Eric and Gabe discussing songs at 'The Tank' studio in Washington.

Back in March of 2009, Eric walked into our rehearsal room with this really sweet bass line.
He’d shown me ideas before, but this one definitely stuck out, it reminded me of waves that form out at sea and crash onto the shore, only to keep pounding and pounding again in incessant rhythm. It sounded fantastic.
As he proceeded to play it, we all joined in, lee on drums…jon on electric guitar…me on acoustic…trying to find a melody and maybe, just maybe…some words.

When moments like this happen, we hit the record button…because as this new idea is taking hold…moments of spontaneous inspiration hit…allowing you to freely, without embarrassment…experiment with a line here, or there.

It’s important when you’re writing a song, with other people, that you have trust that your ideas can be thrown out there, without fear of them being categorically dismissed.
There’s a fine line of encouragement, honesty and self censorship that has to be walked for creativity to fully form within the group dynamic. I’m grateful that this exists within this band. We play. No shame. Just hash it out…as long as necessary, till something happens.

Litany was like that. Although, I think to my great horror and shame…I accidentally erased that very first writing session. I still don’t know if Eric’s bass line is the same one from that first time he showed it to us. I’m sure it’s very similar. But there was a moment of sheer panic when we had experimented and played for like 15 minutes…only to realize I’d made a dumb mistake and wiped out what was on tape.
When our heart rates returned to normal, we tried again…trying to remember what we had just done.

And all the while, I heard a kind of “list” in my mind…when it came to how to pursue the lyrics.
Like in a liturgical church…there’s a Litany that’s usually read, a type of prayer…with the congregation repeating something in unison… for example…“lord, have mercy…”

Psalm 136 is a good example of this: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good…His love endures forever…”
I thought this song would be easier to write if I could make it a list of prayers…with the chorus being the refrain.

The  verses were easy enough…I did some soul searching and began to write a sort of  conversation with God…asking Him to work in me, to make me into who He wanted me to be. More sensitive to the hurts of those around me…more aware of my own shortcomings…more willing to trust Him for everything.
Is that a dangerous prayer to pray? Sure it is. Absolutely.
But my heroes have always lived dangerously for the kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul.
The Missionary Jim Eliott.
Brother Andrew.
Amy Carmichael.

When I sat down to write the lyrics…it was Amy’s poem, “Flame Of God” that kept bouncing off the walls of my brain…and so I decided to just go with that concept…of asking God to allow us to offer up all our strengths and weaknesses upon His altar, and letting Him burn them up all together for His Glory. Living out our faith without shame, without fear, without judgment of others.

One obstacle remained. Not everyone was sold on the idea that this song was any good. I think, at one point, I was the only one in the band that felt this song should be on the album.
Lee even said, at one point, that he hated the song.
Jon, liked it but didn’t feel it was coming together right.
Eric, to my great surprise (since he’d had the original concept) felt it wasn’t his favorite.
Our manager, Keith, also voiced his displeasure.

At this point, I have to make this disclaimer…if you listen to the original demos…my melodies aren’t very good. pretty bad, actually. But, I knew we could fix those later…the music and concept, in my head were too good to let them fall to the wayside.

I needed allies, and I needed them quick. I heard an epic moment here…and was afraid one of the most ‘aggressive rock’ tunes we’d had at that point was going to be lost.
The president of our record label, Derek Hoiem, sent an email out saying he LOVED ‘the litany’. I breathed a sigh of relief.
Brandon Bee, producer and artist extraordinaire, also came to the song’s defense. He was able to take the best ideas that we’d had…and was able to make a more ‘recognizable’ song…adding a better melody line for the verses…pushing for a stronger chorus…and proper bridge…and the little nuances and details that might get lost when you’re listening…but are essential to a great song.

Slowly, the other guys came around…and once it was recorded, and we listened back through the BIG studio speakers…a small, fragile idea that started in Eric’s mind had grown into a monster of a song…and it was wonderful to hear it roar.