Chris Tomlin has been a well-known Christian singer for quite some time, and I’m pretty sure some of you may recognize some of his songs that get played on Christian radio stations. The album that this song comes from is called “Chris Tomlin & Friends” and features an artist along with Tomlin on each of the tracks. This one features the smooth vocals from an artist named Blessing Offor who’s albums go back to 2015. I felt that this refreshing song was a good addition to the playlist we’ve been building and a great review for July.
“Maybe the streets are gold
And there’s a table with plenty room
Maybe we don’t grow old
And we got nothing to lose”
The lyrics convey a beautiful idea of what heaven might look like, but even more so what heaven might feel like; with golden streets, a table big enough for everyone to be seated around the Father, time that stands still with mountains that move, and even a choir that greets you as you enter, removing all of our struggles and pain. The description given may not be exactly what heaven is like, but it gives us an idea of the amount of beauty, love, and awe that awaits us.
“Maybe in the promise land
We’re all made for what we do
Oh, but I pray Heaven is like rain on a tin roof”
Blessing Offor has a solo version of this song on his album, “Brighter Days” which sounds similar but has slightly different sound, including a missing Tomlin feature. In the solo version Offor’s voice has a lot more feeling in the lyrics. I’ll leave it up for debate which version is better to you, but the lyrics, message, & musical beauty are equal. I love the imagery of everyone being made for what they do; giving everyone a purpose, even in Heaven, and that purpose being doing what you love to do.
“Washing away
Washing away my sorrows
Giving me faith
Giving me faith to follow a new tomorrow
They tell me in the promise land
There are mansions to choose
Oh, but I pray Heaven is like rain on a tin roof”
In the chorus we get the title drop for the track and find out that it’s called “Tin Roof” after the way that heaven removes our sorrow but also renews and confirms our faith. This beautiful imagery is what gave me the idea that this would be a great song to review for the summer; I enjoy the bright hot days but when they turn humid, the rain is always cool and refreshing.
“Maybe time stands still
And the mountains just move
Maybe we all have wings
And there’s only good news
They say the living water
Is the fountain of youth
Oh, but I pray Heaven is like rain on a tin roof”
Chris Tomlin comes in after the chorus and accompanies Offor in the remainder of the song. The overall sound of the song captures where both singers are from; Tomlin being from Texas and Offor being from Tennessee, giving the song a warm southern-pop sound. (Overall sound, see what I did there?) I also really liked the reference of the Living Water that Jesus talks about and the fountain of youth.
I found this song really cool because it reminded me of the idea of people not wanting to get caught in the rain because they don’t want to get wet versus people who feel the rain, which is a different experience and view of the rain. I would say this is one of those songs that you feel the rain to, so I hope you get to experience that this summer, if you haven’t yet. In addition, I hope it washes away our struggles of yesterday and also gives us hope in what tomorrow brings, something like rain on a tin roof.