After two highly regarded hard rock releases with Tooth & Nail by Nine Lashes, albums which included the standout songs "Anthem of the Lonely," "Get Back," "Adrenaline," "Break the World," "Surrender" and "Never Back Down," the band has refined their sound to a broader pop appeal and returned with one of my favorite albums of the year, Ascend. The exciting music and hopeful message found in new Nine Lashes single "Galaxy" mesh seamlessly.

Fans of rock, pop and electronica will enjoy this band's new sound, which is infectious and approachable. It has quickly become one of my most played and favorite songs of the year. If you like the pop-rock sensibilities of the latest releases from Hawk Nelson ("Drops in the Ocean" and "Diamonds") and Fireflight ("We Are Alive" and "Lightning"), then you'll love this new record from Nine Lashes. I had the chance to speak with vocalist Jeremy Dunn about "Galaxy."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song was inspired by Christ and His Word. I got a picture in my mind, and a lot of times when I write songs I latch on to the visual and try to describe it in audible terms. With this song, I pictured that when Christ returns, the roof is lifted off and we go meet Him in the sky. I imagined us floating up to Heaven, and I thought about how glorious that is going to be. He's going to come like a light in the sky. It will be amazing when we go meet Him. There really aren't words to describe it. 

What I wanted to focus on in the lyrical content of the song is how when we are here on earth, we can get so focused on the things of earth and things that don't cross over with us to heaven. It says that everything is going to be destroyed, and the only thing that lasts are people. The Lord says, "Where your treasure is, that's where your heart will be also, store up your treasures in Heaven." We're just passing through this place. I wanted this song to be about hanging on to our blessed hope and keeping our eyes on that. That's what this song is about.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Psalm 90:9-12 (NIV): "All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Jeremiah 33:3 (VOICE): "Call to Me, and I will answer you. I will tell you of great things, things beyond what you can imagine, things you could never have known."

Psalm 40:17 (VOICE): "Meanwhile, I am empty and need so much, but I know the Lord is thinking of me. You are my help; only You can save me, my True God. Please hurry."

John 8:12 (MSG): Jesus once again addressed them: "I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in."

Colossians 1:12 (NKJV): "Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."

Psalm 22:24 (NIV): "For He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from him but has listened to his cry for help."

What is the takeaway message?

There's another song on Ascend, "Eyes on You," that has this same theme. In writing songs for this album, that was on my heart a lot, keeping our eyes on our blessed hope and looking forward to that day. It's going to be great! 

The mindset behind the album Ascend is that the true test of what matters is time. I've heard it suggested that when you are fighting with someone, ask them if in 10 years this is going to matter. There might be certain things, like a home mortgage, that will matter. Then ask if in 50 years it will matter. When I'm gone from this place, what's going to matter? Time is the true test that really sheds light on whether something is important or not. 

With this album, I really wanted to try to rise above the things that don't matter. In the past I've written a lot about issues and struggles, and that's still present in this album, but I wanted to try to illustrate a rising above. With "Galaxy," it captures that mindset with the opening lyrics and the question "What if our days run short? Time is so hard to ignore." It really is. When you look at things from the perspective of "at the end of your life will this matter" it really will change the way you look at things. You'll find that one of the few things that matters is people. What really matters are the people in your life and the decision you've made for Jesus Christ.

Lyrics:
There's something growing inside
It's pushing out of my mind
A simple thought taking over every part of me
What if our days run short?
Time is so hard to ignore, when waiting for the sound

I'm as ready for the journey now as I'll ever be
I've been waiting for my love to come and rescue me

Let's get carried away
And find ourselves where we want to be
Let's get carried away
And find our way to the galaxy
Follow the mystery

My heart is pounding inside
There's not a day I'd rewind
Though trouble came, it made a way for me to be with You
And now my days run short
I've let my time run its course
Been waiting for the sound

I'm as ready for the journey now as I'll ever be
I've been waiting for my love to come and rescue me

Let's get carried away
And find ourselves where we want to be
Let's get carried away
And find our way to the galaxy
Follow the mystery

And my heart felt the melody
And it's pulsing inside of me
When the day's done with gravity
I will join you in the galaxy
I will join you in the galaxy
I will join you in the galaxy

Let's get carried away
And find ourselves where we want to be
Let's get carried away
And find our way to the galaxy
Follow the mystery

There is a lot of infectious energy in these great new songs including the standout tracks "Heartbeats," "Deeper," "Ascend," "Galaxy" and "Eyes on You." Joy isn't just a happy emotion. It is also a deep peace and understanding, knowing that we are loved without a shadow of a doubt. We should not be ashamed to sing of our dependence on God and to show Him reverence. We are not at the end of our story. God's still writing our stories of redemption. God wants us to know that He's faithful to complete what's He's started in all of us who've put all of our hope and trust in Jesus for our salvation. "Galaxy" has really been resonating with me as I realize that Jesus commands us to trust God completely no matter our circumstances or personal distractions or concerns. 

God wants to hear from you. Get to that place where you are in humble submission to God. Don't play it safe, but take a chance and ask for God to be real in your life. You'll never see true beauty if you don't fully submit to God. More than just intellectual assent, God wants to be at the center of our heart's desires. We change our minds quickly, but our hearts are more devoted.

The lyrics of "Galaxy" challenge me to think about the truth of this song: "A simple thought taking over every part of me, that if our days run short? Time is so hard to ignore." As we praise God for sending His Son Jesus, we also need to think about what we are doing for His Kingdom. 
This has been one of my most played songs this year, and I love the lyrics, "My heart is pounding inside, there's not a day I'd rewind, though trouble came, it made a way for me to be with You, and now my days run short." This song reminds us to slow down, think about what really matters and dedicate your life to Him. Amen to that!

Watch the lyric video below.