Ready, set, spring! Shop warm weather styles ON SALE up to 30% off(!) SPRING FORWARD
While the song has become a global worship staple, its roots are deeply personal to Jonathan Butler:
Growing up under apartheid in South Africa , Butler was often exploited and forbidden from staying in the venues where he performed. His music, including this song, became a vehicle for resilience and a "plea" for personal and land-wide healing .
The 2002 recording at West Angeles Cathedral was significant for several reasons: Kirk Whalum - Apple Music
Butler has noted that the song’s themes of protection and faith draw parallels between his own life and the biblical story of Joseph .
Butler often remarks that while he wrote the song, it eventually "transcended individual ownership," becoming a personal anthem for listeners who felt their own connection to the lyrics. The 2002 Live Performance
The live performance of at the West Angeles Cathedral in 2002 was a defining moment for South African guitarist and singer Jonathan Butler and saxophonist Kirk Whalum . Recorded for the landmark album The Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter II , this track captures a vulnerability that bridged the worlds of smooth jazz and pure gospel worship. The Story Behind the Song