The Rabbit Room

This song speaks to me.  Andrew usually writes the blurbs for the song of the day.  But rather than require him to explain how cool this love song to his wife is, I thought I’d take a shot.

“Don’t Give Up On Me” is not a safe song for married guys.  A well written song will often speak of something that is at the same time specific and broadly applicable.  When I first heard this song, I wondered if Andrew had bugged my living room or read my journals.  And I’ll bet you married guys will too.

My wife and I are both committed to our marriage, and neither would simply give up.  But I also know there are times when I look at myself in my sin, selfishness and general relational ineptitude, and I wonder if she might not have cause to give up on me.  Even for those who say divorce is not an option for them, there are many couples who remain married but have long since given up.  They’re married, but are done with each other.

This song, I’m sure, tells a deeply personal story—the details of which we are not privy to.  But it is presented in such a way that we don’t need the details to understand.  The desperation of the chorus tells us what we need to know. This is a great love song because this business of not giving up on each other is so much the essence of deep, prevailing love.  For better or for worse, we promise.  And we will be both.  That’s why we take the vows we do.

This is a helpful song.

-Also-

ATTENTION MUSIC NERDS: For fun, see if you can pick up on Ben Shive and Andy Gullahorn layering in some melodic themes from a couple of older AP songs in this track.  Hint, there are two.  One is a piano melody, the other an acoustic guitar.

Don’t Give Up On Me

The road is long that leads me home tonight
It disappears into the distant light, my love
Don’t give up on me.

You know I love you but I’m just a man
Don’t always love you the best that I can, my love
Just don’t give up on me.

Don’t give up on me.
Don’t give up on me
Don’t give up on me
I won’t give up on you

I’ve got all these letters I never did write
All this affection I kept inside my heart
Don’t give up on me

Don’t give up on me
Don’t give up on me
Don’t give up on me
I won’t give up on you

You were there when I shook my fist at the sky
You were there when I fell to the earth and cried
Do you remember how it felt just like we died
And rose again?

And the storm inside was raging
It was howling like the wind at the Pentecost
And His love was teaching us a language
We thought was lost

I have felt the holy fire of love
Been burned by the holy fire of love
Made clean by the holy fire of love

I walked beside you in the canyon flames
Deep as an ocean and hot as a thousand suns
We barely survived

Now I wake up in a golden dream
Angel voices in the rooms where the children run
All covered in light

Don’t give up on me
Don’t give up on me
Don’t give up on me
I won’t give up on you
Don’t give up on me
I’m begging you, please
Don’t give up on me
I won’t give up on you