Dying To Die For You
I am so in love with the Caribbean...the beautiful beaches, the cuisine, the many creole dialects, the beautiful people, their inspiring stories of courage despite tough circumstances, and most importantly, the music. I remember as a kid how Dad would play his Joseph Niles recordings, and later, my siblings and I came to know another singer named Sam Ryan. Though we weren’t hardcore listeners to calypso in our household, it was too hard to grow up without being influenced by such flavorful music. Dying to Die for You is a tribute to all of my West Indian people, telling the story of redemption with the infectious rhythms that have accompanied our lyrics for generations.
The lyrics came quickly—I was sure that I wanted to write in West Indian folk music style, which, like every genre, requires a catchy hook for the chorus. The theme of Jesus’ willingness to be willing to live like me, identify with me, and die for me was very attractive. “See me”—that phrase calls our attention to our Savior, in the many aspects of His life, starting from the awkward entrance in a manger, to the cross, and currently, His work in the heavenly sanctuary, interceding on our behalf in preparation for His eminent return.
Go ahead...tap your feet, sway a little bit, and imagine yourself on a pristine beach in the New Jerusalem with Jesus telling you the story of His boundless desire to save us.