Brandon Lake Shares Powerful New Song, ‘The Jesus I Know Now’, Co-Written with Lainey Wilson

Brandon Lake has taken to socials to share a beautiful new song, ‘The Jesus I Know Now’, which Lake has co-written with Lainey Wilson, Luke Laird and Emily Weisband.

The ‘Gratitude’ hitmaker offers some context to the unreleased offering, explaining, “Been loving this new one I wrote with @laineywilson @emilyweisband @lukerobert after talking about people’s experience getting taught a different Jesus than one we know now 🙏🏼🤠 “The Jesus I Know Now””.

Although this is only a sparse, acoustic version of the forthcoming track, Lake still brings the intricate, soul-stirring message and the undulating, infectious melody to life.

Across the noodling acoustic guitar, the South Carolina native croons, “I was told he was angry / Didn't like the music up too loud / I was told he would save me / If I showed up to Church and I shut my mouth / If I smoke, if I drank, if I cussed I'd think I was on the long black train to Hell / Yeah I thought I knew Him / Til I met him for myself”.

He goes on to deliver the rousing, titular lines, “But the Jesus I know now ain't shaking a fist, ain't raising a proud / Yeah, the Jesus I know now ain't running away from a party crowd / I found a friend / Who hangs with the misfits, less-thans, forgives and forgives again / Can't believe I was missing out / On the Jesus I know now”.

Given how a significant amount of worship music has historically been devoted to sheer praise and euphoric celebration, it's always refreshing to hear artists in the Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) sphere pulling back the curtain on the darker moments they've had to experience as part of their faith journey towards salvation.

‘The Jesus I Know Now’ is a wonderfully evocative offering, and given the fact that Lainey is a co-writer, we're keeping our fingers crossed she features on the final version.

It serves as the latest hint that Lake is making a foray into the country music world, after his smash hit collaboration with Jelly Roll, ‘Hard Fought Hallelujah’, earlier in the year. He also joined forces with Gabby Barret for a reimagined take on his King of Hearts stand-out, ‘As For Me & My Home’, on the deluxe version of the album.

What's more, during a recent concert, the ‘That's Who I Praise’ singer-songwriter confirmed he's dropping a revamped rendition of his September single, ‘When a Cowboy Prays’, with Cody Johnson, which we're hoping will arrive very soon.

Whether Lake will follow in the footsteps of Anne Wilson and drop a full-length country-CCM crossover album remains to be seen. But regardless of how we label his forthcoming music, one thing's for sure - it's visceral storytelling and soulful songwriting at it's very best, and we can't wait to hear the rest of ‘The Jesus I Know Now’.

Watch the full clip of Brandon Lake performing ‘The Jesus I Know Now’ below:

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