Geoff Moore and the Distance Home Run with Lyrics
Inspiration Behind Home Run:
This song combines Geoff’s passion for sports with the daily grind of life, influenced by the spiritual war going on behind the scenes detailed in Ephesians 6:12. The lyrics point to a repentant player serving as a narrative who looks back at missed opportunities in his life. Using baseball as a playing field, life is filled with tension as individuals pursue success while risking failure. As C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity, “success is the process of arriving.” Subsequently, life is a journey where a home run is the goal, but you have to be thankful for the singles and doubles in life before you develop the power for greater things.
Biblical Application:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, Ephesians 6:10-12.
Exegesis of Home Run:
Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to the Dan Brock Memorial Stadium
Are you ready for an afternoon of baseball?
I hope you are
Because it’s Geoff Moore and The Distance
Going up against the big guy, the Prince of Darkness(Darkness)
It’s been quiet on evolution with Geoff Moore and The Distance
That’s why it’s brought them to the game today
So I want you to kick back and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon of Baseball(Baseball)
The teams are assembled
Are you ready?
Like a WWE wrestling match, a Christian band faces the Prince of Darkness, the Undertaker.
PLAY BALL!!
Once you wake up each morning, the action never stops as you can’t call time up in life as time keeps ticking.
The lights go on
Another game day
I grabbed my bat
And headed for the plate
But the first pitch was a curve
And I was done!
This is what is called pitching backwards in baseball, starting a batter out with a pitch usually used for a strikeout pitch.
(umpire) STRIKE ONE!
The Devil maybe somewhat predicable but will throw you a curve from time to time to keep you guessing in life.
I stepped out of the box
Looked the pitcher in the eye
You could read his lips
“Hey, punk, you’re mine!”
So I gave him a wink and said
“Let’s see what you can do”
A glimpse of the mental portion of baseball, the game within a game.
(umpire) STRIKE TWO!
Taking pitches in baseball allows you to see what a given strike zone will be by an umpire.
Gotta keep my eye on the ball
Swing straight and true and follow through
Don’t be afraid, what-ever the call!
Because we’re never alone
Our coach is there to cheer us on
Well, it’s the wind-up
Here comes that ball
You gotta pray and swing
Watch it till, it’s goin, goin, it’s gone!
Basic hitting fundamentals fill this stanza. While baseball is a game a failure, getting out more than hits, you have to keep your head in a game. The moment doubt creeps into your mind, you’ll get yourself out before stepping up to the plate.
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, we need a home run
Large scoreboards at stadiums will always let a team know what they need to do in order to win a game.
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, we need a home run!
A repetitive chorus could refer to chatter in a dugout during a rally.
You know life can be
Like a baseball game
We’re on the same team
But were not all the same
That’s why we’ve got to learn
To play together
There are too many ME players on a team, self-absorbed and only concerned with themselves. Sometimes you have to lose bad so everyone can get on the same page.
I didn’t join this team to sit on the bench
I’m goin deep, swingin’ for the fence
I got some friends on base, I gotta get home!
Reminds me of the saying, “ducks on a pond,” wanting to come through for your team.
Gotta keep your eye on the ball
Swing straight and true, and follow through
Don’t be afraid, what-ever the call
Because we’re never alone
Our coach is there to cheer us on
Sometimes you have to go back to basic fundamentals in life before you can be successful.
Well it’s the wind-up
Here comes that ball
You gotta pray and swing
Watch it till it’s goin goin, it’s gone!
For confident players, hitting a baseball comes naturally. Yet for the doubters struggling to hit, you need prayer and good technique to break out of a slump.
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, home run!
I want a home run
Visualization can help a batter.
Ho, ohho, ohh, oh
Ho, ohho, ohh, oh
Ho, ohho, i want a home run!
Confidence and visualization can lead to big hits.
We are not the first to play this game
Or stand over this plate
We are surrounded by the legacy
I can see them in the stands
I can see them wavin their hands
Sayin, “go, go all the way!”
Geoff is referring to the Bible Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. Learn from their example.
(umpire) it’s goin, it’s going it’s going
Oh my!
It’s outta here!
That baby is gone (gone)
Come on now
Typically, an umpire will only make this call for homeruns down the lines.
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, home run
While you don’t need a homerun to score, most major league teams are too reliant on homeruns.
Hey it’s gone,gone now
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, home run
Hey it’s a homerun
This repetitive chorus echoes the excitement of hometown fans after a homerun.
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, oh
Oh, ohho, ohh, home run
Since not everyone has the power for a homerun, enjoy every time you get on base.
Final Thoughts:
Decades ago, ESPN ran a series of commercials entitled Chicks Dig the Long Ball. This successful advertisement inspired baseball players to swing for the fences. While homeruns did increase, strikeouts rose as well. This is the age of baseball where players swing for the fences but usually strikeout. This is not the game that I grew up playing where speed could get you on base and eventually home, manufacturing the game winning run. Maybe this style of baseball will return. Yet for now, the home run reigns.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 