Take and Receive (1986)

Song Meaning

This is a profound act of surrender, a spiritual divestment where the narrator offers everything to a divine entity. The opening lines establish a clear transaction: liberty, will, mind, and memory are laid bare. It's not a reluctant handing over, but an eager, almost desperate, relinquishing of self. The narrator declares ownership of nothing, framing even their possessions as borrowed gifts. This sets a tone of absolute humility before the divine. The core tension lies in the paradox of gaining richness through total loss. The narrator explicitly states that only divine grace and love are true wealth. Everything else, all worldly possessions and even personal autonomy, is deemed secondary and willingly abandoned. This isn't about poverty; it's about redefinition, finding true value in the intangible blessings bestowed by the divine. The lyrics employ a direct, almost liturgical command structure. Phrases like "Take and receive" and "Do Thou direct" create a sense of immediate dialogue and petition. The repetition of "Thine" emphasizes divine ownership and the narrator's complete lack of it. The contrast between the narrator's "all I own" and the divine's "Thine was the gift" highlights the fundamental power dynamic. What makes these lyrics resonate is their stark portrayal of radical trust. The narrator's willingness to "obey" and "forego" all else hinges on the belief that divine grace is the ultimate reward. It's a powerful articulation of faith as a complete handing over of control, finding freedom not in possession, but in absolute surrender.