In 2013 I came across a band that has captivated me ever since. I’m not exactly sure how I first heard of The Lone Bellow, but I downloaded their first album on a whim. I remember having low expectations before my first listen. When you search for music all the time you come across much that is forgetful. But, from the very beginning of the very first song on their very first album, The Lone Bellow were obviously of a different breed and I’ve been changed by listening to them.
The trio of Brian Elmquist, Kanene Pipkin and Zach Williams have been heavy in my rotation from the very first listen. I’ve devoured all six of their albums several times over and have had the privilege of experiencing their music live. But they’ve always been more than a “favorite” artist of mine. It’s almost as if I’m marked by their music. When I stop listening there is something about their songs that linger and call my attention for some time after. Ten years on and I think I understand (somewhat) why I’m continually drawn to them. This is strange for me to admit but what I think brings me back to The Lone Bellow over and over again is that…I think I hear Christ in their music.
Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. I’m not dubbing them a “Christian band” or saying every single lyric or song is inspired by the Bible. I’m not insinuating their music should be played in churches or used as worship music. What I am trying to say is there is something good and true blended into their amazing harmonies, lyrics and compositions that redirect my attention to things above. There is an all-too-familiar combination of weariness and hope in their songs that paint a picture of the Christian life. The Christian life is one struggling with the same human issues plaguing everyone and yet finding hope in love (God is love). Their lyrics often tell stories of loneliness or despair but also sing (most of the time) that better things are to come and good times can be found. If the lyrics weren’t enough to bring forth a bit of hope, their voices together seem to call forth the light out of the darkness.
While I could feel there was “more there” from the very beginning, it took me seven years to have the slightest inkling about what it was about their music that stuck with me. My “aha!” moment came in 2020 with the release of their album Half Moon Light. For starters, the band used an old church hymn, “The Eastern Gate,” as the intro, interlude and finale to the album1. But the clincher came for me during the song “Martingales.” I was doing some odds-and-ends chores in my then-apartment when these lyrics stopped me in my tracks.
If yesterday is too heavy
If yesterday is too heavy
Put it down
If yesterday is too heavy
If yesterday is too heavy
Put it down
Later, the song continues with “I’m on a run, coming undone,” before repeating “if yesterday is too heavy, put it down.”
I could think of nothing else. I started the song over and set it to repeat so I could listen intently. I started thinking, ‘this is the call to lay down your burdens. This is a call to repentance. This is about making an effort to change your life.’ Eventually I continued the album and found more Christ along the way, but I thought about these words for a while. They pointed me back to Peter who wrote about casting your anxieties on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7)2. I thought of Jesus himself who told us to take his yoke upon us, for His burden is light.
Matthew 11:29-30.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Having decided The Lone Bellow was pointing me back to scripture, I took this lens and discovered this is exactly what their music had been telling me from the very beginning. For the sake of brevity, I’ll dive into just a few more tracks from the trio’s other albums, but for now, let’s go back to where it all started.
“Green Eyes and a Heart of Gold” is the first track on the group’s self-titled debut album, and the song comes storming out of the gates. The group’s signature harmony is established immediately along with the country-ethos that makes this group so wonderful. The lyrics are the fusion of hope and hardship but they’re sung so beautifully that any pain behind them is tolerable, almost-welcomed.
Green eyes and a heart of gold
All the money’s gone and the house is cold
And it's alright, it's alright, it's alright, it's alright
The song goes on as a biography of sorts of the band itself3 and this is also where I see a glimmer of Jesus.
We are broke in New York City
The F-train takes us home
Oh what our ways may look like
Back where we're from
It's harder than we thought it'd be
We're losing blood with every beat
Our song is not a dying dream
You're not alone, you’re not alone
The soaring heights these three hit in bellowing “you’re not alone” is simply astounding, and this is also the place where, in retrospect, I thought of Holy Scripture. My mind took me to John 16:33. This is where Jesus tells his disciples they will be scattered and will endure trouble but they will find peace in Him.
John 16:33
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Now I know the circumstances are not nearly the same. The woe of a starving artist need not be compared to those who suffered actual torment or martyrdom for Christ’s sake, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make. The point here is to illustrate how these words, so beautifully sung, direct my attention back to where I’ve heard a similar notion before. And praise be to God for anything that helps to remember the promise we have in Christ.
