Newsboys - He Reigns Lyrics
Lyrics
It's the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It's the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God's holy fire
It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir
It's all God's children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It's all God's children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
Let it rise about the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this
And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they've just heard
'Cause all the powers of darkness
Can't drown out a single word
When all God's children sing out
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
All God's people singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
Video
Newsboys - He Reigns
Meaning & Inspiration
Newsboys' "He Reigns," released in 2008 on the album *Live: Houston We Are Go*, stands as a powerful anthem of unified praise, drawing its strength from a deep wellspring of biblical truth. The song’s core message is the universal dominion and sovereignty of God, a truth proclaimed by believers across every corner of the earth, regardless of their background or circumstance. From the opening lines evoking the redeemed in Africa and the forgiven in the Amazon, to the mention of Asian believers ablaze with divine fire, the lyrics paint a vivid tapestry of a global church united in adoration. This echoes the vision presented in Revelation 7:9, where John witnesses "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." The song effectively captures this divine intent for worship that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, presenting a "love song born of a grateful choir" – a sentiment deeply rooted in the Psalms, such as Psalm 96:1-3, which calls for singing new songs to the Lord, proclaiming His glory among the nations.
The recurring refrain, "Glory, glory, hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns," is not merely a catchy hook but a theological declaration. It is an affirmation of God's unshakeable authority and eternal kingship. This is the same praise that will fill heaven, as described in Revelation 19:1, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God." The song encourages this praise to ascend "about the four winds" and echo "from the towers of cathedrals to the faithful gathered underground," underscoring that genuine worship arises from all places and all people. The lyrics suggest that among all the songs ever sung, this declaration of God's reign is the most enduring and true, a sentiment reminiscent of Psalm 119:89, where the psalmist declares, "Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands forever in the heavens."
Furthermore, "He Reigns" directly confronts the spiritual opposition to God's rule, stating that "all the powers of darkness tremble at what they've just heard" and "can't drown out a single word." This speaks to the inherent power of the Gospel and the ultimate defeat of evil by God's sovereign will. It aligns with the biblical understanding of Christ's victory over sin and death, a victory that gives believers the confidence to proclaim God's reign even in the face of adversity, as described in Colossians 2:15: "And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." The song serves as a profound reminder that in Christ, His reign is an undeniable reality that brings hope and a call to unceasing worship from every redeemed soul.