The City Harmonic - Wake Me Up Lyrics
Lyrics
How long, how long, will the river run dry?
?Cause I'm so busy living I forgot to be alive
When I've lost count of the beat of Your heart
Come on, come on, won't You wake me up?
Wake me up
Wake me up
Wake me up, yeah
?Cause when You shine
You bring to light
Even the darkest of nights
Wake me up to shine
I'm comin' home like a prodigal son
If home's where the heart is mine is in the hands of God
And that is just where my heart belongs
Turn on the light, come on, wake me up
Wake me up
Wake me up
Wake me up
?Cause when You shine
You bring to light
Even the darkest of nights
You wake me up to shine
Sleeper rise from the dead
Sing your songs instead
Right up to the end
Come on wake up
Sing out your songs of light
In your darkest night
It'll be alright
Come on, wake up
Wake up
You shine
You bring to light
Even the darkest of nights
You woke me up to shine
Video
Wake Me Up
Meaning & Inspiration
"Wake Me Up" by The City Harmonic, released on October 16, 2011, as part of their album *I Have a Dream (It Feels Like Home)*, stands as a resonant anthem for spiritual revival and purpose. This song delves into the profound human experience of spiritual complacency, where the daily grind of living can subtly overshadow the essence of true aliveness in faith. It articulates a poignant realization, a moment of introspection where one acknowledges having "lost count of the beat of Your heart," signifying a disconnect from the very source of spiritual vitality. This sentiment echoes the biblical warning in Revelation 3:1 to the church in Sardis, which was told, "You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." The song becomes an urgent cry for divine intervention, a heartfelt prayer for God to reawaken a slumbering spirit, to "wake me up."
The core message of "Wake Me Up" is a powerful plea for God's illuminating presence to pierce through spiritual darkness and apathy. The lyrics express a deep understanding that when God shines, He "bring[s] to light even the darkest of nights," a truth beautifully mirrored in John 1:4-5, which declares that in Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all humankind, and the darkness has not overcome it. This divine illumination is not merely for comfort but for transformation, as the awakened individual is then called to "wake me up to shine." This resonates with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:14-16, where He tells His followers, "You are the light of the world... let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." The song thus moves beyond personal awakening to embrace a missional purpose.
A central theme woven throughout the song is the concept of spiritual homecoming and repentance, powerfully captured in the line, "I'm comin' home like a prodigal son." This evokes the vivid imagery of Luke 15:11-32, where the son returns to his father's embracing love after a season of wandering and waste. For the seeking heart, "home's where the heart is mine is in the hands of God," affirming that true belonging and security are found only in relationship with the Divine. This profound sense of belonging is a return to where one's "heart belongs," aligning with Psalm 73:28, "But as for me, it is good to be near God." The desire to "turn on the light" is a request for God to reveal the path back, to guide one home from spiritual disorientation.
The latter part of the song serves as an invigorating call to action, not just for personal spiritual awakening but for a collective rising. "Sleeper rise from the dead, sing your songs instead," is an unmistakable echo of Ephesians 5:14, "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." This is an invitation to shed spiritual lethargy and embrace active faith, using one's gifts—symbolized by "songs"—to proclaim God's light. The exhortation to "sing out your songs of light in your darkest night" provides reassurance and encouragement, reminding the awakened soul that even in tribulation, "it'll be alright" with God's presence. This emphasizes perseverance and the enduring hope found in faith, urging believers to live out their calling "right up to the end." Ultimately, "Wake Me Up" is a profound declaration of reliance on God to ignite and sustain a vibrant spiritual life, transforming passive existence into a purposeful journey of light-bearing and worship, a testimony that "You woke me up to shine."