Sometimes indie artists hit that familiar formula—a little too polished, a little too predictable.
But that’s not the case with Gavn!’s latest release, Open Arms (Hallelujah).
This song feels less like it was written than bled out. It’s raw, and it packs an emotional punch.
The folk-rock rumble, the live drums—all those add a sense of breathless energy, like someone fighting their way through a storm.
He lays it all out there: loss, confusion, and that feeling of your whole world shattering.
It’s in those lyrics that the ache hits you. Gavn!’s not trying to package faith in a neat little box.
This is about wrestling with doubt and demanding answers in the void.
As Gavn! himself says, “This release came together because I wanted to shed light on something I felt like a lot of people aren’t talking about these days, which is struggling to have faith when everything points against it.”
Then comes “Hallelujah.” It crashes over you—a defiant shout but with an edge of desperation.
It’s not the victory cry, hallelujah, but more like the last-ditch effort to find something, anything to believe in.
The magic lies in the tension between that hammering rhythm and the way his voice aches.
It’s like he’s trying to claw his way towards hope, even though it seems out of reach.
Open Arms (Hallelujah) isn’t a song that coddles. It won’t wrap you in a warm blanket of reassurance.
Instead, it drags you into those shadowy places where belief falters and doubt gnaws at your soul.
It’s deeply unsettling, yet strangely empowering. For anyone who’s ever grappled with faith, lost their way, or just felt utterly alone, Gavn!’s song is a ragged, beautiful beacon in the dark.
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Gavn! Open Arms (Hallelujah) Lyrics
Verse 1
Taught me to go, long way from home some place where I’m not comfortable
Out on the water, I close my eyes and cast a line to the unknown
But I’ve broken more than just a window
No foundation on my floor
I’m shook to my core, I felt a feeling
Wondering if there’s something more
Pre-Chorus
But I lost my dad to an early grave
Then I took three steps and I lost my way
Chorus
No, I don’t wanna believe it, how I couldn’t save myself
I took my preconceptions and I left them on the shelf
‘Cause they said that I need Jesus or I’ll end up down in hell
But I just can’t believe it ’til I seen it for myself
And I’ll say, “Hallelujah”
I’ve come so far from open arms
Hallelujah
Still, I’ve grown so far from where I started
Verse 2
Now looking back
Rose-colored glass, I wanna see the silver lining
Ghosts from my past
Don’t make it easy, but believe me, I’m still trying (Oh, no, no)
Chorus
No, I don’t wanna believe it, how I couldn’t save myself
I took my preconceptions and I left them on the shelf
‘Cause they said that I need Jesus or I’ll end up down in hell
But I just can’t believe it ’til I seen it for myself
And I’ll say, “Hallelujah”
I’ve come so far from open arms
But Hallelujah
Still, I’ve grown so far from where we started
Bridge
Ooh-ah, hey
Ooh-ooh
Oh, hey
Pre-Chorus
But I lost my friend to an early grave
‘Cause he lost his mind and I came too late
But I lost my dad to an early grave
Then I took three steps and I lost my way
Chorus
No, I don’t wanna believe it, how I couldn’t save myself
I took my preconceptions and I left them on the shelf
‘Cause they said that I need Jesus or I’ll end up down in hell
But I just can’t believe it ’til I seen it for myself (For myself)
And I’ll say, “Hallelujah”
I’ve come so far from open arms
But Hallelujah
Still, I’ve grown so far from where we started