The Collingsworth Family - Then He Said, Sing! Lyrics
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
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
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"
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.
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
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.
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
Sing sing sing
Just sing!
Video
Then He Said, "Sing!" (Live At Liberty University's Center for Music and Worship Arts, ...
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on October 8, 2021, and captured live at Liberty University's Center for Music and Worship Arts, The Collingsworth Family's "Then He Said, Sing!" offers a profound, Spirit-filled exhortation to embrace song as a fundamental human and spiritual response to life. This piece transcends mere musical entertainment, presenting itself as a timely reminder of a divine directive, urging believers to unlock the innate power of vocal praise and expression. It dives deep into the scriptural foundations of worship, connecting the act of singing not just to moments of unbridled joy, but to the deepest valleys and the most enduring wonders of existence, echoing the very heartbeat of creation itself.
The essence of the song unveils a powerful theological truth: that God, in His infinite wisdom, instilled in humanity an intrinsic need and capacity for expression that transcends ordinary language. Words, while vital, often fall short when the heart swells with overwhelming gladness or is burdened by profound sorrow. "Then He Said, Sing!" proposes that this divine command to sing is the answer to that inherent human longing for a richer, more complete form of communication with the Creator and with one another. It reminds us that our vocal cords are not merely instruments of speech but channels for a deeper spiritual release, a direct response to the One who designed us for such communion, as seen in passages like Psalm 95:1-2, which calls us to "come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms."
Central to the song's message is the paradoxical yet potent call to sing from a "laughing heart" even "when the night is darkest." This isn't a call to superficial cheerfulness in the face of despair, but rather an invitation to cultivate a resilient joy rooted in faith, a joy that persists beyond changing circumstances. It's a testament to the power of worship to transform perception, allowing gladness to explode forth even when external conditions might suggest otherwise. This concept beautifully aligns with scriptural examples, such as Paul and Silas singing hymns in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:25), or the psalmist declaring, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him" (Psalm 42:5). The song encourages the act of singing when there seems to be nothing else to do, serving as an affirmation of hope and a recognition that life, in its divinely orchestrated design, remains a constant wonder, deserving of our vocal acknowledgement and praise.
The narrative further enriches this call by drawing parallels between human singing and the harmonious praise emanating from the natural world. It paints a vivid picture of God's initial creative acts, where birds fill the skies with melodies, brooks murmur with music, and even the wind, rustling through blades of grass, becomes a natural harp, making the meadows sing. This imagery resonates deeply with verses like Psalm 148, which calls on all creation—sun, moon, stars, heavens, and all creatures—to praise the Lord. By illustrating that the entire cosmos sings forth God's glory, the song elevates human singing beyond a personal devotion; it positions it as participation in a grand, universal symphony of worship, reminding us that we are joining a chorus that has been ongoing since the dawn of creation, fulfilling a purpose embedded in the very fabric of existence.
Perhaps the most explicit scriptural anchor in "Then He Said, Sing!" comes through the direct incorporation of Psalm 100, which serves as a powerful and unambiguous command for all generations. The psalmist's instruction to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands; serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing" is not merely a suggestion, but a foundational principle for worship. The song thoughtfully weaves in the complete declaration: "know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath 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; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations." This passage underscores the *why* behind the divine instruction to sing: because of God's immutable character, His creative power, His covenant relationship with humanity, and His eternal goodness, mercy, and truth. It transforms the act of singing from an emotional release into a profound theological declaration and an act of reverent submission and gratitude.
Ultimately, "Then He Said, Sing!" serves as an inspiring invitation to reclaim and embrace a fundamental aspect of faith and humanity. It calls all believers to respond to God's profound invitation to express the deepest stirrings of the heart through song – whether in triumphant declaration, quiet trust, or fervent praise. The Collingsworth Family, with their characteristic depth and passion, delivers a message that transcends the immediate listening experience, encouraging a lifestyle of vocal worship. It is a powerful reminder that our voices are God-given instruments, capable of expressing both the "joy that explodes" and the steadfast faith that endures the "darkest night," ultimately affirming that life, through all its seasons, truly is a wonder deserving of our resounding praise.