Album: What Are We Waiting For? (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • For King & Country wrote this song about racial unity in 2019 with Nashville songsmith Josh Kerr, Argentine jazz pianist Federico Vindver, and singer-songwriter Tony Williams. It came from watching how America has grown more and more divided and fractious. "Just seeing the things that we were going through as a nation, it saddened us all. We wrote this song, just asking questions: 'Do you believe in unity/ you and me in unity?' If so, it does mean you do something," FK&C's Luke Smallbone told Billboard. "You go out of your way to love a brother, love a sister. Rather than focusing on the things that separate us, what if we focus on the things that unite us?"
  • Christian worship singer, songwriter and worship pastor Dante Bowe contributes vocals, keys, bass, and drums. Having an African-American artist join Luke and Joel Smallbone on the song illustrates its message of racial unity. "That's the reason to do a collaboration, to expand the story, and I think that Dante does that in a brilliant way," said Luke Smallbone.
  • Singer-songwriter Tony Williams is Kanye West's cousin and longtime collaborator. His working relationship with Yeezy started when he contributed vocals to five tracks on West's 2004 debut album, The College Dropout. His other contributions towards his cousin's songs include "Champion," "Blood On The Leaves," "24," and "Donda."

    After a mutual friend connected the Smallbone brothers with Williams, they played him an earlier version of "Unity." He listened to the track and told them, "Look, that may work from your side of the street, but those lyrics don't work from my side of the street."

    He then wrote the first verse. "Just having him write it from his perspective as a Black man growing up in America, it was so compelling," said Luke Smallbone.
  • For King & Country recorded "Unity" for their fifth studio album, What Are We Waiting For? The Smallbone brothers began writing and recording the record in studio full-time in early 2021. It centers on themes of unity, togetherness and the need for mercy and peace at a time of racial division and a global pandemic. "Those three things - universality, spirituality and family - encompass a bit of what we walked through in this pandemic, the things we observed about the world and observed about ourselves," Luke told Billboard.

Comments: 2

  • D from CaliI love this song!
  • Bo from PennsylvaniaDoes anyone know what the chorus "Ay-yah, ay-yah, ay-yah" means or where it comes from?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal Tap

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

Booker T. Jones

Booker T. JonesSongwriter Interviews

The Stax legend on how he cooked up "Green Onions," the first time he and Otis Redding saw hippies, and if he'll ever play a digital organ.

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

Crystal Waters

Crystal WatersSongwriter Interviews

Waters tells the "Gypsy Woman" story, shares some of her songwriting insights, and explains how Dennis Rodman ended up on one of her songs.