Don't You Worry Child

Lyrics

There was a time
I used to look into my father's eyes.
In a happy home
I was a king, I had a golden throne.
Those days are gone,
Now the memory's on the wall.
I hear the songs
From the places where I was born.

Upon a hill across a blue lake,
That's where I had my first heartbreak.
I still remember how it all changed.

My father said,
"Don't you worry, don't you worry, child.
See heaven's got a plan for you.
Don't you worry, don't you worry now."
Yeah!

"Don't you worry, don't you worry, child.
See heaven's got a plan for you.
Don't you worry, don't you worry now."
Yeah!

There was a time
I met a girl of a different kind.
We ruled the world,
I thought I'd never lose her out of sight.
We were so young, I think of her now and then.
I still hear the songs reminding me of a friend.

Upon a hill across a blue lake,
That's where I had my first heartbreak.
I still remember how it all changed.

My father said,
"Don't you worry, don't you worry, child.
See heaven's got a plan for you.
Don't you worry, don't you worry now."
Yeah!

Oh, oh, oh!
Oh, oh, oh!

See heaven's got a plan for you
[Live version repetitions:]
See heaven's got a plan for you
See heaven's got a plan for you

"Don't you worry, don't you worry, child.
See heaven's got a plan for you.
Don't you worry, don't you worry now."
Yeah!

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! [3x]
Yeah!

 

1. Is there anything good I can hold on to from this song?

This song certainly has an overall positive bent. Though it talks about a trial - breaking off a relationship with someone - it offers a hopeful response rather than any sort of crushing depression or emotional turmoil. The main thing I appreciate from this song is the father-son bond that is poignantly described in the opening stanza.

 

2. Is there anything true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, or praiseworthy in this song?

Scripture is certainly clear that the bond between a father and a son should be a strong one; that is God's design (Proverbs 17:6; Ephesians 6:1-4)

 

Interestingly enough, the opening to this song immediately made me think of Scripture in Hebrews 2 that talks about Jesus being "made lower than the angels for a short time" (v.9) I don't want to sentimentalize too much here, and yet at the same time, truly can any of us imagine what it would have been like for Jesus who, being present at the beginning of creation and having all the glorious characteristics described in Colossians 2, become like a person and suffering as people do (Philippians 2:7-8 speaks of a portion of that)? Of course, the main difference here is that the opening stanza of this song talks of something that is not regained, whereas in Jesus we see ultimate victory, fulfillment, and restoration (see 1 Corinthians 15 as an example)

 

3. When I listen to this song, does my thinking become conformed or transformed?

I would say overall this is a transforming sort of song that encourages people to look beyond current circumstances and consider a much bigger picture. 

 

With that said, I do have a qualm and question about the presentation. The song repeatedly reassures "heaven's got a plan for you"... but, I can't help but wonder - what exactly do they mean by "Heaven?" In my book, Heaven is a place, which means that Heaven can't have plans. Places don't plan things! I fear that this is pseudo-spiritual jargon only intended to give people a warm feeling on the inside all the while being absolutely devoid of any sort of substance or meaning.

 

4. Does this song cause me to set my mind on things above or on earthly things? 

There is definitely an element of both. For reasons mentioned before, I can take this from a viewpoint to see Jesus in it. Also, if I ignore the strange statement about "Heaven" having plans and consider that to be referring to God, then certainly there is absolute truth in that statement. Psalm 139, Jeremiah 29:11 (though I am of the camp that sees danger in misuse of that verse, it still fits), Philippians 1:6 all speak to this idea of bigger plans at work in our lives.

 

Additionally, the references to the girl and heartbreak can point to something above if taken to be that, while unexpected things come our way or plans don't always work out as expected, there are greater forces at work guiding us forward.  

 

5. Is this song leading me to feel anger, rage, malice, or slander?

No

 

6. Does this song contain filthy language or encourage me to use filthy language?

No

 

7. Is this song calling me to pursue youthful passions?

No

 

8. Can I listen to this song in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him? 

Maybe yes, maybe no; it would probably depend on my mood. While I have tried to point out many redemptive factors to see in this song, my gut instinct tells me that I am probably being quite generous from the artists' intent. At the same time, I believe that from starting carefully by considering the original context and meanings of the song, then I am free to disperse more redemptive light into it. In that, I can find reasons to praise God in this song, and so in focusing on that, I would be okay with listening to it. That said, I don't see a lot of musical depth to this song, so I don't foresee this being a song that will really stick with me or hold my interest for long.

 

To comment on the video, I feel similarly as I did with <LINK: Ghost Love Score>. Given the lyrics that we're considering, I could musically see a few different angles to travel if I were writing this song, and this group obviously chose a more up-beat approach. And from Wikipedia I read that the group claims a tour through Australia as the inspiration for the song. I don't know that it is really autobiographical, but from other things I read it seems there must have been a lot of emotion leading up to what the video shows is the group's last tour. Anyways, all of that to say: in seeing audience members' reactions to this group and this song, I feel as though there is a sense in which nobody wants to think about or even care about what the group is singing... everyone just seems to be, well, jumping! Or, one could say: partying. That leads me down a path to consider that, if people have considered the lyrics, then it appears their response is quite hedonistic (and this doesn't seem to be discouraged from the artists). In other words, "Heaven's got a plan for you, so don't worry, just do whatever you want!" I confess that this could be narrow-minded on my part, but I come from a strong persuasion that the lyrics of a song should be chief in evoking our response - though coupled with the musical treatment of the text. If the primary response for this song is mosh pits, setting things on fire, and jumping around, I don't know what else to call it except hedonistic. And in surrendering to that worldview, people run what I would say is the inevitable course of missing out on the majority of the most true pleasures life has to offer.