The Eternal Anthem

Welcome to my latest musical offering: a timely reminder of eternity… plus a side of emo.

The Eternal Anthem is actually a full remake of the song I composed and played with a couple of Japanese friends back in 2006. The world has since taken sure steps toward the apocalyptic, and now — in the spirit of Revelation — grand conflict and hope embedded within the tune shall be unveiled for all who have ears to hear. (Scroll down for additional commentary below the lyrics.)

This being a remake, I have decided to also include the previous recording (OG Version) of the song. The two iterations make for some interesting comparisons. A lot can change over 16 years!

As for the next track: Days at the Bay is a progressive depiction of the emotively vibrant, yet mercurial nature of life spent at Arcadia Bay (inside the videogame Life Is Strange: Before the Storm). This B-side instrumental intersects with my emotional maturity (or rather, immaturity), which remains at the level of a moody teenager with all manner of ups and downs.

Overall, I rediscovered my roots of pure rock in the remake, while exploring a fusion of studio recordings and electronic elements in the instrumental. Together, they represent some of the most tedious work I have ever completed, thanks to my endless fuss with details. It was, however, highly educational to work with musos based in the United States, Europe, and even Taiwan.

Thank you for checking out these tracks. And may you keep pace with God during these perilous times by rocking to the beat of eternity!

The Eternal Anthem

Unveil the dying horizon
As stars shall light the way no more
Look upon all creation
In search of power and glory everlasting

Crumbling nations astir
With such misery, prolong the fallen dream
Every hopeless melody resonating
Against the song of destruction
Breaching our reality

Hear the blast of the trumpet call
Free at last when the darkness falls
Lift our voice over fiery shores
Now rejoice beyond forevermore

Ever ready, ever steady
Follow the praise of the risen King
Never fleeting, ever daring
Carry the flames of his majesty

Ever ready, ever steady
Fight for the promise of victory
Never fearing, always trusting
Rock to the beat of eternity

ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY

At the risk of over-explaining, allow me to discuss some of the ideas and details found within each section of the song. Blue text is used for highlighting words from the lyrics.

FIRST VERSE

• The Book of Revelation derived its title from the Koine Greek word “apokalypsis”, meaning that it is an unveiling of sorts… and so that has become the song’s first declaration.
• Our eyes look toward the horizon to see what is ahead. In this case, we see a dying horizon, which is to say that the future is hopeless and bleak from man’s perspective.
• Stars can be cosmic tools of guidance for God’s people (e.g. wise men locating newborn Jesus). Their radiance, however, may be dimmed as a visible sign of judgement (see Isaiah 13:9-10). Interestingly, scientists and astronomers in recent years have also reported that numerous stars have gone missing. Ask my wife for more info regarding topics of mystery such as this.
• Creation often rejects the Creator, and then seeks for something that is only found in God. Humanity’s ungodly search for power and glory everlasting will always prove unfruitful.

SECOND VERSE

• We witness nations crumbling; the systems and institutions that we so readily rely on collapse like a house of cards. And yet, evil does not rest, it remains astir (with ghostly whispers).
• In stubborn rebellion, leaders of the world hold on to their fallen dream. They will be desperate to regain control, but by this point they’d simply be prolonging their own misery.
• I like to use musical terms such as “song” or “melody” as metaphors for humanity’s existential expression and identity. Here, those against the Lord sing a hopeless melody.
• Why the hopelessness? Because a song of destruction is arriving. As I examine how God works, it’s become evident that he often destroys before renewing — in the context of these last days, he will tear down evil before building back better (to hijack a political catchphrase). Therefore, our reality sustained within a bubble of lies is subject to a divine breach.

INTERLUDE

• Air raid sirens, fighter jets, explosions — typical sounds of kinetic warfare conjure up images of conflict heralded by the second horseman of the apocalypse (Revelation 6:3-4). However, in this particular instance, I’m envisioning not the second horseman, but the second coming of Jesus. The interlude builds on the aforementioned breach, as light penetrates darkness, and also acts as the key turning point in the song.
• This scene draws people’s attention toward the skies, since following the ascension of Jesus, messengers of God (likely angels) appeared to the disciples and said to them: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
• Further to the nature of Christ’s return, I recall a chat I had with a fellow watchman and friend named Brian. It is his theory that the world may eventually be wary of an alien invasion scenario. Currently, we are being led into pro-alien deception as scientists begin to promote the idea of humans as products of alien creation or intervention. But later, as the final beast system reigns supreme, any outside force would be deemed as hostile. Thus, that jet you hear in the song actually symbolises a counterattack against “alien” Jesus reappearing in the skies!

REFRAIN

• Trumpet calls in Revelation 8-11 trigger intense acts of judgement from God.
• God’s judgements overthrow darkness, setting his people free from earthly oppression.
• The first world was destroyed by flooding, while the second is destined for fire (2 Peter 3:5-7), hence the fiery shores. Some may just want to watch the world burn; others, like me, want to watch the world burn, so that it may be purified and renewed into its eternal form.
• The phrase “beyond forevermore” sounds redundant — it might even be a tautology. Nevertheless, eternity is indeed that insanely long. We’d no doubt all go crazy if not for the peace of God and his perfectly loving presence, as well as his boundless abundance and glory. Being with the Lord is what makes endless rejoicing possible.

CLIMATIC CHORUS

• First of all, heed the female vocals repeating the refrain in the background. Two girls sing together in unison, representing the two witnesses in Revelation 11. They testify for God.
• To follow the risen King (resurrected Son), we are called to be ever ready (vigilant, motivated), and ever steady (consistent, unwavering).
•  It isn’t easy to bear God’s holy flame (display his light to others), but we are called to resist fleeing (in cowardice, excluding strategic retreat), and be daring (courageous, faithful).
• Assuming the ready-and-steady position again, we are called to fight (spiritual warfare), because there is already a promise of victory (emphasis on this being the cause, not the effect; in other words, we fight because winning through Jesus is ultimately inevitable).
• Don’t be fearing judgement or condemnation or anything else, because perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), but consider trusting in the Almighty who has everything under his control.
• With this rousing rock anthem, let us carry on rocking to the beat of eternity.

Days at the Bay

The Eternal Anthem (OG Version)