Usually for a musical artist their most powerful and personal project is saved for last, often called their magnum opus. For country music star Johnny Cash, it was his recording of the song “Hurt” that took a hit song by a grunge rock group Nine Inch Nails and transformed it into The Man in Black’s sincere apology to God, his family, and June Carter Cash for all his sins, while also reflecting on loss that made it feel like the book of Ecclesiastes. For the Beetles their final album before they broke up, Let It Be, in considered their greatest, featuring them “going back” to basics as the fab four one last time. However, for CCM artist Jeremy camp, his debut album Stay is perhaps his greatest work.
Possessing a raw, rugged vocal quality like that of Alex Band of The Calling or Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, his debut album had a layer of authenticity and real, honest personal introspection that some felt was missing any many debut albums in the CCM industry. Written after the death his first wife from cancer during their brief marriage, he guides listeners on a journey through his own pain. Yet at the same time, like Band or Kroger, it taps into a universal sense of pain, longing and grief. But while they ask the questions, Camp rests in the Answer to those questions and holds fast to his faith like a man in maelstrom on the high seas.
In fact I would argue that his two hit singles from that album, “I Still Believe” and “Walk by Faith” from this album are not only two of the greatest declarations of faith in adversity set to music, but that they perfectly capture the essence of Job and Hebrews, and I would dare say the entire album is to CCM music what CS Lewis’ A Greif Observed is to apologetics. It’s a real, genuine and sincere exploration of faith in a time of grief and pain that speaks to a much deeper universal feeling. This became a signature of his music, as his albums continue to feature song focusing on real sincere faith and contemplating the “hard stuff” of life, one that makes his bold statement of faith and his full confidence in the final consolation that will come when we behold our Savior in “There will be a Day” all the more powerful.
Further, with the rugged quality to his voice, his recording of the worship song “Here I am to Worship” ( featured on our Lent in Narnia playlist) remains my favorite. In his voice it truly feels like the singer is broken and coming before God, and receiving his gift on the Cross and accepting it, even though he can never fully grasp the cost of that sacrifice as God have His only Son for the sins of the world, taking them upon himself. It’s a humbling moment for any one, one that requires acknowledging one’s own brokenness and unworthiness for the gift.
Thus, with his powerful personal story that led to his debut album and his raw, vocals, it only stands to reason that for a project like the Inspired by Album for The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, that he would be the artist to tap even deeper into the brokenness of a character, that brings them to repentance and redemption. For his song “Open Up Your Eyes” it’s almost an inner plea, that captures the struggle a character in the Narnia series has to open up their eyes and follow what Aslan has planned for them, as they struggle with wanting to go their own way.
This perhaps one of the strongest points in Camp’s song is that in many ways it taps into the universal themes of redemption across the entire series, and not just The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. After all, Digory chose to ignore the warning of the rhyme above the Witch’s bell and ring it, awakening her evil, but he also faced an equally difficult choice, to which had to heed Aslan’s warning and not steal the apple for himself at the Witch’s promoting even if it could have saved his mother. Eustace is so caught up in his chronological snobbery in Voyage of the “Dawn Treader”, that it is only when he receives a dragon’s curse that he realizes how truly lost he is. In Silver Chair, it is Jill ignoring Aslans signs, and even wanting to go to the castle, as it sounds more comfortable, who needs the wake-up call.
But these journeys into Narnia aren’t just about adventure and fantasy but spiritual transformation, and thus, in the context of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, while David Crowder Band takes on the “first part” of Edmund’s story with “Turkish Delight”, it takes the flip side of the silver coin of Edmund. It’s only when he’s in the witch’s clutches, and her mask comes off and he realizes she had no intention of keeping her promise to him, that he truly “opens up his eyes” and sees the warning signs in place, even trying to defend others.
Edmund knows full well, as we all do that, he’s meant for more then what he knows, but he was willing to settle for lesser things. It took the compassion of Aslan to save him, and it took the forgiveness of his siblings to restore him, and thus, he went from being the bratty boy who only wanted “Turkish Delight” to being King Edmund the Just. Such a transformation may seem impossible, at least for ordinary humans, but as Jeremy Camp reminds us such things are possible with God, if we open up our eyes surrender to Him, and receive His gift.
Retro Narnia Rocks Playlist:
Side A-“Open up Your Eyes”(Narnia Album Version
“I Still Believe”
Side B: “Walk by Faith”
“There Will Be a Day”
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