Tommy Walker - Happy Birthday Jesus Lyrics
Lyrics
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Not with a cake but a song of praise
We say happy birthday to You
Happy birthday, happy birthday
With hearts of joy and thankfulness
We say happy birthday to You
This is the gift we bring
This is our offering
We give our lives to serve and honor You
This is Your birthday bash
Were giving You the best we have
Take joy our King in all we say and do
Cause it's all for You
Video
Happy Birthday Jesus
Meaning & Inspiration
Tommy Walker's "Happy Birthday Jesus," released on October 24, 2007, as part of the album "This Is What Christmas Means to Me," presents a compelling redirection of the Christmas narrative. The song strips away the commercial veneer often associated with the holiday, inviting us instead to center our attention and adoration directly on the Christ child, not merely as a historical figure, but as the living King deserving of our highest praise. It’s a profound shift from a passive remembrance of an event to an active, present-day celebration *to* Jesus Himself, acknowledging His birth as the pivotal moment for all humanity, worthy of personal, dedicated honor.
The core message immediately establishes a spiritual alternative to traditional festivities. The opening lines assert a celebration "not with a cake but a song of praise," positioning vocal worship as the true offering. This resonates deeply with Scripture, where praise is continually uplifted as a sacrifice pleasing to God. As Hebrews 13:15 declares, "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." Similarly, Psalm 100:2 encourages us to "Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!" Walker’s words beautifully encapsulate this biblical call, challenging us to consider the eternal over the ephemeral, and to offer something far more precious than any material gift: the adoration of a heart genuinely moved by divine grace.
Moving deeper, the song describes this celebration as being offered "with hearts of joy and thankfulness." This isn't a superficial or obligatory sentiment, but an overflow of genuine gratitude stemming from a profound understanding of the Incarnation. Colossians 3:16 guides us to "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." The joy expressed here is a fruit of the Spirit, a deep-seated contentment found in Christ, echoing Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." This gratitude for God entering human history as a vulnerable infant to ultimately redeem us forms the bedrock of the song's celebration.
The turning point in the message, and arguably its most impactful aspect, comes with the declaration: "This is the gift we bring, This is our offering, We give our lives to serve and honor You." This elevates the concept of giving from material presents to complete personal surrender. It’s a living sacrifice, a concept central to Christian devotion as described in Romans 12:1: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." The song calls us to embody the essence of 1 Peter 2:9, becoming "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." Our entire existence, lived in service and honor, becomes the ultimate birthday present, far surpassing any fleeting item.
The song culminates with the vibrant image, "This is Your birthday bash, We’re giving You the best we have, Take joy our King in all we say and do, Cause it’s all for You." The phrase "birthday bash" brings a relatable, celebratory energy, yet it remains firmly rooted in spiritual truth. "Giving You the best we have" recalls the principle of giving God our firstfruits, as admonished in Proverbs 3:9, "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce." But it expands beyond material wealth to encompass our whole being, our talents, our time, and our love, reflecting the command in Mark 12:30 to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." The final, defining statement, "Cause it’s all for You," serves as a powerful reminder that every thought, word, and action should be an act of worship, seeking to bring joy to our King. Colossians 3:17 beautifully summarizes this holistic dedication: "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Tommy Walker's "Happy Birthday Jesus" stands as a poignant invitation to re-center our Christmas observance, transforming it from a mere holiday into a profound act of worship and life-long dedication, echoing the timeless call of Scripture to make our entire existence a testament to the King born in a manger.