special. At that time, I was at the end of my
WM: There are SO many readers of Worship
rope, song-writing-wise. I had used all of my
Musician Magazine who desire to write songs
focus on writing a song that gives people hope.
ideas and I had a co-write scheduled with this
for the church. They may be hitting a wall or
Like in the bridge it says, “This world is shaking,
guy from Austin, Texas. I had never met him
have reached a plateau, or maybe can’t get the
but He can’t be shaken.” It’s like… let’s not just
and I was so worried about the whole thing. I
first word or note written. Will you speak directly
give that “pat-on-the-back” answer. You know,
didn’t want to look like I was unprepared, so I
to those folks with a word of encouragement?
“God is in control.” I mean, He IS in control, but
put my phone on my dresser while I was getting
by acknowledging that bad things DO happen,
dressed and just started to hum stuff in hopes
CHRIS: Probably the best would be for me to
it doesn’t mean that God is any less good,
that I could like play it and act like I had an
tell a story. I was wanting to write a worship
or any less God, or any less in control. I think
idea ready and then he would have something
song. This was the tail end of getting ready for
people come to church hurting and…that was
better that we could work on. So, I’m getting
my first record. I wanted to write. I sat down in
kind of the “head-space” I was in for that song.
dressed and I just sang the first thing that came
my church office…had multiple guitars out and
So, basically I was trying to write something for
to mind in the moment. I was thinking…I was
capos…anything I could make new sounds
those who are facing hardship or coming out
all out and had given God everything, So, I kind
with and notebooks and highlighters and all
of it. That song, in particular, took about two
of hummed this, like “everything and nothing
the gear you needed. I had Bible dictionaries
years or so to write. Even up to the night before
less…. My best.” I took that to the write and
and a thesaurus. I was going to write a song
I sang it for the record, I was changing lyrics in
we ended up writing around that. We got
that day and I was pumped. I wanted to write
the verses.
about halfway though and then I sat with Jason
the next big worship song! In that moment, I
Ingram, just a killer songwriter. Jason and I re-
prayed this prayer and my thought was, “What
WM: What other song from that project do you
wrote the chorus and wrote a bridge for it. The
if we had the songs they sing in Heaven?” I was
really hold dear?
whole song is about giving God our everything.
like, “Lord, give me the songs of Heaven.” I felt
CHRIS: Well, that whole record was such
WM: I saw you post recently that you recorded
was scared; it was really the most real He had
a blast to make. We did it all with the Jesus
with Chris Tomlin. Tell us about that.
ever been to me. I didn’t hear the audible voice
CHRIS McCLARNEY
continued from page 24
God show up in that moment and half of me
of God, but whatever is right below that, I just
Culture band, which was such a fun thing. I
mean, we played a lot together, but this was
CHRIS: Yeah! I wrote this song called “Yes
heard God say, “Chris, I already have the songs
our first time to actually record. So, basically,
and Amen” with the Housefires guys. It’ll be
of Heaven. What I really want are the songs of
that record is a Jesus Culture record, but with
on the new Housefires record and Chris also
Chris!” It was like a brick hit me in the chest
me singing instead of Chris or Kim. I think we
decided to record it. He called and asked if I
and I just wept. I realized in that moment that
had so much fun doing that…it turned into me
would come sing some BGV’s on it. I probably
the songs are not external things that you go
singing “Everything and Nothing Less” on the
made som