Tim Hughes - We Won't Stay Silent Lyrics
Lyrics
Jesus, You are here with us
Our hearts are being stirred
Spirit intercede for us
With groans too deep for words
And teach us how to pray
Could we be a prayerful people?
Shake us up today, Lord
We're calling out on our knees
Desperate Lord, for You to be
In our cities, in our streets
Lifted high for all to see
We won't stay silent anymore
We won't stay silent anymore
Holy Father, hear our cry
We're knocking on Your door
Help us Lord to persevere
You know we long for more
Teach us how to pray
Could we be a prayerful people?
Shake us up today, Lord
We're calling out on our knees
Desperate Lord, for You to be
In our cities, in our streets
Lifted high for all to see
We won't stay silent anymore
We won't stay silent anymore
Oh, oh, won't stay silent
Won't stay silent
Oh, oh, won't stay silent
Won't stay silent
Oh, oh, we won't stay silent
Won't stay silent
Oh, oh, we won't stay silent
We're calling out on our knees
Desperate Lord, for You to be
In our cities, in our streets
Lifted high for all to see
We're calling out on our knees
Desperate Lord, for You to be
In our cities, in our streets
Lifted high for all to see
We won't stay silent anymore
We won't stay silent anymore
We won't stay silent anymore
We won't stay silent anymore
Video
Tim Hughes 'We Won't Stay Silent' Live From Shepherds Bush, London
Meaning & Inspiration
Tim Hughes’ "We Won't Stay Silent," released on March 16, 2009, as part of the "Happy Day - Live Worship - London" album, stands as a powerful declaration of spiritual longing and committed faith. This song transcends a simple worship piece; it is an impassioned plea for divine intervention and a covenant to actively proclaim God's presence in the world. From its opening verses, the song establishes a profound connection to the Holy Spirit, acknowledging His work in stirring hearts and interceding with "groans too deep for words," a direct echo of Romans 8:26, which speaks of the Spirit helping us in our weakness when we do not know what to pray. This foundational recognition sets the stage for a collective cry for spiritual empowerment and guidance.
The song’s core message quickly pivots to a deep desire for a more prayerful existence, asking, "Teach us how to pray / Could we be a prayerful people? / Shake us up today, Lord." This yearning mirrors the disciples' request to Jesus in Luke 11:1, highlighting a universal human need to connect with the divine in a meaningful way. It's not just a request for instruction but a desperate call for a spiritual awakening, a profound "shaking up" that would transform individuals and communities into vibrant centers of prayer. This call is not passive; it inspires an active posture of humility and fervent desire, as expressed by "We're calling out on our knees." This imagery of kneeling in supplication resonates with biblical figures like Daniel and Paul, who demonstrated profound reverence and earnestness in their prayers (Daniel 6:10, Ephesians 3:14).
The central thrust of the song—the unwavering commitment to not "stay silent anymore"—is a powerful biblical mandate to witness and proclaim. It moves beyond private devotion to public declaration, urging believers to be agents through whom God is "lifted high for all to see" in their "cities, in our streets." This aligns with the command in Matthew 5:16 for followers to let their light shine before others, so that people may see their good works and glorify their Father in heaven. It also evokes the prophetic spirit seen throughout Scripture, where voices like Isaiah (Isaiah 58:1) and Jeremiah were commanded to speak truth without fear. The repetition of this resolute phrase is not mere reiteration but a deepening pledge, signifying an end to complacency and a new era of courageous faith. It recalls Peter and John's declaration in Acts 4:20, "For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard," underscoring the intrinsic urge to share what God has done.
Further into the song, the petition "Holy Father, hear our cry / We're knocking on Your door / Help us Lord to persevere / You know we long for more" reflects the biblical emphasis on persistent prayer. Jesus himself taught about the importance of unwavering persistence through parables like the persistent widow and the friend at midnight (Luke 18:1-8, Luke 11:5-10). The longing for "more" speaks to a spiritual hunger that cannot be satisfied by worldly pursuits, a thirst for God found in passages like Psalm 42:1-2, "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God." This deep spiritual yearning drives the commitment to speak out and ensures that the declaration of not staying silent is rooted in a genuine, insatiable desire for God's presence and glory to be made manifest. "We Won't Stay Silent" ultimately serves as an anthem for spiritual activism, calling the church to a posture of bold prayer and public proclamation, driven by an unshakeable belief in God's power to transform society through the voices of His people.