Josh Garrels - SISU Lyrics
Lyrics
By the word and command, mortal man can stand, son of man is the manna manifest
In the flesh and the blood, and the bones and the rocks, in the valley of the dead
The dry bones are gonna walk and talk
To the rhythm of the saints y'all, to the rhythm of the saints
And I paint it red to remember the dead, who layed down their lives for the truth
And the seed that is buried takes root, and this ignorant world will have proof
I remember the sins of my youth, the path and the madness of unrestrained pleasure
The heavier trip it made the heavier debter
In the deepest of dark without a wing or a feather,
The spiral closed in like a cage, like a cage
A maze that's amazing for days turns to rage if the page it refuses to turn
And the hopeless will hope the book burns
When the lesson it returns, but the lesson is still unlearned
See I yearn to discern if a life can be earned or is given as a gift to the dead
I read and I bled and I fed to the full my soul on the sickest of sickness
Seeking the light of a saviors witness, a way that one day that I might forget this
But slave master wont permit this
Cause I'm a hooker I'm his mistress
And when I look for freedom he puts more chains on me
Strangles my hope so that I live like a zombie
What masters house can this be, that when I look for freedom he still deceives me
If there's a God I screamed, 'Answer me!'
I didn't expect an answer to be received, He said
You must die, to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth
Undiluted, undisputed, never to be substituted, or uprooted, fully suited for the war
It's a modernization of a timeless metaphor, and
By the boomerang we bring the beats back more
What for man, do we work exterior to core, or begin it in the spirit of the Lord
Now you could pull the chord, but the people still sing it acapella
Marching to the beat I hear their feet are in the cellar
Fear not the world cannot stop what must begin within you and me
A fire wind, holy hymn, beautiful diadem, hidden within positively pure prism refraction
Every colors broken down, harmonize with my eyes spectrum
In the end bleeding into the One, to the source, to the beautiful father of light
All the pressure and pain, produces perseverance
It's purged by the flames, without interference
Produces a hope, In the glory of God
My God I am your son, and I know that you will finish the work that you've begun
Homespun, grassroots, spontaneously suits the purpose, and we don't deserve this
Life
He said
You must die to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally
Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary
Every man and woman is a witness, and we will never forget this
Truth
Video
SISU
Meaning & Inspiration
Josh Garrels’ "SISU," released on October 31, 2024, is a profound lyrical journey that dives deep into the human struggle for meaning and the transformative power of divine grace. The song bypasses superficiality, immediately immersing us in a narrative of spiritual awakening, beginning with an invocation of God's creative power and the promise of life from desolation. Garrels sets the stage with imagery drawn directly from the prophetic vision of Ezekiel 37, where dry bones are not merely reanimated but rise to "walk and talk," moving to the "rhythm of the saints." This powerful opening declares that spiritual revival is not just possible but a certainty, a testament to the sovereign "Word and command" of God. It posits that the "Son of man" — Jesus, the "manna manifest" — is the very source of this miraculous restoration, the living bread sent from heaven to give life to a spiritually dead world, echoing Christ's own declaration in John 6:35. The painting of something "red to remember the dead, who laid down their lives for the truth" speaks to the sacred sacrifice of martyrs, whose commitment to the Gospel ensures that the "seed that is buried takes root," producing abundant fruit and offering undeniable "proof" to an unbelieving world, much like the paradox of life through death Jesus spoke of in John 12:24.
The song then shifts inward, offering a raw and unflinching confession of past sin and despair. Garrels recounts a period of "unrestrained pleasure" that, far from bringing joy, only intensified his burden, rendering him a "heavier debter." This vivid imagery describes the deep entrapment of sin, a "spiral closed in like a cage," where one feels ensnared and hopeless. The struggle for spiritual escape is palpable; the "maze that’s amazing for days turns to rage," illustrating how fleeting worldly pursuits eventually lead to frustration and despair. Here, the search for meaning becomes an anguished question: can life be "earned or is given as a gift to the dead"? This probes the core of Christian theology, contrasting human striving with God's unmerited favor, directly aligning with Ephesians 2:8-9, which states that salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not a result of human effort. The lyrics portray a desperate soul feeding on "the sickest of sickness," searching for a "savior’s witness," yet continually thwarted by a "slave master" of sin, a vivid metaphor for the bondage described in Romans 6:16. The cry "I'm a hooker, I'm his mistress" powerfully conveys the shame and powerlessness felt when held captive by addiction or sinful patterns, where every attempt at freedom only results in "more chains," confirming the deceptive and enslaving nature of sin detailed in Hebrews 3:13.
In this profound darkness, a desperate plea erupts: "If there's a God I screamed, 'Answer me!'" This raw, unfiltered cry leads to a pivotal revelation that echoes throughout Christian teaching: "You must die, to be set free, living in the kingdom of God eternally." This is the revolutionary truth of dying to self, a spiritual crucifixion of the old nature to embrace new life in Christ, as articulated in Galatians 2:20 and Romans 6:6. It is not a physical death, but a radical surrender of one’s will and ego, leading to an inner transformation. The prayer "Open up my eyes so that I can see, and die with a cry revolutionary" signifies a complete spiritual paradigm shift, a commitment to live a life radically devoted to God, becoming a "witness" to this "undiluted, undisputed" truth. This truth, Garrels declares, is not to be "substituted, or uprooted," but is "fully suited for the war," referencing the spiritual warfare believers engage in, as described in Ephesians 6:10-18, emphasizing the enduring and powerful nature of the Gospel message.
The analysis then broadens, connecting the individual's journey to a larger, communal purpose. The reference to bringing "the beats back more" by "the boomerang" suggests a return to fundamental, Spirit-led action, questioning whether one works "exterior to core, or begin it in the spirit of the Lord." This emphasizes that true spiritual endeavor originates from within, guided by the Holy Spirit, not mere outward performance. The imagery of people singing "acapella" and "marching to the beat I hear their feet are in the cellar" symbolizes the resilience of faith, even when stripped of external adornments or facing hidden opposition. It reassures that "the world cannot stop what must begin within you and me," highlighting the indomitable power of God's work in the human heart. This inner transformation is depicted as a "fire wind," a clear allusion to the Pentecost experience in Acts 2, signifying the Holy Spirit's empowering presence. The "beautiful diadem, hidden within positively pure prism refraction," beautifully illustrates the multifaceted truth of God, reflecting His light in every hue of human experience, eventually "bleeding into the One, to the source, to the beautiful father of light," echoing James 1:17.
Finally, "SISU" culminates in a powerful affirmation of perseverance and hope born from adversity. "All the pressure and pain, produces perseverance," Garrels asserts, mirroring the journey of spiritual growth described in Romans 5:3-5, where suffering refines character and strengthens hope. This refining process, "purged by the flames, without interference," leads to a profound hope "In the glory of God." The song concludes with a confident declaration of sonship and divine faithfulness: "My God I am your son, and I know that you will finish the work that you've begun," a testament to the assurance found in Philippians 1:6. The unmerited gift of life, "homespun, grassroots," reinforces the humility and authenticity of a faith that recognizes "we don't deserve this Life." "SISU" is a powerful anthem of spiritual resilience, a testament to the gritty determination to cling to truth through profound struggle. It vividly portrays the journey from spiritual death and enslavement to sin, through a desperate cry for deliverance, culminating in a revolutionary surrender to Christ. It is a song that not only reflects the artist’s deeply personal faith but also serves as an inspiring call for every individual to embrace the transformative power of God’s grace, urging a revolutionary dying to self to experience eternal freedom in the Kingdom.