The Crabb Family - Keep Me Lyrics
Lyrics
Keep me hungry for daily manna,
Oh I need you, Bread of Life
Keep me thirsty for living water,
Cause nothing else can satisfy
Keep me falling on my knees in need of mercy
Keep me broken til I'm desperate for your love
And even in the midnight hour before you answer
Keep me lost for words to praise you enough
Keep me praying, keep me trusting
Show me I can't make it any other way
Keep me praying, Lord I'm just saying
Keep me coming back to you, Lord, every day
Keep me falling on my knees in need of mercy
Keep me broken til I'm desperate for your love
And even in the midnight hour before you answer
Keep me lost for words to praise you enough
I need thee Oh I need thee
Every hour I need thee
Keep me falling on my knees in need of mercy
Keep me broken till I'm desperate for your love
And even in the midnight hour before you answer
Keep me lost for words to praise you enough
Video
Keep Me
Meaning & Inspiration
The Crabb Family's "Keep Me," released on February 28, 2020, as part of their "20/20" album, delivers a profound spiritual message that resonates deeply with the core tenets of Christian faith. This song isn't just another track; it's a raw, honest prayer, a desperate plea for ongoing divine intervention in the believer's journey. At its heart, "Keep Me" articulates a profound human need for God, acknowledging our innate spiritual poverty and the absolute necessity of His presence and power to sustain a life of faith. It stands as a powerful reminder that true spiritual vitality comes not from self-sufficiency, but from an unwavering, day-by-day reliance on the Divine.
The lyrical journey begins with a profound yearning for spiritual nourishment, asking to be kept "hungry for daily manna" and "thirsty for living water." This imagery immediately connects us to ancient biblical narratives. The call for "daily manna" recalls the miraculous provision for the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16), a physical sustenance that pointed to God's continuous care, echoed in Jesus' teaching to pray for "our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). More importantly, it speaks to our spiritual hunger for God's Word and His guiding presence. When the lyrics declare "Oh I need you, Bread of Life," it's a direct invocation of Jesus Himself, who proclaimed, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger" (John 6:35). Similarly, the plea for "living water" echoes Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman (John 4:10-14) and His invitation in Jerusalem (John 7:37-38), symbolizing the Holy Spirit and the spiritual refreshment that only He can provide. The declaration that "nothing else can satisfy" rings with the wisdom of Ecclesiastes and the prophetic lament of Jeremiah, where God speaks of His people forsaking "the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13). This opening stanza firmly establishes the song's foundational truth: God alone is our true source of life and fulfillment.
The song then moves into an even more vulnerable space, praying to be kept "falling on my knees in need of mercy" and "broken 'til I'm desperate for your love." This isn't a request for suffering, but for a perpetual state of humility and dependence. To be "on my knees" signifies submission, repentance, and recognition of our constant need for God's grace, echoing David's cry for mercy in Psalm 51. The desire to be "broken" speaks to surrendering our pride and self-will, embracing the truth that God is near "to the brokenhearted" and saves "those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). It’s in this place of acknowledging our inadequacy that true desperation for God’s love takes root. The song continues with a beautifully profound request: "And even in the midnight hour before you answer, Keep me lost for words to praise you enough." This highlights the patience and perseverance required in faith, trusting God's timing even when answers are delayed, much like the watchman waits for the morning (Psalm 130:5-6). To be "lost for words to praise you enough" is not a failure but a triumph of awe, a recognition of God's incomprehensible majesty, goodness, and wisdom, as reflected in Romans 11:33-36. It’s an admission that human language falls short in expressing the depth of His glory.
The recurring theme throughout the verses is a persistent commitment to spiritual disciplines and an honest recognition of human limitations. "Keep me praying, keep me trusting," the song implores, aligning with Paul's exhortation to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and Solomon's wisdom to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" (Proverbs 3:5). The line "Show me I can't make it any other way" is a humble confession, mirroring Jesus' teaching that "apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). It dismantles the illusion of self-sufficiency and firmly plants the believer in a posture of complete reliance. The repeated desire to be "coming back to you, Lord, every day" underscores the ongoing, daily nature of faith, much like God's mercies are "new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23). The inclusion of the timeless hymn phrase, "I need thee Oh I need thee, Every hour I need thee," serves as a powerful bridge, reinforcing the song’s central message of constant, hourly dependence on God. This familiar declaration deepens the resonance, drawing on generations of believers who have voiced the same fundamental truth.
Ultimately, "Keep Me" by The Crabb Family is more than just a song; it's a prayer roadmap for the believer. It encourages us to cultivate an active desire for spiritual sustenance, to embrace humility, to persevere in prayer, and to acknowledge our absolute dependence on God in every facet of life. It challenges us to shed our notions of self-reliance and instead lean fully into the grace and strength that only He can provide. This song inspires a genuine longing for a closer walk with God, reminding all who hear it that a life truly surrendered to Him is one perpetually renewed, eternally satisfied, and constantly held in His merciful hands. It’s a call to a vibrant, living faith, one that finds its anchor and its every breath in the Divine.