Scott Wesley Brown - Tower of Pride Lyrics
Lyrics
How many times have we built a tower
Trying to reach the sky
How many times have we gambled for power
To feed the ego inside
How many times have we done a good thing
Trying to make a name
How many times have we risen to song
Only to worship in vain
Come, oh, Lord, and confuse our ways
Turn our babel into praise
Spirit, conquer and divide
The selfish, foolish tower of pride
How many times have we acted so humble
Just to get our own way
How many times do we gossip and mumble
Only to manipulate
How many times do we tear down others
Just to build up ourselves
How many times do we love our brothers
Only when we want their help
Come, oh, Lord, and confuse our ways
Turn our babel into praise
Spirit, conquer and divide
The selfish, foolish tower of pride
Oh, come, oh, Lord, and confuse our ways
Turn our babel into praise
Spirit, conquer and divide
The selfish, foolish
Come, oh, Lord, and confuse our ways
Turn our babel into praise
Spirit, conquer and divide
The selfish, foolish tower of pride
Video
Scott Wesley Brown - Tower Of Pride
Meaning & Inspiration
Scott Wesley Brown's "Tower of Pride," released on January 15, 2022, immediately confronts us with a profound and timeless examination of the human condition, particularly the insidious nature of pride. The song unpacks the universal inclination to seek self-exaltation, drawing a clear parallel to the biblical narrative of Babel. It serves as a powerful confession and a heartfelt prayer, inviting us to look inward and discern the true motivations behind our actions, even those that appear outwardly virtuous.
The narrative woven through the verses challenges the very foundations of human ambition. The opening lines, questioning "How many times have we built a tower / Trying to reach the sky," directly evoke Genesis 11, where humanity conspired to build a city and a tower to "make a name for ourselves," thereby challenging God's sovereignty. This ancient story becomes a potent metaphor for our modern strivings, whether we are "gambling for power / To feed the ego inside" or pursuing success solely for personal glory. Even when we engage in "a good thing," the song probes whether it's genuinely for God's honor or merely "trying to make a name." This echoes the warning in Matthew 6:1-4 about performing righteous acts to be seen by others, rather than seeking the Father's approval. The lyrics also call out the hollowness of superficial devotion, asking "How many times have we risen to song / Only to worship in vain," a poignant reminder of Isaiah 29:13, where God laments that people honor Him with their lips while their hearts are far from Him. It’s a stark reminder that true worship flows from a contrite heart, not a performance.
The chorus acts as a desperate, yet hopeful, intercession, turning the song's accusatory tone into a plea for divine intervention. When the lyrics declare, "Come, oh, Lord, and confuse our ways / Turn our babel into praise," it directly references God's act of confusing languages at Babel to halt human pride, now repurposed as a request for Him to disrupt our self-serving patterns and reorient our desires towards genuine adoration. This transformation of "babel into praise" is a profound longing for redemption, where our scattered, self-centered efforts are unified and directed towards God. The invocation, "Spirit, conquer and divide / The selfish, foolish tower of pride," is a powerful call for the Holy Spirit’s transformative work. It acknowledges that only through divine power can the deeply entrenched roots of pride be exposed, "conquered," and "divided" within us, enabling us to live in alignment with God's will rather than our own fallen nature. This aligns with Paul's teaching in Galatians 5:16-17 about walking in the Spirit to overcome the desires of the flesh.
The second verse delves into more subtle, often insidious, manifestations of pride that permeate our daily interactions. The question, "How many times have we acted so humble / Just to get our own way," exposes a hypocritical humility, a manipulative facade designed to gain advantage, a pretense that stands in stark contrast to the genuine humility extolled in Philippians 2:3. The song then challenges the destructive nature of gossip and manipulation, asking, "How many times do we gossip and mumble / Only to manipulate." This exposes the dark side of communication when it's driven not by truth or love, but by a desire to control situations or people, often stemming from a need to feel superior or in control, as warned against in Proverbs 16:28. Further, it confronts the tendency to "tear down others / Just to build up ourselves," a clear sign of a proud heart that seeks its own elevation at the expense of others, forgetting the call to honor one another above ourselves. Finally, the inquiry, "How many times do we love our brothers / Only when we want their help," cuts to the core of conditional love. This highlights a self-serving attitude that views relationships as transactional, a profound deviation from the unconditional, sacrificial love commanded in John 13:34-35 and 1 John 4:7-8.
"Tower of Pride" ultimately offers a sobering yet encouraging spiritual inventory. It doesn't merely point out our failings but, through its chorus, extends a profound hope for divine intervention and transformation. It encourages us to dismantle our personal towers of pride, brick by painstaking brick, by surrendering our self-will to God and allowing the Spirit to redefine our motivations. The song resonates deeply because it speaks to a universal struggle, reminding us that true freedom and genuine praise are found not in self-exaltation, but in humble submission to our Creator. It's a vital anthem for anyone striving to live a life of authentic faith, urging a continuous journey of self-examination and reliance on God's grace.