I wrote about the story behind this song in an earlier Rabbit Room post. It’s based on the idea that the name of God, YHWH, is comprised of aspirated consonants, or breathing sounds, in the Hebrew alphabet, which has raised the question among some thinkers: “What if the name of God is the sound of breathing?”
Admittedly, it’s a speculative thought–maybe even a fanciful one. But it’s also quite beautiful and pregnant with significance. And as I say to my audiences when I introduce the song live: it might even be true.
The Sound Of Our Breathing
(Jason Gray / Doug McKelvey / Seth Mosley)
Everybody draws their very first breath
With Your name upon their lips
Every one of us is born of dust
But come alive with heaven’s kiss
The name of God
Is the sound of our breathing
Hallelujahs rise
On the wings of our hearts beating
Breathe in, breathe out
Speak it aloud oh oh, oh oh
The glory surrounds
This is the sound oh oh, oh oh
Moses bare foot at the burning bush
Wants to know who spoke to him
The answer is unspeakable
Like the rush of a gentle wind
In him we live and move and have our being
We speak the name as long as we are breathing
So breathe in
Breathe out…
Doubters and deceivers, skeptics and believers
We speak it just the same
From birth to death, every single breath
Is whispering Your name
A Way To See In The Dark available on iTunes, and the Rabbit Room Store
Jason Gray is a recording artist with Centricity Records. His latest single, out now, is "When I Say Yes".
9 Comments
CyndaP
This may be my favorite song on the album. I love this concept and I’ve shared it over and over since I first read about it in the earlier post.
Corey
I’m in love with this imagery. And can’t help but dance around for the chorus. 🙂
dj
“We speak the name as long as we are breathing.” Wow. He hears us whether we are aware of it or not, whether we truly believe it or not. May we always believe it!!
Corey
Succinct! That’s the word I was looking for. I had to read your other post about it and steal that word from you. 🙂 This song is masterfully succinct.
dj
Hey, I had to look up the word “succinct” &, yes, it is “to the point”. That is my word of the day!
lefthand30
I first heard you introduce and perform this song at Lifest in July of this year. The thoughts in your introduction and song are intriguing. I have been rolling them around in my head and sharing them with those around me. I absolutely love the idea of the name of God being on the lips of all people.
Elizabeth of the Kirk in the Woods
One of my favorites. I’m obsessing over it for all the 24 hours it’s up. What a wonderful, bewildering, freeing concept! I second Corey. 😉 😀
Michael Grant White
Very nice. Looking forward to hearing the musical version.
The Optimal Breathing Coach
Ellen Getz
Yes! This is it! I’ve been mulling this over for several months since I first heard you share your insights about the name of God being the sound of our breathing– that we are born when His name is on our lips, and we die when His name passes our lips for the last time– at Lifest 2011. The poignancy of this imagery is inescapable. The lyrics imprint God’s AWESOME power & deep love for us on my mind in a way that I cannot ignore. Thank you for your part in that!
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