Elevation Worship + Maverick City Music - Old Church Basement Lyrics
Lyrics
I don’t see anything wrong with the lights or stages
I even love it when the crowd gets loud singing out God's praises
But every now and then it can get a little complicated
So I remember when I was in that old church basement, singing
Hallelujah is all I need
When I think of your goodness and your love for me
Oh the joy of my salvation
Is coming back to me
It’s just an old hallelujah with a new melody
We got together every Wednesday night
About 30 teenagers
My friend Josh bought a cheap guitar and barely knew how to play it
He wasn’t putting on a show, wasn’t well known, wasn’t trying to be famous
But we sure touched heaven in that old church basement
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me
It’s just an old hallelujah with a new melody
I once was blind but now I can see
It’s just an old hallelujah with a new melody
Over the mountains and the sea your river runs with love for me
It’s just an old hallelujah with a new melody
Shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing
It’s just an old hallelujah with a new melody
Written by Steven Furtick, Dante Bowe, Brandon Lake, Chandler Moore
Video
Old Church Basement | Elevation Worship & Maverick City
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on April 30, 2021, as the title track of their collaborative album, "Old Church Basement" by Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music is a powerful declaration of God's transformative presence in the most unexpected and humble of places. The song delves into the profound truth that true spiritual encounters are not confined to grand cathedrals or polished sanctuaries, but can, and often do, happen in the simple, perhaps even dilapidated, spaces where ordinary life unfolds. The narrative presented is one of rediscovering the sacred in the mundane, acknowledging that God’s glory is not diminished by the context of its manifestation. This resonates deeply with the biblical understanding that God often chooses the weak to shame the strong, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:27, reminding us that God’s power is made perfect in weakness. The imagery of an “old church basement” evokes a sense of foundational grounding, a place where roots are established, and where the raw, unvarnished work of faith often takes place. It speaks to the idea that genuine worship and spiritual growth are less about external aesthetics and more about the internal posture of the heart, a concept echoed in Samuel’s discernment of David as king. When Samuel went to anoint a new king from Jesse’s sons, he was initially drawn to the older, more imposing brothers, but God’s response was, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). This verse beautifully encapsulates the song’s message: God’s gaze is not upon the polished facade but upon the earnest seeking within. The song encourages a perspective shift, urging us to see the divine spark in the everyday, to recognize that the Holy Spirit is active and present even in settings that might seem ordinary or even broken. It’s a call to embrace the authenticity of experience over manufactured perfection, understanding that it is in our imperfections and our common spaces that God’s grace can shine most brightly. This aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who often gathered with people in simple settings, teaching and healing, demonstrating that God’s kingdom is accessible to all, regardless of their circumstances or the grandeur of their surroundings. The message challenges any notion that God is distant or only accessible in designated holy sites, reminding believers that His presence is immanent, dwelling within us and with us wherever we are, as Jesus promised, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Ultimately, "Old Church Basement" is an invitation to find God in the familiar, to celebrate His enduring faithfulness that transcends any physical location, and to understand that every space where a heart sincerely seeks Him can become a sacred ground.