Inspiration Behind Higher Love:
Higher Love was co-written by Steve Winwood and Will Jennings. The source of this higher love comes from childhood flashbacks of sinning Christian hymns in church. The goal for Higher Love was to create a modern-day hymn that would resonate with the spiritual condition of his generation. Steve isn’t looking for an earthly feeling that is temporary. Rather, he is searching for an eternal love that will last the test of time.
Biblical Application:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved, Acts 2:42-47.
Exegesis of Higher Love:
Think about it, there must be higher love
Down in the heart or hidden in the stars above
Without it, life is wasted time
Look inside your heart, I’ll look inside mine
Steve and Will are searching for a higher power. Whether this exists inside your heart or in the skies above, life without this higher love is a waste of time. Each begin this quest to find a higher power.
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be
When you look around, this world seems to be falling apart. The blind often leads the blind, falling behind the ideal life where a higher love exists.
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Where’s that higher love I keep thinking of?
Steve is thinking about growing up in church as a child. Now as an adult, the absence of this higher love is fading from his memory.
Worlds are turning, and we’re just hanging on
Facing our fear and standing out there alone
A yearning and it’s real to me
There must be someone who’s feeling for me
The world is changing as most people are hanging on by a thread. Facing these fears alone, Steve is yearning for a higher love that is real.
Things look so bad everywhere
In this whole world, what is fair?
We walk blind and we try to see
Falling behind in what could be
The chorus points to current events filled with bad news. This lack of fairness makes the world blind from what is really going on with most failing to reach their full potential in life.
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Where’s that higher love I keep thinking of?
This stanza serves as a prayer to God for higher love.
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
I could rise above on a higher love
Access to this higher love would make a difference in life.
I will wait for it
I’m not too late for it
Until then, I’ll sing my song
To cheer the night along, bring it
Love doesn’t happen immediately. You have to wait for it. Until this arrives, stay hopeful.
I could light the night up with my soul on fire
I could make the sun shine from pure desire
Let me feel that love come over me
Let me feel how strong it could be
Steve points to a spiritual event where God ignited his soul with passion. This excitement filled Steve’s life, overflowing and making him stronger in his faith.
Oh-oh, bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Where’s that higher love I keep thinking of?
Alright
Since Steve knows higher love exists, he is praying for this higher power to return to his life.
Bring me a higher love
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love
Oh, bring me a higher love, oh
This is what Steve’s soul craves.
Bring me a higher love (yes, I know, bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher love, oh (bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher love (yes, I know, bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher love, oh
Steve is persistent in his request for higher love.
Bring me a higher love (yes, I know, bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher love, oh
Bring me a higher love (yes, I know, bring me a higher love)
Bring me a higher
Steve is searching for a spiritual spark.
Thank you, thank you so much
Thank you
Steve appears to be thanking God in advance for answering his prayer.
Final Thoughts:
Most of my encounters with God as a young person was either a youth group or on retreats. This is where I was first introduced to the concept of a living God. During events in college, this living God began to dwell in my heart, bringing me joy. Yet like Steve, we all experience spiritual dry spells, longing for this higher power to return, John 10:10. May this February revive your soul and bring you into fellowship with a higher love, Romans 10:9-11.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 