Style: Folk-Rock Revival (The "Josiah" acoustic intro into the "Brandon" roaring bridge)
Tempo: 4/4 (Stomping Americana groove)
(Intro)
(Starts with aggressive, fast-paced acoustic guitar strumming—Josiah Queen style. A lone kick drum stomps on the downbeat.)
(Verse 1: Josiah Queen - The Storyteller)
The hills were silent, the night was cold
Just a couple of shepherds watching over the fold
We were waiting for a sign, waiting for a spark
Just trying to keep our fire burning in the dark
Then the sky tore open, the glory fell down
On a little no-name, dusty town
And I heard a song I never heard before
Like a key unlocking a prison door.
(Pre-Chorus)
And people say that things happen for a reason
That the wind just blows through every season
But when I looked into the manger bed
I felt the old me turning up dead.
(Chorus 1: Brandon Lake - The Anthem)
(Full band kicks in—Gritty and driving)
Because I knew You! Yeah, because I knew You!
The darkness broke and the Light came through!
I’ve heard the stories of the Savior’s birth
But now I feel the shaking of the Earth!
You rewrote my story, You understood
That I needed saving, like only You could!
And because I knew You, Jesus...
I have been changed for good.
(Verse 2: Josiah Queen - The Journey)
Round yon Virgin, mother and child
It’s a holy peace, but it feels so wild
I was a ship blown off course by the wind
Lost in the waves of my shame and my sin
But a stream of light from a holy face
Anchored my soul in amazing grace
Yeah, the shepherds are running, the angels sing
And I’m bowing down before the Beggar King.
(Chorus 2: Brandon Lake - Belting)
Because I knew You! Yeah, because I knew You!
The old is gone and the rest is new!
Sleep in heavenly peace tonight
'Cause You won the war and You brought the Light!
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
Well, You took the chains and You broke the fetter!
And because I knew You, Jesus...
I have been changed for good.
(Bridge: The Mashup - Building Tension)
(Music drops to a low tom-tom rumble. Vocals start low and climb high)
(Josiah) Silent Night... Holy Night...
(Brandon) All is calm... but my heart is bright!
(Josiah) Son of God... Love’s pure light...
(Brandon) You’re the handprint on my heart tonight!
(Crescendo - "Lion" style roaring)
(Both)
RADIANT BEAMS FROM THY HOLY FACE!
WITH THE DAWN OF REDEEMING GRACE!
JESUS, LORD AT THY BIRTH!
YOU ARE CHANGING THE EARTH!
YEAH, YOU’RE CHANGING THE EARTH!
(Tag/Spontaneous Flow)
I’ll never be the same!
I’ll never be the same!
You came to the world, You came to my heart!
And we’re never gonna be apart!
(Outro)
(Music fades back to just the acoustic guitar)
Silent night, holy night...
All is calm, all is bright.
And because I knew You...
I have been changed for good.