Gaither Vocal Band - Stand Tall Lyrics
Lyrics
If you will dare to be different
Risk to be free
If your heart longs for adventure
Then trade in your safety and follow me
The road you take
Will make you or break you
So if you're gonna make it at all
You've got to...
Stand tall, walk like the Father
Live without blame
Stand tall, your past is forgiven
Now that you're wearing His holy name
Stand tall, yeah
God needs a few who are faithful
Willing and true
If you want joy in the journey, hey
Drop what you're doing, He's calling you
God wants some men
Who are running to win
Those who won't stumble and fall
You've got to...
Stand tall, walk like the Father
Live without blame
Stand tall, your past is forgiven
Now that you're wearing His holy name
Stand tall, hey-hey...
God needs a man
Who will take a stand
Hold fast and fight on
It's getting late
So, don't hesitate
It's time that we all...
Stand tall, walk like the Father
Live without blame
Stand tall, your past is forgiven
Now that you're wearing His holy name
Stand tall, walk like the Father
And live without blame
Stand tall, your past is forgiven
Now that you're wearing His holy name
Stand tall
Gonna walk like, gonna talk like
Gonna walk like the Father
Gonna walk like, gonna talk like, oh...
Stand tall
Gonna walk like, gonna talk like
Gonna walk like the Father
Gonna walk like, gonna talk like the Father
Stand tall, walk like the Father
Live without blame
Stand tall, your past is forgiven
Now that you're wearing His holy name
Stand tall
Video
Stand Tall
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on January 1, 1990, as part of their album *A Few Good Men*, Gaither Vocal Band's "Stand Tall" delivers a powerful and enduring call to steadfast faith and courageous living. More than just a song, it serves as a profound sermon in melody, urging believers to embrace a life of conviction and purpose in a world that often pressures conformity. The message immediately challenges the listener with an invitation to "dare to be different" and "risk to be free," framing the Christian journey not as a safe retreat, but as an adventurous pursuit of God's will. This mirrors the biblical call to discipleship where individuals are often asked to leave behind familiar comforts and conventional wisdom to follow Christ, as seen in Matthew 4:18-22 where fishermen dropped their nets to follow Jesus, or Luke 9:23, which speaks of taking up one's cross daily. The "road you take will make you or break you" clearly echoes the distinction between the narrow and wide paths described in Matthew 7:13-14, underscoring the vital importance of choosing the demanding, yet ultimately life-giving, way.
At the heart of the song's message is the recurring declaration: "Stand tall, walk like the Father, live without blame. Stand tall, your past is forgiven, now that you're wearing His holy name." This core command is a multi-faceted exhortation. To "stand tall" is to embody spiritual resilience and confidence, rooted not in self-righteousness but in divine identity, much like the exhortation in Ephesians 6:13-14 to "stand your ground" after putting on the full armor of God. The instruction to "walk like the Father" is a direct call to mimic God's character and attributes in our daily lives, a theme powerfully articulated in Ephesians 5:1, which says to "be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children," and 1 Peter 1:15-16, which commands us to "be holy, because I am holy." Living "without blame" does not imply sinless perfection, but rather a sincere commitment to integrity and repentance, striving for a life that is honorable in God's sight, as expressed in Philippians 2:15, where believers are called to be "blameless and pure, children of God without fault." The profound assurance that "your past is forgiven" rests on the foundational truth of the Gospel, the redemption found in Christ's sacrifice, as highlighted in Ephesians 1:7. This forgiveness empowers the believer to embrace a new identity, signified by "wearing His holy name," a spiritual clothing that transforms us into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) and adoptive children of God (Galatians 3:27).
The song then shifts its focus to the kind of commitment God seeks, asserting, "God needs a few who are faithful, willing and true." This isn't a call for masses, but for dedicated individuals, those who hold fast to their convictions even in adversity, reminiscent of Revelation 2:10 which speaks of being "faithful, even to the point of death." This faithfulness is linked to a genuine desire for "joy in the journey," which the song promises if one is willing to "drop what you're doing, He's calling you." This immediate and radical response to God's call aligns with the promptness Jesus often sought from His disciples. The imagery of "running to win" invokes the spiritual race described in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Hebrews 12:1-2, urging believers to pursue their faith with discipline and perseverance, striving to avoid stumbling and falling by staying focused on Christ and His Word. The message crescendos with an urgent plea: "God needs a man who will take a stand, hold fast and fight on. It's getting late, so, don't hesitate." This serves as a stark reminder of the spiritual battles believers face, drawing on the call to spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-18 and the encouragement to "fight the good fight of the faith" found in 1 Timothy 6:12. The sense of urgency, "it's getting late," underscores the preciousness of time and the importance of responding to God's call without delay, echoing Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 6:2 about the present being "the time of God’s favor" and "the day of salvation." Ultimately, "Stand Tall" by Gaither Vocal Band is more than a simple tune; it's a timeless anthem, challenging every generation to boldly live out their faith, walk in the footsteps of Christ, and stand as beacons of hope and righteousness in a world desperate for divine truth.