Hound Dog Harmonies: "Anchor"

Song: "Anchor"

Artist: Skillet

Album: Victorious

Genre: Rock/Metal

Selected Lyrics:

Drifting beneath the horizon
Body is weak but I'm trying
To make it to shore, but I'm falling short
I need You more
Wave after wave, I've been sinking
So unto Your promise I'm clinging
You say that I'm strong, to You I belong
Keep holding on

You are my anchor
So steady me, steady me now
You are my anchor
You're keeping my feet on the ground
In angry oceans, You've never broken through
Every wave of the storm

Discussion:

My last Hound Dog Harmonies post featured the mellow sounds of The Gray Havens. This week, we swing the other way to Skillet's heavy metal jams. (Hey, I've never claimed to have consistent music tastes.) I honestly can't believe I haven't featured Skillet on the blog yet, though, in hindsight, their lyrics tend to be a little less deep than say, Theocracy. 

"Anchor" is probably my favorite song off of the new Victorious album that came out a couple months ago, mostly because it came at a perfect time in my life. The album released just a few weeks before my dog was diagnosed with lymphoma. The past month has been hard emotionally and mentally as I've had to make a lot of decisions regarding what exactly I want to do about his cancer and reconciling myself to the fact that he's not going to be around forever. This whole album, but especially "Anchor", has been the soundtrack to my life throughout that time.

I really enjoy the lyrics of this song because they focus me back on Christ and His consistency. I tend to rely on my dog for my main source of companionship and comfort, but even he's transient. Christ, however, won't abandon me, even when I'm drowning. Even when the world seems to be shifting around me and all my best laid plans have been stripped aside, He's there to steady me.

I would highly recommend the whole Victorious album if you enjoy a taste of heavy metal with some lyrics that you can feel comfortable listening to. My other favorites off the album are "Finish Line", "Never Going Back", and "This is the Kingdom". 

I also have to give a hat tip to Skillet lead singer John Cooper and his comments on how the church tends to elevate emotions and celebrities over the Word of God and how that can be a problem.The Christian Post did a nice article on his comments and their context a while back. He's a little forward, but I largely found it a refreshing take on Christian pop culture.