Two years after the incredible debut, The Lone Bellow returned with their sophomore album Then Came the Morning. It’s a wonderful showcase of the development of the band and its expansion from the Americana-Folk vibes of their first album. This album begins a bit softer with harmonies reminiscent of The Band, but also pulls in boot-stomping anthems like “Heaven Don’t Call Me Home” (I know.. the irony here…). From the very first track, also titled “Then Came the Morning,” we hear lyrics like “Joy comes in the morning” so there are obvious links there, but what really stuck out to me on this album was the masterpiece that is “Watch Over Us.”
The song in its entirety points me back to the Psalms and the cry of David that God would provide him refuge. It’s an obvious prayer asking God to protect us in our world of constant sorrow.
Watch over us
Watch over us
Father, your sickness
Lives here in me
I don't need no crown
I don't need no glory
You've had your life
But that ain't my story
Sometimes I'm up
Sometimes I'm down
Sometimes I'm almost
Leveled to the ground
But my baby's sleeping
Sleeping in peace
So watch over us
Let’s fast forward a little bit now. After the success of Half Moon Light, The Lone Bellow released Love Songs for Losers in 2022 and seems to be riding a wave of success. Their first single from the album, “Honey,” has nabbed the group its first top five song on the Adult Alternative Airplay (AAA) charts. I still have “Dreaming” playing at least once a day, but the song that really forces my contemplation from Losers is “Wherever Your Heart Is.”
This is absolutely the song I needed to hear when I needed to hear it. My “spiritual journey” as of late has been one of serious consideration of how committed I am to being a Christian. Not only have I (like everyone else) experienced the social, political and health upheaval of the past three years but I’ve also become a father. These tumultuous times and fatherhood have forced me to examine myself. Am I living what I say I believe? What does it mean to live as a Christian in a world seemingly falling apart? How can I know God more? Will He grant me wisdom, knowledge and understanding? Just about the time I decided I was going to take this walk more seriously I also revisited this album and I finally really listened to “Wherever Your Heart Is.”
You always told me, go where the light is
Nobody show you, how to get there
It's a good time for trying to walk through the darkness
We should get started
I'm still searching for wherever your heart is
We should get started, wherever your heart is
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7). It’s obvious now I feel God allows me to hear Him in even this “secular” music. And after I’ve asked God to know him more I hear this song and I’m given reassurance God is willing to meet me wherever my heart is. The song ends with the familiar promise that God is with us. “By and by, I am by your side.”
I could go on and on about this truly remarkable band that has changed my life, but I think I’ve made my point. There is meaning to be found wherever you look or listen. There are messages to be heard if we can take the time to absorb them. If we can open ourselves to hear God will call to us, often in unexpected ways. I certainly never thought I’d hear a call to remember Jesus through an Americana-county/ stomp & holler band, and yet I believe that’s what’s happened.
Thank you for indulging me this far. I highly encourage you to lend your ear to The Lone Bellow at your earliest convenience. And I’d love to know any of the “secular” songs or artists that show you deeper meaning. Please share them in the comments. I’ll be glad to listen.
I’ll leave you here with a benediction of-sorts from the song “May You be Well” from The Lone Bellow’s album Walk into a Storm.
May you be well
May your heart be open
To whatever changes
That wind may be blowing
Whatever darkness
That you are concerned with
May you find peace
That is everlasting
Even when circumstances
They are crashing
Oh you can stand firm on the everlasting
May you be well
P.S. There are many other songs by The Lone Bellow that direct me back to scripture. Bellow are just a few more:
It’s interesting enough the band would use a hymn in this way, as a foundation on which the theme of the entire album is built. But to add to the interest, the music used is actually a recording of Zach’s grandmother playing “The Eastern Gate” during the funeral of Zach’s grandfather to whom she was married for more than 60 years. It’s a beautiful tribute to his family and certainly gives the album an intimate, family-feel.
It should be made clear that I don’t consider myself any type of authority on scripture. I have read the bible in its entirety once but I’m not one to recall the book, chapter and verse immediately upon hearing certain words. For me, I hear lyrics, think of the scriptures they remind me of and then have to sort through and find the actual text.
The Lone Bellow was formed from a moment of tragedy. Zach’s wife, Stacy, was injured in a horsing accident just one year into their marriage. The incident left her paralyzed from the neck down. During her recovery, Zach began to keep a journal and learned to play the guitar to pass the time. Stacy made a miraculous recovery and, with encouragement from friends, the Williams’ moved to New York City for Zach to pursue music. Zach eventually linked up with his longtime friend Brian Elmquist and Kanene Pipkin to form this wonderful trio.
I am sooooo Blessed to have found this'stack...April 22 11:37 PM coming up on the Full Moon...I'm a Seeking soul with some vision challenges...but I'll be back...warm regards to you and yours-Peace...