Phil Wickham’s “Song of the Saints” reminds us of those who’ve gone before

By Megan Deets

Phil Wickham’s latest album “Song of the Saints” is filled with both the soft reflections and the energetic praise that listeners have come to expect from Wickham over the last several years. Fans of his previous work will add these songs to their list of favorites as well. Some of this music is already being used in churches’ worship services, which will likely continue in the next few months. 

“Song of the Saints” is yet again another successful worship album from Wickham, but there is a deeper layer to this tracklist that differentiates it from Wickham’s other work. This album’s overarching theme is woven seamlessly into every song. It is the remembrance of the people who left behind a legacy of faith. Wickham incorporates this message into his songs in a variety of ways.

A few of his songs are reimaginings of Christian hymns- “Because He Lives (Moment)” and “Wondrous Cross.” Others like “What an Awesome God” and “The Stand (Amen)” build upon the foundation of the earliest Christian contemporary music. Another nod to the Christians of the past is his spoken-word call to the gospel which includes a recording of Billy Graham’s salvation prayer. As a final acknowledgement of those who set an example for us in their faith, Wickham titled his album “Song of the Saints.” This title song is a proclamation of what Christians believe about God, a twist on Wickham’s own song “I Believe,” but with a focus on the community instead of the individual. Wickham recognizes that our faith is the same faith that Christians have held throughout the generation, tying his motif together.

Pausing to remember the forefathers of the faith is something that feels very natural to forget. In today’s world, there is already so much information and media thrown at you that it makes it easy to neglect doing any research about great Christians of the past.

Another barrier to honoring the legacies of these men and women is our culture’s fixation on the present or the future. Past, present and future all have a place in our lives, and we should not ignore any of them if we want to live our fullest lives. Through this album, Wickham encourages us to slow down and learn from the people of the past.

Aside from the themes of these songs, my thoughts on some of these songs’ musical aspects and their lyrics are in the list below. 

(15) “Wondrous Cross”: This adaptation of the old hymn is different from others that I’ve heard, and I enjoyed it because of its unique rhythm. The lyrics that Wickham added were cohesive to the rest of the song. 

(14) “Miracle Maker”: Accompanied by a joyful beat, this track is yet another reminder that God has been faithful throughout generations. The vocals on this one were very nice.

(12) “What If I Told You (Feat. Billy Graham (Televevangelist))”: The spoken-word style stuck out to me. It wasn’t unsuccessful in itself, but it didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the album. 

(9) “Running to a Runaway”: This song serves as a great reminder of God’s mercy to sinners. Both the melody and the lyrics are beautiful!

(8) “God is Good”: The background voices in this song make it even more joyful! I appreciate the different Bible verses that Wickham wove into the lyrics.

(7) “The King is in the Room”: This song’s distinct Christian contemporary sound explains its popularity, but personally, I get tired of this track after hearing it too many times. 

(5) “Homesick for Heaven”: This song has a pretty melody and an underlying ache in the tone that fits with the lyrics about waiting til we get to be with Jesus. 

(3) “What an Awesome God”: The rap in the verses mixes so well with the classic chorus. I also love all the lyrics that Wickham added because they really point to the reasons why God is awesome. 

(1) “So So Good”: This song is fun, and it gets you excited about God. However, it doesn’t really explain why we should be excited about God, relying heavily on emotion for a song that was probably intended for use as a worship song. 

Altogether, this was a successful album by Wickham. It serves as an excellent reminder to take a step back and remember the people who walked in the faith before us. 

“Song of the Saints” is available on all streaming platforms.

Megan Deets is a freshman Professional Writing and Information Design student. Some of the things that she loves are new notebooks, fresh fruit and musicals. 

Images courtesy of Genius Lyrics and YouTube.