Jars of Clay - Flood Lyrics
Lyrics
Rain rain on my face
It hasn't stopped raining for days
My world is a flood
Slowly I become one with the mud
But if I can't swim after forty days
And my mind is crushed by the thrashing waves
Lift me up so high that I cannot fall
Lift me up
Lift me up - When I'm falling
Lift me up - I'm weak and I'm dying
Lift me up - I need you to hold me
Lift me up - Keep me from drowning again
Down pour on my soul
Splashing in the ocean I'm losing control
Dark sky all around
I can't feel my feet touching the ground
But if I can't swim after forty days
And my mind is crushed by the thrashing waves
Lift me up so high that I cannot fall
Lift me up
Lift me up - When I'm falling
Lift me up - I'm weak and I'm dying
Lift me up - I need you to hold me
Lift me up - Keep me from drowning again
Calm the storms that drench my eyes
Dry the streams still flowing
Casting down all the waves of sin
And guilt that overthrow me
If I can't swim after forty days
And my mind is crushed by the thrashing waves
Lift me up so high that I cannot fall
Lift me up
Lift me up - When I'm falling
Lift me up - I'm weak and I'm dying
Lift me up - I need you to hold me
Lift me up - Keep me from drowning again
(Lift me up) When I'm falling
(Lift me up) I'm weak and I'm dying
(Lift me up) I need you to hold me
(Lift me up) Keep me from drowning again
Video
Jars Of Clay - Flood
Meaning & Inspiration
Jars of Clay’s self-titled debut album, released in October 1995, gifted the world with a song that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by life's circumstances: “Flood.” This track isn't just a collection of words and melodies; it's a profound outpouring of vulnerability and a powerful testament to the enduring nature of faith in the face of tribulation. The song vividly paints a picture of being submerged in hardship, with the opening lines describing an unending downpour, a world turned into a flood, and the feeling of slowly dissolving into the mud. This imagery immediately connects with the human experience of feeling lost, powerless, and increasingly a part of the very problems that threaten to consume us. It’s a raw, honest admission of struggle, a cry from the depths of despair where the boundaries between self and overwhelming adversity begin to blur.
The narrative then shifts, posing a critical question rooted in endurance and hope: "But if I can't swim after forty days / And my mind is crushed by the thrashing waves." This phrase, particularly the mention of "forty days," echoes biblical narratives of significant periods of trial and testing. The most prominent is Noah's flood, where the rain fell for forty days and forty nights, a time of immense cleansing and rebuilding (Genesis 7:12). This period represents a time of profound change, where the old world is washed away and a new beginning is on the horizon, albeit through immense suffering. The "thrashing waves" crushing the mind speak to the psychological toll of prolonged hardship, the way our thoughts and clarity can be battered and broken by relentless difficulties. It’s in this moment of apparent defeat, when the strength to navigate the storm seems lost, that the song’s central plea emerges: “Lift me up so high that I cannot fall.” This isn’t a request for a temporary escape, but a yearning for elevation, for a perspective and strength that transcends the current crushing reality.
The repeated chorus, "Lift me up - When I'm falling / Lift me up - I'm weak and I'm dying / Lift me up - I need you to hold me / Lift me up - Keep me from drowning again," is the heart of the song's spiritual message. It’s a desperate yet resolute appeal to a higher power, a divine rescuer. This plea for upliftment directly calls to mind the many instances in Scripture where God’s hand is extended to save His people from peril. David, in Psalm 27:5, declares, "For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tent, he will lift me high upon a rock." The song’s explicit mention of being "weak and I'm dying" and needing to be held resonates with the biblical understanding of human frailty and the divine promise of support. Furthermore, the aspiration to be kept from "drowning again" is a powerful metaphor for overcoming persistent sin and despair, a desire for lasting deliverance.
The song’s progression, moving from the external downpour to an internal "down pour on my soul" and losing control, illustrates how external struggles invariably impact our inner lives. The dark sky and the inability to feel one's feet on the ground further amplify this sense of disorientation and loss of grounding. Yet, it is precisely at this point of utter lack of control that the song revisits the pivotal question of enduring the trial. The concluding stanza offers a prayer for peace and restoration: "Calm the storms that drench my eyes / Dry the streams still flowing / Casting down all the waves of sin / And guilt that overthrow me." This is a deeply theological request, asking for divine intervention not only to cease the external chaos but also to cleanse the internal landscape. The "waves of sin and guilt" are a profound acknowledgment of the spiritual battles that often accompany life’s trials, and the desire to be free from their overwhelming force is a common thread throughout Christian teachings. The final plea to be lifted, to be held, and to be kept from drowning underscores the song’s unwavering focus on God as the ultimate source of strength and salvation, reminding us that even in our deepest moments of despair, there is an outstretched hand ready to lift us. "Flood" serves as an anthem of hope for the weary, a poignant reminder that even when we feel submerged, the power to be brought to higher ground is always within reach through faith.