Verse:
Wake up, eyes open wide to
Mercy waiting that’s brand new
Your love's taking me over again
Your hands, lifting me up so
I find wherever I go
Your love's taking me over again
Chorus:
You are life, every breath
You're the heart beating in my chest
I breathe out and breathe You in
I need You more than oxygen
Verse:
Each step, I find that You are
Speaking Your will to my heart
Your love leading me all of the way
You speak, I am an echo
Your voice, I choose to follow
Your love leading me all the way
All of the way
Refrain:
I need You more than anything
More than oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Lincoln Brewster's song "Oxygen," released on August 25, 2014, is a powerful expression of spiritual dependence and God's pervasive presence in the believer's life. The song is featured on his album, *Oxygen*. It builds upon the central metaphor of breathing to convey the vital, constant need for God, portraying Him not just as a necessity, but as the very source of life itself.
The opening verses describe waking each day to new mercy and experiencing God's love as an overwhelming force. This love is depicted as consistently lifting and guiding the individual through life's journey. The lyrics emphasize God's presence regardless of location, highlighting His unwavering support and the continuous experience of His love taking over. This reflects a daily renewal of faith and gratitude for God's faithfulness.
The chorus serves as the song's anchor, articulating the core message with striking imagery. It declares God as life itself and the breath within the chest. The act of breathing out and breathing in becomes a metaphor for living in constant communion and dependence on God. The central declaration, "I need You more than oxygen," powerfully underscores the idea that God is not merely important, but absolutely essential, surpassing even the most basic physiological need for survival.
Subsequent verses delve into the theme of guidance and obedience. Each step taken is guided by God's spoken will to the heart, emphasizing a personal and intimate relationship. God's love is portrayed as the constant leader throughout the journey. The response to God's voice is one of conscious choice to follow, viewing oneself as an "echo" of His divine utterance. This highlights the concept of aligning one's life and will with God's direction, led by His love.
The song concludes with a simple yet profound refrain that reiterates the main theme: the need for God surpassing all other things, specifically naming oxygen to reinforce the earlier metaphor. This final declaration leaves the listener with the enduring message of God's indispensability and paramount importance in the life of faith. The lyrics collectively weave a narrative of grace, dependence, guidance, and the overwhelming reality of God as the breath of life.
Several biblical themes resonate throughout "Oxygen." The concept of new mercies each morning echoes Lamentations 3:22-23, which speaks of God's mercies being new every morning and His great faithfulness. The idea of God being the source of life relates to Acts 17:25, stating that He gives "to all life and breath and everything," and John 14:6, where Jesus declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." The emphasis on following God's voice and will connects to passages like John 10:27, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me," and Proverbs 3:5-6, which encourages trusting in the Lord and acknowledging Him so He can direct paths. The pervasive theme of dependence on God mirrors numerous scriptures, including Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and John 15:5, which speaks of remaining in Him to bear fruit, for apart from Him, we can do nothing.
