Songs Born from Season of Grief and Spiritual Exploration
Posted September 20, 2025
By BPence,
Ellie Holcomb returns with her fourth full-length studio album Far Country, the follow-up to Canyon, one of my favorite albums of 2021. The new album features eleven new songs born from a season of profound grief and spiritual exploration. Holcomb co-wrote all of the songs. The album was produced and engineered by Cason Cooley and executive produced by Holcomb’s father Brown Bannister, and Samantha Steele.
The songs feature Holcomb’s strong and expressive vocals. The album contains themes of being made for a different place, there having to be more than this, light, love, hope, and the goodness and mercy for the Lord.
Here are a few comments about each song.
The Whole Thing – This song was written by Holcomb, Jessie Early, and Kirby Kaple. There has to be more than this, and we may be made for a different place.
Key lyric:
Something in my bones knows there's a shore that we can't see
We can catch a little glimpse right now
One day we'll see the whole thing
The whole thing
Far Country – This song was written by Holcomb and Jason Ingram. Some people need to go find the far country, where the nights get dark. Some people have to go dark just to see.
Key lyric:
How spacious is the love of God?
No place I've been where He is not
From Heaven's heights to hell below
I've found no place, where He won't go
Oh Love – This song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Thad Cockrell. You can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you're loved. There isn’t any darkness that is going to put that light out.
Key lyric:
Oh, love
Never gonna lose its strength
Never gonna lose its grip
Never gonna lose its power
Give Me Your Hand – This song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Taylor Leonhardt. Something came into her life from nowhere, it knocked her off her feet and took the breath from her lungs. When she was sinking down and thinking it was the end, the Lord gave her His hand.
Key lyric:
I don't know what tomorrow's holding
I don't think I'll ever understand
I'll always have this sorrow with me
I'll believe in the resurrection
Holding out hope for the Promised Land
I might die with this promise in me
Oh, but You give me your hand
Hope's Gonna Find You – This song was written by Holcomb, Bear Rinehart and Cason Cooley. The song is about leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus.
Key lyric:
What if hope's not a rope you hold on to
What if it's the arms that have always held you (I'm leaning)
On the edge when it feels like you're not gonna pull through
Is the place you discover that hope's gonna find you
Hope's gonna find you
Small Boat – This upbeat song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Kevin Scott Rhoads. It only takes your whole life to figure out just who you are.
Key lyric:
The best things in life they aren't always free
That love is gonna cost you everything
And every single drop of water is a galaxy
But it only takes a small boat
It only takes a small boat
Made For Love – This song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Jon Guerra. We were made for a love story and it’s all ours.
Key lyric:
I can see Your light shining through everything
I can hear Your voice, You're singing joy over me
I could live forever, and not hear it enough
Oh, God, help us remember
We were made for love
Wherever I Go – This song was written by Holcomb and Hank Bentley. Even if it seems hard to see, the goodness and mercy of the Lord will follow her. The song features some excellent backing vocals, and references Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
Key lyric:
You are so kind to remind me
That if I am lost you'll come find me
Even in the darkest valley
Your goodness and mercy will follow me
How I Feel About You – This love song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Kevin Scott Rhoads. Holcomb sings accompanied by piano and strings.
Key lyric:
It's the evergreens in the cold
Or a heart that won't grow old
It's the spring that pulls life through
That's how I feel about You
River – This beautiful song was written by Holcomb and Latifah Alattas. The song is a prayer based on Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”
Key lyric:
Open my arms to the light above me
Bow my head low to the ground at my feet
There's a healing that I needed taking root within my soul
Hand to heart, I breathe you in, You are here, You make me whole
Where Does The Light Go? – This song was written by Holcomb, Cason Cooley, and Natalie Hemby. It looks at where the light goes after a candle burns out, after Jesus’ death and our death.
Key lyric:
Where does the light go
When we take our last breath?
Does it float out the window
Onto heaven's steps?
Will the Sun say, "Welcome home. It's like you never left"?
Favorite songs
The Whole Thing
Give Me Your Hand
Hope’s Gonna Find You
Wherever I Go
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