For My Sunday Song #462, we are talking Day of Fire’s massive song “Hole in My Hand” off their 2006 album ‘Cut & Move’. The Christian Rock band out of Nashville, Tennessee bring us their second album that was produced by Pete Thornton who had worked with Limp Bizkit. Not quite the same type of music, so an interesting choice, but a good one. The song was written by Gregg Hionis, Joseph Alan Pangallo and Richard Joshua Brown
The song could mean a lot of things. I’ve seen that people think it is about addiction or even relationships troubles. For me, I don’t think that at all. I think the song is about struggles with faith. The struggles he has had in life have chipped away at his faith. The title of “Hole in My Hand” could related to the stigmata and I think represent for him his struggles in faith. He is reaching out to his friend, Jesus, in helping bringing the light back in to him. The hole in his hand is a reminder of what he has been through and with God he can stand tall and have the fire burning back in his heart to lift him up. A very uplifting song despite it being a rather dark song overall.
Musically, I love the tone of the guitar, it is sharp and cutting. The drums are heavy and loud and together they give you a feel of desperation and struggle. Singer, Josh Brown, has such a grit to his vocals it bleeds of despair yet a hint of hope. The quieter, darker verses counteractive by the uplifting and bigger choruses show us the possible light in burning brightly and ready to be let loose. The song ends with the guitar, bass and drums exploding and then it all quietly fades away. A very nice touch.
Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. What do you think it means? A band that had a couple of great albums early on and faded away which is a shame as they were very promising. A great, heavy rock sound that it didn’t matter they were a Christian rock band. They could hold their own.
“Hole In My Hand”
See the marker stone, see the heavy load
See the burden on my head…hum…
See I can’t move in with my lantern gone
I need you only friend to shine in me
And I’m not afraid to show my heart
I’m not afraid to let you start in my life again
With a hole in my hand, and a strength to my stand
With a flame in my heart, burn in me again
With a hole in my hand, and a strength to my stand
With a flame in my heart, burn in me again
With a hole in my hand, with a hole in my hand…
See the ropes are long and they hold on strong
To tie me to the end…gone
See I can’t move on with my freedom gone
I need you only friend to set me free
And I’m not afraid to show my heart
I’m not afraid to let you start in my life again
And I’m not afraid to show my heart
Writer(s): Gregg Hionis, Joseph Alan Pangallo, Richard Joshua Brown
