Rebecca St. James - You're The Voice Lyrics
Lyrics
We have the chance to turn the pages over
We can write what we want to write
We gotta make ends meet before we get much older
We're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?
Chorus:
You're the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
We're not gonna sit in silence
We're not gonna live with fear
This time, you know we all can stand together
With the power to be powerful
Believing, we can make it better
We're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?
Chorus
Repeat
We're all someone's daughter
We're all someone's son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun
Chorus
Repeat
Video
You're The Voice
Meaning & Inspiration
Rebecca St. James' rendition of "You're The Voice," released in 1996 on her album *God*, is a powerful anthem that transcends its original context to speak profoundly to the Christian heart. While the song was penned by other artists and originally released in 1986, St. James' interpretation imbues it with a fresh, Spirit-led urgency. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world teetering on the brink, grappling with conflict and fear, posing the poignant question: "How long can we look at each other down the barrel of a gun?" This imagery resonates deeply with the biblical call to overcome darkness and division. The central message, encapsulated in the chorus, urges individuals to find their voice, to speak out, and to actively resist complacency and fear. This isn't merely about raising one's voice in a literal sense; it's about living out one's faith boldly, becoming a conduit for God's truth and love in a world that desperately needs it.
The repeated assertion that "We're all someone's daughter, we're all someone's son" serves as a powerful reminder of our shared humanity and inherent value in the eyes of God. This echoes the foundational truth found in Genesis 1:27, which states, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." This shared creation imbues every individual with dignity and purpose, making the act of violence or oppression against another a profound offense against the Creator. The song's call to "stand together" with "the power to be powerful" and "make it better" finds its deepest resonance in the teachings of Jesus. He commissioned his followers not to shrink back in fear but to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16), actively influencing their surroundings for good. The encouragement to "make a noise and make it clear" aligns with the prophet Jeremiah's commission to "proclaim all the words of this life" (Jeremiah 19:3), even when facing opposition. St. James’ interpretation, therefore, transforms "You're The Voice" into an exhortation for believers to actively participate in God's redemptive work, to speak His truth with clarity, and to live lives that demonstrate His love, thereby disarming fear and fostering unity. It’s a call to action rooted in the understanding that God has given each of us a voice, and a responsibility to use it for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom.