The Revelation Song (Kari Jobes): Have You Done This One At Church?

A dear friend and fellow guitarist turned me on to the music for The Revelation Song (as performed by Kari Jobes) at our monthly Java Night get-together. His praise band had performed it for the first time on the weekend before we met; he suggested that we try it at our church.

When I got home, I YouTubed it and was truly inspired by the lyrics AND the music. This is one awesome praise song!

Has your praise band ever performed The Revelation Song in a worship service? What was the feedback from the band or congregation? Are there any musical tips to offer?

Thanks so much.

We just did this song a couple weeks ago, and we're doing it again this Sunday. I LOVE that song! Lyrics are TOTAL WORSHIP, and the music is ethereal. When we played it the first time, the congregation really seemed to respond to it, and when we were finished, the drummer, bass player, and worship leader/keyboardist just looked at each other, and the worship leader said "that was awesome!" :grin:

Easy song to play--we just did D, Am7, C2, and G for the whole song.

What I did was have lots of delay and drive, and on the intro and verse, ring out the individual notes of the D power chord on the GBE strings (7th fret, 10th, 10th--that one). Think U2 when Edge just rings out arpeggios. Then the A power chord on the DGB strings, then the C power chord on the GBE, and then the G on the DGB. For the chorus, I just play the barre chord versions of those chords, but focus on the DGBE strings for a higher timber--just let them ring out as overdriven single strums for a majestic feel. Then at the end of the chorus, I play a solo around that D powerchord--think David Gilmour slow solo style--works really well for this song!

When I did that in practice, it was just a couple measures, but the band liked it so much, they said, "we should keep going for awhile!" :grin:

BTW, I got the delay intro idea kind of loosely based on the Phillips, Craig, and Dean version of the song--you can search for it on YouTube.

it's funny you mention gilmour. when we play this song, i play the first (shorter) solo from Comfortably Numb. It fits nearly perfectly, just have to change a couple of notes around to get it to fit.

We have done it a number of times to great effect in our church. Like Fuddy, I use lots of drive (no delay for me on this one) and in the 2nd half choruses play a lead line that echos the vocal part. Very moving song! Don't hold back on the overdrive because it's a really powerful song particularly at the end.

Rock on my brotha!

it's funny you mention gilmour. when we play this song, i play the first (shorter) solo from Comfortably Numb. It fits nearly perfectly, just have to change a couple of notes around to get it to fit.

Thanks for that tip! I'll definitely try that one. I wonder if it's possible to play on a Tele at all...that just doesn't seem right at all. Like it could open up a black hole or rip the fabric of the universe.

That's funny, because I'm thinking of playing it on my Tele this Sunday. The first time, I played it on my Les Paul. I'll see how it sounds in practice. :shock: :lol:

We just played it this past Sunday. It is part of our regular rotation so we wind up playing it probably once a month. I really like this song too, it has a great buildup. Our congregation seems to like it quite a bit.

Wow... Yeah we had this husband and wife duo sing it one time and... Wow... Moved me to tears (almost) We play a bunch of Gateway stuff, really great.

That's a standard for our praise team. A solid drummer who knows dynamics really makes this song stand out.

Thanks for that tip! I'll definitely try that one. I wonder if it's possible to play on a Tele at all...that just doesn't seem right at all. Like it could open up a black hole or rip the fabric of the universe.

I played it on a tele Saturday night, mostly first position chords as I was one of two electrics, the other being an LP. I was using my POD XT Live, AC-15 model, gain cranked, little spring reverb. Not sure if the link will work or not, and the audio quality is not great but, if it works, this is us http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/video/video.php?v=198021881140&ref=mf

We've played it 3 times in the last month and will be playing it again this week. Awesome song. I start a regenerating echo on my Echo Park on an A note that degenerates into sort of a spacey sound, then I switch my hybrid Peavey to acoustic mode and begin playing the chords, controlling the background echo loop with my volume pedal. As we near the end of the verse, I shut off the Echo Park and change the electric side of the Peavey to a distorted sound for the chorus. Coming out of the chorus, I pick up my EBow for the short solo, then switch back to the acoustic side for the next verse. Oh, and I sing lead too. I love it!

I like this one for small group worship, too. It's easy enough for people to "get lost" in; i.e., to worship instead of having to read words off the handouts.

In church, I tend to start off clean with a little phase shifter on the neck pup, and by the end of the song it's growling distortion on the bridge pup. I like to dirty up my tone as a song increases in intensity.

Wow! It's great to see so many folks who share my enthusiam for The Revelation Song.

The comment about "getting lost" in the music is so appropriate. This song really sets the mood for interactive worship and stirs the heart with joy.

You guys are providing some wonderful feedback for making this song come alive. I appreciate it.

Okay, I truly hesitated writing this post. Forgive me please for a dissenting opinion.

I listened to the YouTube sample a few times and I hear mushy repetition, breaths taken in inappropriate places, and too much rock "power ballad" cliche, too much melody at the top of the singer's range, the last half minute or so cluttered up with contrary voices. In the end the message was the same as...well...a billion other praise songs.

I get that others really relate to the style, but it's not for me.

Peace, Mike.

Okay, I truly hesitated writing this post. Forgive me please for a dissenting opinion.

I listened to the YouTube sample a few times and I hear mushy repetition, breaths taken in inappropriate places, and too much rock "power ballad" cliche, too much melody at the top of the singer's range, the last half minute or so cluttered up with contrary voices. In the end the message was the same as...well...a billion other praise songs.

