Drawing comparisons to Carrie Underwood, Demi Lovato, Natalie Grant, and Britt Nicole, Clemmons' voice effortlessly blends rich tones with a seasoned artist's passion and confidence. Her songwriting is equally compelling, offering a mix of authentic, honest, vulnerable, positive, determined, and confident narratives.
Riley is a shining role model with her upbeat and catchy tunes, particularly for young girls. She infuses her music with grace-filled messages of hope and addresses life's pressures. Her latest single, “Church Pew,” from the upcoming album Church Pew, continues this trend, highlighting Riley's deep understanding that true happiness and identity stem from her relationship with God. I had the chance to speak with Riley about her moving new song, “Church Pew.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
Because I was coming from such a season of burnout, I felt a strong calling to take full ownership of this new chapter in my life. The song title was on my mind for a while. If church pews could speak, what would they say? What have they seen? What have they heard? Sometimes, they may listen to the story of the person coming into the church on their Sunday best. But other times, they may feel the sadness of a funeral or the vulnerability of an AA meeting. “Church Pew” sounds and feels like my DNA.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Romans 12:15 (ESV): "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep."
Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV): “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”
1 John 4:18-19 (NKJV): "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love because He first loved us."
John 10:10 (ESV): "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
Lamentations 3:22-23 (VOICE): "How enduring is God's loyal love; the Eternal has inexhaustible compassion. Here they are, every morning, new! Your faithfulness, God, is as broad as the day."
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV): “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Philippians 4:7 (NKJV): “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
What is the takeaway message?
We wanted to write a song encompassing the full range of experiences because Jesus saves room for His people. No matter what they’ve been through or are going through, no matter how messed up or broken they might feel, Jesus is incredibly inclusive.
It feels as though my entire life has been leading up to the creation of this record. This album was born from the lowest and most challenging point in my life thus far. During an ongoing battle with depression and anxiety and navigating what felt like a true identity crisis, I took a step back from music and creating to live life. I was able to pause long enough to rediscover what I loved. I resonated with the music and lyrics as I allowed myself to evolve and grow naturally.
Lyrics
I sat down in an old church pew Same way that I always do Every Sunday morning since I was a kid And for some reason, I couldn’t help Thinking ‘bout the tales that bench could tell Of people who sat here just like this
People full of faith People full of doubt People all just trying their best To figure it all out
Church pews, they’ve got stories They’ve got so much that they’ve seen The best of saints, the worst of sinners And every bit of in-between We all come for different reasons But Lord knows we all need Jesus And He’s always saving room for me and you Right here in this church pew
Funeral flowers and wedding rings Users trying to just get clean Doesn’t matter why we’re walking through that door Those echoes of amazing grace Keep on ringing through this place And leave us different than we were before
People lifting hands People crying tears The beautiful and broken All are welcome here
Closing Thoughts
God desires us to have faith in the freedom Jesus' sacrifice on the cross has given us. Through Him, we are liberated from our fears, addictions, insecurities, and perfectionism. Jesus came to die so that we could experience authentic life in Him. Let yourself be captivated by the knowledge that God loves you.
With repeated listens, the truth of this song will sink deeper into the recesses of your heart, bringing comfort with the messages of the Bible that remind us that Jesus weeps with those who mourn and rejoices with those who celebrate.
As followers of Jesus, we can trust in God's Word and know we are constantly growing and evolving. Have faith and let God work all things together for your good. Spend time with Him and allow Him to redeem and restore you. Remember that your story is not over, and God is still writing your story of redemption.
God is faithful and will complete what He has started in all of us who have put our hope and trust in Jesus for our salvation. This song inspires me to seek a deeper relationship with God and to have more faith and security in Him. As believers, we are called to be there for each other in all circumstances, even the hard times.
We need to be willing to get our hands dirty and be in community with one another. It may not always be easy, but it is our calling. You can see yourself and people you know and love in these lyrics: “People full of faith/People full of doubt/People all just trying their best/To figure it all out.”
This song is about crying out for God's presence and desiring to know Him personally. Let's strive to know God, and He will come to you. You have the privilege of knowing Him. He lives in you and has made you His home. These lyrics are encouraging: “People lifting hands/People crying tears/The beautiful and broken/All are welcome here.”
We sometimes put up a wall between us and God, and He wants us to come home to Him. This song is a moving offering of praise to Jesus. His love is never-ending, and He is our refuge and our strength. If you are looking for a firm foundation in your life, make these lyrics your personal prayer: “We all come for different reasons/But Lord knows we all need Jesus/And He’s always saving room for me and you/Right here in this church pew.” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid collector. He credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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