Consider

Song Meaning

The lyrics urge a pause to reflect on nature's fleeting beauty and the divine's watchful care. The opening stanza immediately grounds the listener in the transient existence of lilies, drawing a direct parallel: "We are as they; Like them we fade away." This establishes a tone of gentle melancholy, acknowledging life's impermanence through vivid natural imagery. The central tension arises from the contrast between human striving and divine provision. The narrator questions the value of "all this care / And all this coil" when lilies, which "neither spin nor toil," are presented as inherently fair. This suggests a critique of excessive human effort and worry, implying that true worth or beauty might exist beyond such frantic activity. The repeated command "Consider" acts as a structural anchor, guiding the listener through a series of observations about the natural world. Each stanza offers a different facet of this divine oversight, moving from the ephemeral lilies to the "sparrows of the air of small account." The lyrics highlight that even these seemingly insignificant creatures are subject to God's attention, leading to the comforting assertion that "He guards us too." Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their simple, direct comparisons and the comforting reassurance they offer. By juxtaposing human anxieties with the effortless existence and provision of nature, the text suggests a path toward peace. The repeated emphasis on God's active role – viewing, guarding, feeding, and seeking to do good – aims to alleviate the listener's "care and coil" by pointing toward a benevolent, overarching presence.