Jimmy Needham - Part The Clouds Lyrics
Lyrics
I like, like to be liked
And no one likes to hear the truth
And I've seen what the truth can do
So I tried, tried to downsize
The part of You that's hard to tell
But the layoff didn't go so well
Beat around the burning bush
'Til that fire went away
God was once so palpable
Before the shades of gray
We might as well just fold our hands
If we can't call a spade a spade
'Cause we will miss the heart each time
If we won't ever shoot them straight
These pleasantries shading me
And you too along
Let's part the clouds
And show the world the Son
We think, think we are helping
By giving You a little flare
But it doesn't matter what You wear
'Cause runways aren't Your forte
You prefer the narrow road
Even though it's not en vogue
The gospel looked so very cold
One night as I passed by
So I gave him my best sugar coat
And dressed it in a lie
We might as well just fold our hands
If we can't call a spade a spade
'Cause we will miss the heart each time
If we won't ever shoot them straight
These pleasantries shading me
And you too along
Let's part the clouds
And show the world the Son
This living water will not quench us
If it's watered down
Its not our place to hide again
This treasure that we've found
We might as well just fold our hands
If we can't call a spade a spade
'Cause we will miss the heart each time
If we won't ever shoot them straight
These pleasantries shading me
And you too along
Let's part the clouds
We might as well just fold our hands
If we can't call a spade a spade
'Cause we will miss the heart each time
If we won't ever shoot them straight
These pleasantries shading me
And you too along
Let's part the clouds
And show the world the Son
Video
Part the Clouds
Meaning & Inspiration
Jimmy Needham's "Part The Clouds," released on May 18, 2010, as part of his album *Nightlights*, is a powerful and direct challenge to a watered-down faith. The song grapples with the human tendency to dilute truth, especially the profound truths of the Gospel, in an effort to make them more palatable to a world that often shies away from the raw, unvarnished message. Needham begins by admitting a personal struggle with liking to be liked, a common human failing that leads to a hesitant presentation of what is true. He poetically describes trying to "downsize" the parts of God that are "hard to tell," a metaphor for softening or obscuring core biblical tenets that might cause discomfort or offense. This mirrors the biblical admonition found in Proverbs 12:22, which states, "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy." Needham critiques the practice of "beating around the burning bush," suggesting a reluctance to engage with the transformative, and at times confrontational, nature of God's presence. He laments a time when God felt more "palpable," before the nuances and complexities of faith were dulled into "shades of gray."
The central plea of the song, "Let's part the clouds and show the world the Son," is a call to unveil the unadulterated truth of Jesus Christ. This resonates deeply with the teachings of Jesus himself, who declared in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Needham argues that attempting to "give You a little flare" or dress up the Gospel in a "sugar coat" and "lie," as he confesses to doing in a moment of perceived helpfulness, ultimately misses the mark. He understands that God's power and message are not dependent on superficial adornments or popular appeal, recognizing that Christ "prefer[s] the narrow road, even though it's not en vogue." This echoes the stark warning in Matthew 7:13-14 about the broad road leading to destruction and the narrow gate leading to life, emphasizing that the Gospel's appeal is not found in worldly trends. The repeated refrain, "We might as well just fold our hands if we can't call a spade a spade, 'cause we will miss the heart each time if we won't ever shoot them straight," underscores the necessity of clear, honest communication in sharing the faith. This principle is embedded in scriptures like Ephesians 4:15, which encourages speaking the truth in love, growing in every way into him who is the head, that is, Christ. Hiding the "treasure that we've found," the living water of salvation, is seen as a disservice, as the song proclaims this water will not truly quench if it's "watered down." Ultimately, "Part The Clouds" is an inspiring anthem for authenticity in faith, urging believers to courageously present the fullness of God's truth, rather than diminishing it to fit comfortable societal molds, thereby allowing the world to truly see the Son.