Skip to main content

"Harvesting the Weeds" by Dawson Shorman: A Prayer for Breaking Hard Ground


Dawson Shorman - Harvesting the Weeds

(by Jasper Tan) "Harvesting the Weeds" is the first single from Dawson Shorman's debut album, which will be released this May. The song is an introspective indie Christian track that talks about burnout, self-deception, and faith in the current times. Dawson makes use of agricultural imagery as a metaphor for this song. In this very demanding world, especially in this age of social media, we are too concerned about gaining attention and affirmation from the people around us to the point that sometimes we are left with an empty soul as we lose ourselves to the world just to feel belongingness to certain norms of the world. In this song, Dawson re-centers his attention to God and surrenders himself in prayer as he longs to belong to Christ once more.

Set to an energetic sound of pop with a flare of rock, this CCM song offers a fresh take on trying to make Christian Contemporary Music belong to mainstream music as Dawson seeks to deliver the message that he is bringing to a generation of listeners that might have lost themselves in the madness of this current affirmation-driven generation. The song repeatedly speaks about shallow praises, driven by the need to be accepted and loved, but only to find out that these are not rooted in the purity of the word, but as a way of being self-absorbed rather than self-giving.

The song reminds me of the parable of the wheat and the weeds as told in Matthew 13:24–30. While we try to live and thrive in this world, when the end of days arrives, only Jesus will be the sower that sows the good seeds and brings them along to heaven. And to be a good seed, one must recognize that ultimately it is God's grace that will set us free. And embracing him in our lives is the only way to salvation.

(Related scripture: Matthew 13:24-30; John 4:13-14; Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12)

Connect with Dawson Shorman

Would you like to hear more CCM music? Then check out our Christian playlists on: https://www.christiandance.eu/playlists

PS: Did you know that the posts we have on Christian Music Today also contain the backstories that artists have shared with us? Check it out on: https://medium.com/christian-music-today/

Popular posts

"Jesus I Do" by John Perkins: Surrendering to Saving Grace

(by Jasper Tan) John Perkins' latest release, "Jesus I Do," is a soulful and heartfelt Christian Contemporary song that offers a very personal testimony of John finding his way back to God while navigating a turbulent time in his life. You could feel Perkins' emotions poured into this song, knowing that he had been struggling emotionally before he found inspiration to write this song. The song's arrangement opens with a contemplative mood, driven by acoustic piano, and builds into a more layered sound. As the song progresses, soulful elements are incorporated, which are further enhanced by the emotive background harmonies that serve as the foundation of the song.  The lyrics of the song make use of metaphors on a maritime journey that mirrors one's spiritual awakening. How being alone on the ocean, drifting directionless until finding a profound sense of being saved, that one can only experience in the solace of God. The chorus is a simple yet very powerful de...

"Soon and Very Soon" by Robby Robinson: Why This Classic Still Hits Like the First Time

What if one song could carry the weight of every hardship you've ever faced, and still leave you smiling? That's exactly what AndraĆ© Crouch accomplished in 1978 when he wrote "Soon and Very Soon," and this new recording by Robby Robinson, Tony Galla, and Ray Reynolds makes sure you feel every bit of it.  The song is based on Revelation 21:3–4, reminding us of what's coming: no more crying, no more dying, just the glorious moment we finally see the King. Simple words, but it carries a profound promise.  Crouch was honest about the journey. There are "rivers we must cross" and "mountains we must climb." He emphasizes the truth that faith doesn't erase our struggles — it sustains us through them. God, as the lyrics remind us, will "supply all the strength that we need."   Featuring powerhouse vocalists Tony Galla and Ray Reynolds, Robinson blends this classic gospel energy with a rich, Hammond-organ-driven groove. Rather than a slow...

"Come Alive" by JONATHYN: Grace Restoring the Broken

(by Jasper Tan) "Come Alive" by JONATHYN is an uplifting CCM-Pop track that talks about spiritual renewal, grace, and finding purpose through our Christian faith. The song dwells on the classic darkness-to-light narrative, which is a common theme for those who are struggling with their Faith. The song begins by describing our state of being in a spiritual exhaustion, mirroring that feeling like we are breathing lead. It also speaks about our life that at times feels like it is dead, despite being alive in this world. This happens when we keep on making the wrong turn, and these frequent mistakes become our frustration. And in a twist of irony, sometimes we are being led to deeper depression, especially if we are clutching for hope, yet this is devoid of a firm foundation. And the chorus is where we are reminded that it is only through God and his gift of hope, which gives us new life and makes us feel much more alive. This is the emotional peak of the song, where the song tra...