I get that others really relate to the style, but it's not for me.

Peace, Mike.


Brother Mike, your comments are very US-related. It's really not about US, is it? Isn't it all about HIM?

Sure, we want the music to "sound" good, but our primary purpose for playing is to create an environment which is conducive to communion, that is, bringing US and HIM together! And yes, in the end, the gospel message is supposed to be the same - today, tomorrow and forever!

I get that we all have prefer different styles of music, but I think we can all appreciate the "good news" that flows out of those music styles.

Peace. <><

Okay, I truly hesitated writing this post. Forgive me please for a dissenting opinion.

I listened to the YouTube sample a few times and I hear mushy repetition, breaths taken in inappropriate places, and too much rock "power ballad" cliche, too much melody at the top of the singer's range, the last half minute or so cluttered up with contrary voices. In the end the message was the same as...well...a billion other praise songs.

I get that others really relate to the style, but it's not for me.

Peace, Mike.

You mentioned a youtube sample, are you refering to a specific one or are you talking about the facebook link that I put up?

That's funny, because I'm thinking of playing it on my Tele this Sunday. The first time, I played it on my Les Paul. I'll see how it sounds in practice. :shock: :lol:

A few weeks ago we played it on sunday morning, and I ran my tele through an orange twin combo that was mic'd to the house sound system. I had some gain on it, but less than the guitarist on the Kari Jobe version. Personally, I thought the sound of some open partial chords on the bridge pickup fit the dynamic of the song better than hum-buckery power chords! :mrgreen:

We've been playing it for a good long while. It's got staying power. The congregation likes it.

I think we might be doing this song soon.

Not trying to bring it down, or anyone who is moved by it, but I gotta say...lyric wise, it's like someone took a bunch of existing worship songs, tossed them in a blender, and came up with this. I was hearing other songs in my head as I read them.

Some of it, yeah, but a lot of it actually is based from scripture (the book of Revelation). I guess I can't complain about that... :smile:

Brother Mike, your comments are very US-related. It's really not about US, is it? Isn't it all about HIM?

Sure, we want the music to "sound" good, but our primary purpose for playing is to create an environment which is conducive to communion, that is, bringing US and HIM together! And yes, in the end, the gospel message is supposed to be the same - today, tomorrow and forever!

I get that we all have prefer different styles of music, but I think we can all appreciate the "good news" that flows out of those music styles.

Peace. <><

Indeed, I find it hard to appreciate musicians who come to worship with the intention to entertain the congregation. But also, I think that when people write music with the idea of praising our Creator, that they should do their very best when writing/performing a song rather than filling in the blanks to some theoretical formula.

EDIT: Is this ok? I don't want to start a religion-based discussion in a guitar-based forum thread :neutral:

Indeed, I find it hard to appreciate musicians who come to worship with the intention to entertain the congregation. But also, I think that when people write music with the idea of praising our Creator, that they should do their very best when writing/performing a song rather than filling in the blanks to some theoretical formula.

I agree with the first half of your observation; however, Scripture says to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord". I believe that He's more interested in our hearts, and the fact that we're standing before Him in worship, than He is in what comes through the speakers.

I agree with the first half of your observation; however, Scripture says to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord". I believe that He's more interested in our hearts, and the fact that we're standing before Him in worship, than He is in what comes through the speakers.

You're right, i definitely agree with that.

It's funny you mention it. We just practiced that song at worship practice tonight and I've been playing it since I got home. It has such a great energy to it and you can really build on it dynamically. It's perfect for using some overdrive that cleans up nice and then just really rippin' as the song builds.

Some of it, yeah, but a lot of it actually is based from scripture (the book of Revelation). I guess I can't complain about that... :smile:

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying there is anything wrong with the lyrics or it's not biblical - my view was - if you have played enough worship songs, you've probably sang those lines. And it just seems like it's condensing those songs all into one, is all. Nothing wrong with the song.

I've been playing it since I got home. It has such a great energy to it and you can really build on it dynamically. It's perfect for using some overdrive that cleans up nice and then just really rippin' as the song builds.

I have done the same thing. Ever since I heard it, I can't walk by my guitar without picking it up and playing the song.

You are so right. The musical ebb and flow of the music is very effective.

We do it at our church. VERY powerful P&W song for sure.

When we did it, we "I will rise" by Chris Tomlin, and ended on the bridge, dropped the band out and let the piano start it.

You mentioned a youtube sample, are you refering to a specific one or are you talking about the facebook link that I put up?

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZUTt8XINPY which is what I thought the OP was referring to.

Mike

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZUTt8XINPY which is what I thought the OP was referring to.

Mike

Ok, I am sure that is what the OP was refering to, I just wanted to make sure you weren't judging the song by our performance

Brother Mike, your comments are very US-related. It's really not about US, is it? Isn't it all about HIM?

Sure, we want the music to "sound" good, but our primary purpose for playing is to create an environment which is conducive to communion, that is, bringing US and HIM together! And yes, in the end, the gospel message is supposed to be the same - today, tomorrow and forever!

I get that we all have prefer different styles of music, but I think we can all appreciate the "good news" that flows out of those music styles.

Peace. <><

It's about US inasmuch as leading congregational singing needs to be more easily followed by all. The point is to lead people in praise.

Peace, Mike.