I first heard of the Contemporary Christian rock band Jars of Clay in mid-April 1996, when I first heard this song, "Flood." I was immediately floored by the excellent blending of musical and vocal hooks.

1996 was one of the wettest of all time in the Northeast: our area had experienced severe flooding in January, and almost every month that year was rainy or snowy. The first time I heard "Flood" was a day that featured a scowling wind and the remnants of a downpour. In addition, a very important Psychology exam was looming the very next day.

This song features an urgent acoustic guitar, ominous vocals, and lyrics that speak out to God to help us through any storm that may come in our lives. Here are these memorable lyrics:

Rain, rain on my face
Hasn't stopped raining for days
My world is a flood
Slowly I become one with the mud

These opening lyrics set the tone for the song: they are angst-ridden and indicative of a storm that is brewing, both out there and within. It seems to indicate a hurricane about to hit the area.

But if I can't swim after forty days
And my mind is crushed by the thrashing waves
Lift me up so high that I cannot fall, lift me over
(Lift me up) When I'm falling
(Lift me up) I'm weak and I'm dying
(Lift me up) I need you to hold me
(Lift me up) To keep me from drowning again

This chorus sends the song into the stratosphere. The reference to "forty days" parallels the harrowing 40 days Jesus had spent in the desert. (The number 40 also refers to the number of years the Israelites had wandered in the desert before reaching the Promised Land).

The writer/singer is pleading with God to see him through the rough waters and strong winds, as well as the unrelenting downpour. In my life, this downpour often takes the form of the "slings and arrows" of harassment from strangers.

The next verse paints a vivid picture of the weather conditions--it reminds me of a cloudburst accompanying a severe thunderstorm:

Downpour on my soul
Splashing through in the ocean, I'm losing control
Dark sky all around
I can't feel my feet touching the ground

(Repeat chorus)
(String instrumental)

The bridge is punctuated by an effective use of a violin. For some reason, the urgency reminds me of a similar use of a string instrument in The Buoys' 1971 hit, "Timothy," a song about three men, two of whom had to resort to desperate measures to stay alive.


Calm the storms that drench my eyes
And dry the streams still flowing
Casting down our waves of sin
And guilt that overthrow me

This verse then segues into a rousing return of the chorus. This song does an excellent job of painting an image of stormy weather as representing spiritual hunger. Musically, it hits the bull's eye because it is perfectly executed and sung. While many songs are just plain boring and bland, Jars of Clay's "Flood" excels. It is hard to believe this only reached #37 (in the summer of 1996), while annoying dreck like "Macarena" soared to #1.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving