Courageous

Album: Come to the Well (2011)
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Songfacts®:

  • The first single from American Contemporary Christian rock band Casting Crowns' fourth studio album finds frontman Mark Hall exhorting men to lead bold, uncompromising lives for the Lord. The song was added to Christian radio on August 12, 2011.
  • The song was also used to promote the 2011 Christian drama film Courageous and the music video features scenes from the movie.
  • Speaking to New Release Tuesday, Mark Hall explained the inspiration for the song: "Have you ever noticed the way kids act out at a movie they've just watched? As soon as they walk out of a theater, they pretend to be the movie's hero, even if it means imitating the super levitating karate kick they just saw. Here's the thing: Deep down inside, grown men have the same feelings.

    What is it about us men that fires us up when we watch an action movie? Think about it. We just sat on our butts for two hours and stuffed our guts full of extra salty popcorn and a half-gallon of cola, but after the movie we're like, 'You want some of this?' We're ready to take on the world.

    We all have a desire for significance. We want to know we matter. We want to know we count for something. But the best way to count for something is to stand for something - or better yet, for Someone. And the only way we'll ever stand is on our knees with lifted hands.

    When I talk to people about this innate desire, I ask, 'Do you ever wonder if maybe it's your spirit longing to be more than just an audience to somebody else's fight?' We weren't created to be the audience. We were created to take part in what God is doing in his world. This song is an anthem of encouragement. It's one brother reminding all of God's men we were meant for greatness, and that greatness is defined in contagious and courageous abandonment to Jesus."
  • The voices you can hear in the background of the song belong to a 150 strong male Bible-study group who meet at Eagles Landing Baptist Church outside of Atlanta, where frontman Mark Hall serves as youth pastor. Hall commented to New Release Tuesday: "They sang with gusto and a wonderful spirit. Maybe it's because it's one place where they're learning real action heroes are the ones who actually surrender."
  • Mark Hall penned this with singer-songwriter Matthew West, whose own recordings include the most played song on Christian radio in 2008, "You are Everything." West, who co-wrote 7 songs on the album, had high praise for Hall when we spoke with him, saying: "He really made sure that song sounded intense and it really carried the right sentiment. I just was happy to be part of it. Mark's the guy with really anointed, inspired ideas and I just happened to be in the room with him and had a chance to be part of it with him. I was honored to be a part of something very special."

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