[Chorus]
If there hadn't been a grave
If there hadn't been a cross
My heart would still be buried
And my soul would still be lost
If there hadn't been a Savior
Who died to make a way
I'd still be a dead man
If there hadn't been a grave

[Verse 3]
If it wasn't for the breaking
I would never know the mend
I wouldn't know the sweetness of freedom
If it wasn't for my sin
And if there hadn't been forgiveness
That covered all my shame
Oh, I'd still be a debtor
If He didn't take my place

[Bridge]
(Hallelujah) Hallelujah
(He is risen)
He is risen from the grave
(Hallelujah)
No more darkness, no more shame

[Chorus]
No, but if there hadn't been a grave
If there hadn't been a cross
My heart would still be buried
And my soul would still be lost
If there hadn't been a Savior
Who died to make a way
Oh, I'd still be a dead man
If there hadn't been a grave
If there hadn't been a cross
My heart would still be buried
And my soul would still be lost
If there hadn't been a Savior
Who rolled the stone away
I'd still be a dead man
If He hadn't left the grave

[Outro]
Oh, I'd still be a dead man
If He hadn't left the grave
Oh, I'd still be a dead man
If there hadn't been a grave

Video

Cochren & Co. - Grave (Official Music Video)

Meaning & Inspiration

Cochren & Co.'s "Grave," released on January 22, 2021, as part of the album "Don't Lose Hope," stands as a powerful declaration of foundational Christian truth, weaving a profound narrative around the necessity of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. The song meticulously constructs its message through a series of "if not for" statements, each building upon the last to illuminate the transformative power of God's grace. It doesn't just narrate a story; it presents an irrefutable theological argument for the redemption found solely in Jesus, compelling the heart to acknowledge the immense debt of gratitude owed.

The opening verses immediately establish this pattern of contrast, revealing how hardship often serves as a prerequisite for appreciating divine intervention. "If there hadn't been a darkness, I would've never seen the light" echoes biblical wisdom, reminding us that spiritual blindness often precedes the revelation of truth (John 8:12). Just as the night makes the sunrise longed for, our moments of despair and confusion can sharpen our spiritual vision to seek God's illuminating presence (Psalm 107:10). This prepares the ground for the deeper theological assertion that without a Heavenly Father who "made a way when there was none," humanity would remain spiritually orphaned. This speaks to our inherent separation from God due to sin, a state from which only His Son, Jesus, could deliver us, offering adoption into His family (Ephesians 1:5, Romans 8:15).

The chorus then crescendos into the song's central, undeniable truth: the absolute essentiality of the cross and the empty grave. "If there hadn't been a grave, if there hadn't been a cross, my heart would still be buried, and my soul would still be lost." This isn't merely poetic language; it’s a theological anchor. The cross represents the atonement for sin, where Christ bore the penalty we deserved (Romans 5:8, Isaiah 53:5). The grave, more specifically its emptiness, signifies His victory over death, promising us new life (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Without these pivotal events, our spiritual condition remains one of "dead man," trapped in sin and devoid of eternal hope (Colossians 2:13-14). The repetition reinforces the non-negotiable nature of this truth, highlighting that spiritual resurrection is impossible apart from Christ's historical acts.

Verse three continues to explore the necessary contrast between brokenness and healing, sin and freedom. "If it wasn't for the breaking, I would never know the mend" speaks to the often painful process of sanctification, where God uses our weaknesses and failures to draw us closer and reveal His restorative power (2 Corinthians 12:10). The line "I wouldn't know the sweetness of freedom if it wasn't for my sin" may seem counterintuitive, yet it profoundly expresses how the acute awareness of our sinfulness—our "debtor" status—deepens our appreciation for the boundless, undeserved gift of forgiveness. It’s a sobering reflection that without understanding the gravity of our offense, the magnitude of grace loses its impact (Romans 6:23). Christ "took our place" not just in penalty, but in offering a clean slate, covering all shame (Hebrews 10:17-18).

The bridge, with its simple yet powerful "Hallelujah, He is risen from the grave," injects a triumphant joy, affirming the ultimate outcome of the cross. It’s a moment of declaration, celebrating the definitive victory that dismantles "darkness" and "shame," transforming the dire "if not for" statements into joyful "because He did" realities (Luke 24:6-7, 1 Corinthians 15:54-57). This affirmation beautifully sets up the final choruses, which drive home the unchanging truth, culminating in the profound realization that our spiritual life is inextricably linked to Christ not just dying, but also *leaving* the grave. "If He hadn't left the grave" reframes the victory, emphasizing the resurrection as the ultimate proof of our redemption and the source of our eternal life. The final repetition of "I'd still be a dead man if He hadn't left the grave" serves as a poignant, unshakeable conclusion, a spiritual anchor for every believing heart. This song, in its raw honesty and profound theological depth, powerfully reminds us that our hope isn't in ourselves, but entirely dependent on the empty tomb and the Risen Savior.