Rich Mullins - Here in America Lyrics
Lyrics
Saints and children we have gathered here to hear the sacred story
And I'm glad to bring it to you with my best rhyming and rhythm
'Cause I know the thirsty listen and down to the waters come
And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America
And if you listen to my songs I hope you hear the water falling
I hope you feel the oceans crashing on the coast of north New England
I wish I could be there just to see them, two summers past I was
And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America
And if I were a painter I do not know which I'd paint
The calling of the ancient stars or assembling of the saints
And there's so much beauty around us for just two eyes to see
But everywhere I go I'm looking
And once I went to Appalachia for my father he was born there
And I saw the mountains waking with the innocence of children
And my soul is still there with them wrapped in the songs they brought
And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America
And I've seen by the highways on a million exit ramps
Those two-legged memorials to the laws of happenstance
Waiting for four-wheeled messiahs to take them home again
But I am home anywhere if You are where I am
And if you listen to my songs I hope you hear the water falling
I hope you feel the oceans crashing on the coast of north New England
I wish I could be there just to see them, two summers past I was
And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America
Video
Here In America
Meaning & Inspiration
Rich Mullins' "Here in America," released on October 26, 1993, as part of his seminal album *A Liturgy, A Legacy & A Ragamuffin Band*, stands as a profound spiritual journey set against the backdrop of the American landscape. The song is a rich tapestry of personal observation, poetic reflection, and unwavering theological affirmation, serving not as a patriotic anthem, but as a testament to God's omnipresence and personal love experienced within the modern world. Mullins masterfully invites us into his deeply contemplative spirit, drawing connections between the physical world and eternal truths, all while celebrating the profound simplicity of faith.
At its core, "Here in America" is a declaration of God's intimate presence and boundless love, even amidst the everyday realities of a specific nation. Mullins begins by setting the stage for sharing "the sacred story," acknowledging that spiritual hunger drives people to seek "the waters." This immediately evokes biblical imagery such as that found in Isaiah 55:1, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters," and Jesus's invitation in John 7:37-38, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." The repeated refrain, "And the Holy King of Israel loves me here in America," firmly anchors the universal, ancient truth of God's covenant love within the contemporary experience of an individual in a particular place, emphasizing that God's sovereignty extends beyond historical Israel to every corner of the globe and every heart that believes. It's a powerful affirmation that God's love is not geographically bound or historically confined, but personal and ever-present.
Mullins expresses a desire for his music to be a conduit for spiritual refreshment, hoping those who engage with his songs will "hear the water falling" and "feel the oceans crashing." This imagery transcends mere sound; it's a yearning for his art to convey the vast, powerful, and life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit, much like the deep calls to deep described in Psalm 42:7. His reflections on choosing between painting "the calling of the ancient stars" or "assembling of the saints" speak to a profound appreciation for both creation and redemption. The "ancient stars" echo Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God," while the "assembling of the saints" points to the grand communion of believers, both earthly and heavenly, as depicted in Hebrews 12:22-24. Mullins' acknowledgment of "so much beauty around us for just two eyes to see" reveals a soul perpetually attuned to the divine handiwork, mirroring Romans 1:20, which states that God's eternal power and divine nature are clearly seen through what has been made.
The journey through Appalachia, a place of ancestral connection for Mullins, further illustrates his ability to find spiritual depth in tangible experiences. He describes seeing "the mountains waking with the innocence of children," a beautiful metaphor suggesting a primal purity and wonder inherent in creation, a reflection of God's original design. His soul remaining "wrapped in the songs they brought" speaks to the enduring power of simple faith and community, often expressed through music, passed down through generations. Yet, perhaps the most impactful insight arrives with his observation of "two-legged memorials to the laws of happenstance" on exit ramps, waiting for "four-wheeled messiahs." This poignant image critiques the human tendency to seek salvation and fulfillment in transient, worldly things – jobs, relationships, material possessions – rather than the ultimate source of hope. It’s a vivid illustration of the futility of placing trust in anything less than the divine, a theme consistent with Christ's warnings against storing up treasures on earth (Matthew 6:19).
The song culminates in a profound theological truth that offers solace and direction: "But I am home anywhere if You are where I am." This declaration shifts the very definition of "home" from a geographical location to a spiritual state of being in God's presence. It beautifully articulates the concept of God's omnipresence and our spiritual identity, aligning with Psalm 139:7-10, which describes the impossibility of escaping God's Spirit, and Philippians 3:20, reminding us that "our citizenship is in heaven." True security and belonging are found not in earthly comforts or destinations, but in an abiding relationship with the Divine. Mullins ends by reiterating his hope for his songs to provide spiritual refreshment, reinforcing the cyclical nature of seeking and finding God's grace and love, which is as constant and powerful as the crashing oceans. "Here in America" is more than a song; it's an invitation to recognize God's unfailing love in our own lives, wherever we may be, and to find our ultimate home in Him.