Lyrics
Verse 1
Twenty four oceans
Twenty four skies
Twenty four failures
Twenty four tries
Twenty four finds me
In twenty-fourth place
Twenty four drop outs
At the end of the day
Life is not what I thought it was
Twenty four hours ago
Chorus
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And I'm not who I thought I was twenty four hours ago
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
Verse 2
Twenty four reasons to admit that I'm wrong
With all my excuses still twenty four strong
Bridge
See I'm not copping out not copping out not copping out
When You're raising the dead in me
Oh, oh I am the second man
Oh, oh I am the second man now
Oh, oh I am the second man now
Verse 3
And You're raising these twenty four voices
With twenty four hearts
With all of my symphonies
In twenty four parts
But I wan to be one today
Centered and true
Chorus
I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
You're raising the dead in me
Oh, oh I am the second man
Oh, oh I am the second man now
Oh, oh I am the second man now
And You're raising the dead in me
Outro
I want to see miracles, see the world change
Wrestled the angel, for more than a name
For more than a feeling
For more than a cause
I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And You're raising the dead in me
Twenty four voices
With twenty four hearts
With all of my symphonies
In twenty four parts.
I'm not copping out. Not copping out. Not copping out.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Twenty-four plays on the number twenty-four to describe a restless, fragmented life and a prayer to be gathered up by God. The opening lists twenty-four oceans, skies, failures and tries, and the singer finds themselves in twenty-fourth place, admitting that life is not what they thought it was a day ago. The refrain is a prayer: "Spirit take me up in arms with You."
The lines about the dead being raised, "You're raising the dead in me," and being "the second man" may echo Romans 6:4-11 and 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 on new life and the second Adam, while wrestling the angel for more than a name recalls Genesis 32:24-30. A wish to be one, centered and true, and to see miracles and the world change fits Psalm 86:11 and Ephesians 2:4-5. The imagery is impressionistic and the language is poetic rather than doctrinal, so the song suits reflective listening.
Related Scripture
- Romans 6:4-11 Believers are described as walking in newness of life through Christ.
- Genesis 32:24-30 Jacob wrestles with God and receives a blessing.
- Psalm 86:11 The psalmist asks for an undivided heart to fear God's name.