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Awaken the Dawn (Live Studio Version)

from Awaken the Dawn EP by The Nehemiah Band

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about

Mike:
This song narrates my transition from adolescence into young adulthood. The first verse depicts my youthful zeal at 16, the second verse journeys through my moral failures at 18, and the last verse articulates my reflections and resolutions at 21. The beauty of the Christian life is that whether your conversion is radical or gradual, what follows is a marathon race of triumphs and failures in being a disciple of Christ and his Kingdom. This song is highly personal and more of a testimony than anything else, as there are many references to specific personal moments in my life. In the first verse, I make reference to how most my mornings as a high school student was consumed with praying for revival on high school campuses throughout the San Gabriel Valley. A small group of friends and I would go to each other’s schools each morning prior to the sun rising to pray. I was a radical kid. I never cheated on a high school test, and went to school on Senior ditch day, firmly believing that my lifestyle along with prayer was going to be my means of winning my teachers and fellow students to Christ. Then came college (verse 2). And college exposed that a lot of my passion was rooted in being a typical high school kid seeking to find identity. My passion began to succumb to the temptations of spending my morning hours without prayer, and slowly I grew more attached to other things. And though I personally grew frustrated at my shortcomings, it was in my frustration that I discovered God’s love to be liberating and undetermined by performance. The third verse makes lots of references to what was going on in my world at the age of 21 (2007). Two particular events helped reshape my priorities: 1) My high school English teacher who was beloved by the student body was charged of sleeping with one of his students, and 2) nationally renown Pastor Ted Haggard was fired from his position when word came out that he had a sensual encounter with a male prostitute. Both men were highly esteemed by many people, but all of it was lost on account of publicized sexual sin. A good friend of mine, Pastor P Diddy Danny Chung, recently wrote on his tumblr blog that success is being the same person in private as you are in public. And as I became 21, this understanding that being a man of God beings in the secret place was placed on my heart. The chorus “God, Awaken the Dawn” is really a prayer that I pray each day, asking to renew and strengthen my resolve to be devoted to Christ in private and in public. Musically, this song began by laying down the acoustic guitar parts and exporting them to my iPod. Then, plugging in my iPod to my car stereo I played the acoustic guitar loop and freestyled the concepts to the verses while literally driving home from Pasadena City College. For guitar players, all I’m playing is C, G/B, and Am throughout the entire song. Special thanks to our friends at Light of Love Mission Church for adding additional vocals to the chorus!

Descry:
"Destiny is a matter of the heart, it's what's going on inside of me as I sing this song. Cause after this year, I understand--life or death begins with the inner man." Beautiful words and the lines that stuck in my mind the first time I heard this song. That's real truth. Romans 6:23 says "for the wages of sin...is death. BUT, the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ...our Lord." We're born evil as a result of the fall of mankind (Adam/Eve), thus we deserve death. So, unless we accept Jesus as Lord...the choice you make is one of life or death.

John:
I love the acoustic version more so than the whole band version, so I didn't want to take away the general feeling of that with this version. Keep things simple. So simple that I didn't use hi-hats or a floor tom. I really like Kevin's solo cause it's a little different than what he usually plays for a solo. It's a little more detached and subtle. Thanks to Tim Byun, Peter Kwon, Monica Won, David Kim, and Jacob Kim for helping with the gang vocals at the end of the song.

Gilbert:
Love Kevin's solo and tone. Simple parts are often the hardest to play.

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Gear used:

Mike-Parker Nite Fly Mahogany (vocals: Shure Beta 58, Vintech X73i, Empirical Labs Distressor)

John-Late 50s Ludwig Transition 14x22 Bass Drum (Remo Coated Powerstroke 3 Batter, Remo Coated Emperor Resonant. No Muffling), Rogers B&B Holiday 5x14 Snare (Remo Coated Ambassador Batter, Remo Ambassador Snare Side), 21" Zildjian K Custom Special Dry Ride w/six rivets, Vic Firth 5A, DW 7000 pedal custom, some old Pro Mark brushes

Kevin-mind guitar

Gilbert-Music Man Stingray 5, Markbass F1, SWR Goliath Jr. 210

Descry-Fender Rhodes, DOD201 Phasor, Moog Voyager

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Lyrics

lyrics

i remember i was sixteen years old
so sold out for you and the words you spoke to me
they were my passion though the people were laughing
every morning i would wake up to a song in me
brush my teeth, wash my face, then i'd
get in my car, drive to my high school
devote two hours to pray for my own heart
and for my generation to love who you are
when the rest of my peers turned to juice or drugs
i clung hard to you, kept my focus on
things of eternity, i chose to live a lifestyle of integrity
we were lost in love because you spoke to me
and i could never forget how you washed my feet
i'd stay up all night just to sing to you
but tonight i'm just missing you

God awaken the dawn
Come and do what it takes to pierce the dark
Breathe new life in my heart
To persevere with endurance, keep marching on (x2)

i can't believe it, it's five years later now
driving home from pasadena city college reminiscing
on the passion i carried when i imagined the cross
used to say i'll follow you God no matter the cost
i guess the dark just seeped in
I nearly threw away my life at 18 for a girlfriend
missing on destiny, all of that
i want to turn it around but still you had my back
you trusted me when i couldn't trust myself
spoke life to me when there was nobody else
and you upheld my soul in your sovereignty
get me back on my feet

God awaken the dawn
Come and do what it takes to pierce the dark
Breathe new life in my heart
To persevere with endurance, keep marching on (x2)

though i can barely do it today i lift my eyes
up to the mountains and the northern skies
on my way to play ball at first avenue
creation reaches me reminds me of you
and as i start to think, i start to smile
cause you start to speak, and you speak so loud
you say i wasnt made for mediocrity
and how there's more to my song than Christianity
destiny is a matter of the heart
it's whats goin on inside of me, as i sing this song
cuz after this year, God i understand
life or death begins with the inner man
and your reputation in the end is worthless
thats a lesson that i learned from mr. sutliff
and pastor ted haggard
so when the world staggers and
apathetic voices turn from thoughts to real daggers
satan see's your bride and he wants to beat her
i know he's wiped out so many worship leaders that were your favorite
i gotta make it. for them, for you, for
good, for real,
'til i'm lost in love this is my stand
turned 21 a month ago i'm ready to be a man

God awaken the dawn
Come and do what it takes to pierce the dark
Breathe new life in my heart
To persevere with endurance, keep marching on (x4)

credits

from Awaken the Dawn EP, track released May 20, 2011

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The Nehemiah Band Los Angeles, California

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