As an international student living 8,000 miles away from home, I sometimes had homesick when I listened to this song. I came to U.S. five years ago when I was eleventh grade. Before I came here, I had a lot of arguments with my parents on every day and wanted to live independently. After I came here and lived without them for a while, I started to admire my parents and thank them for everything they had done for me. I thank them because they raised me up from a baby and supported me whenever I needed them. 

Things changed a lot after I’ve found my belief while I was living here. After a very long time of struggling, I realized that I was a sinful man, and finally, I had admitted that my Heavenly Father had sent his only begotten Son to this world to die for our sins. I chose to give the rest of my life to Him. If He ask, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” I will answer Him just like how Isaiah answered Him before, “Here I am! Send me!” Eventually, I realized that I was actually not alone in here, my Heavenly Father was always being with me wherever I went. My Lord guides me by His nailed hand, so I can clearly know the way that I am going – to glorify Him. He was the One who actually rose me up from a dead man, and raised me up to more than I can be. 

1)      Mood

“Inspiring” is the mood that the music delivered to me. Particularly, in the chorus, this feeling starts to be very noticeable. 

2)      Form

 

Verse: 1:01-1:35; 3:24-3:55

Bridge: 0:00-1:00; 2:15-2:45; 4:46-5:00

Chorus: 1:36-2:14; 2:46-3:23; 3:56-4:45

 

3)      Instruments

 

Violin (chordophone)

Piano (chordophone)

Cello (chordophone)

Double Bass (chordophone)

 

4)      Timbre

 

The timbre for violin is “flat” and “nasal” and “ethereal”;

The timbre for cello is “nasal” and “heavy”;

The timbre for piano is “clear” and “velvety”;

The timbre for double bass is “heavy”;

 

5)      Textural Layers

 

Generally, the texture of this piece is homophonic. However, in the beginning, the introduction part soloed by the violin is monophonic. Specifically, there are about four layers. The violins play the melody. The piano and the cello and the double bass play the harmony. Additionally, the vocalist sings the melody. The relationship between these layers is that the harmonies played by piano, cello, and double bass hold up the melody played by violin and make this song successful. 

 

6)      Rhythm and Meter

 

The overall meter is double meter.

 

7)      Dynamics

When it starts reaching the climax (at 3:55), they play crescendo. After the climax (at 4:21), they change to decrescendo.

 

8)      Favorite Thing

 

The favorite thing that attracts me the most is the introduction part at the beginning. It has the power to immediately clam my heart down and put me into peace. 

 

9)      New Observations and Comparison

 

Before I analyzed this piece, I haven’t realized that all the instruments, including piano, violin, cello, and double bass are chordophone. Also, there is no indefinite pitch played by drums. Comparing to the electronic popular songs that we usually listen, it somehow can easily make the audiences drunk at its beautiful melody and heals the audiences’ hearts. 

 

10)  Self-Discovery

 

As I listen one more time of this piece, I’ve discovered that I still have pride in myself, which I shouldn’t have. It is because I know I have changed a lot in a good direction, but sometimes I neglected the weaknesses that are still in me. My Lord is still raising me up. He keeps helping me to get rid of all my imperfections such as envy, boast, and arrogant. Every times, I thought I have been raised up and became a man, but actually, I spoke still like a child, I thought like a child, and I reasoned like a child. One day, when I am truly raised up, I will give up children ways and truly become my Lord’s stone.