Lyrics
Chorus
Then he said sing from a laughing heart
Just sing when the night is darkest
Sing, let your joy explode and let music fill the air
You can sing when there's nothing else to do
Sing when somethin' deep inside of you
Tells you that life is still a Wonder
Just throw back your head and sing
Verse 1
When God created living things
He knew we'd need a way
to share our fears our questions and our dreams.
Oh there were words but words won't do
when joy swells up inside.
The simply had to be a better way
Chorus
Then he said "Sing from a laughing heart
Just sing when the night is darkest
Sing, let your joy explode and let music fill the air
You can sing when there's nothing else to do
Sing when somethin' deep inside of you
Tells you that life is still a Wonder
Just throw back your head and sing"
Verse 2
The birds God sent on flying wings
To fill the sky with song
Put music in the brook and crashing sea
The wind blew through the threads of grass
Like fingers through the strings
of golden harps and made the meadows sing.
Chorus
Then He said "sing from a laughing heart
Just sing when the night is darkest
Sing, let your joy explode and let music fill the air
You can sing when there's nothing else to do
Sing when somethin' deep inside of you
Tells you that life is still a Wonder
Just throw back your head and sing
Spoken
The psalmist said" make a joyful noise unto the Lord All ye Lands, serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing, know ye that the Lord He is God. It is He that has made us and not we ourselves, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. be thankful unto Him and bless His name, for the Lord is good and His mercy is everlasting and His truth endureth to all generations.
Chorus
Then He said sing from a laughing heart
Just sing when the night is darkest
Sing, let your joy explode and let music fill the air
You can sing when there's nothing else to do
Sing when somethin' deep inside of you
Tells you that life is still a Wonder
Just throw back your head and sing
Outro
Sing sing sing
Just sing!
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
This song urges singing as a response to every circumstance, with the chorus repeating "Sing from a laughing heart" and reaching to nights that are darkest and times when "there's nothing else to do". Joy is described as something that swells up until ordinary words are not enough, which the lyrics offer as a reason music exists.
The verses picture creation as a source of song: birds sent on flying wings to fill the sky, music in the brook and the crashing sea, and wind moving through the grass like fingers on golden harp strings. Within that picture, God is named as the one who gave living things a way to share fears, questions and dreams.
A spoken section then recites the invitation of the Psalms to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" and to enter His gates with thanksgiving. The closing "Sing sing sing / Just sing!" ties the song's folk imagery to that biblical call to praise.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 100:1-4 The psalm calls for a joyful noise, gladness and singing, and entering His gates with thanksgiving.
- Psalm 98:4 The psalm invites all the earth to break forth in joyous song.