Story Behind The Song

I was in prayer when I sensed the Lord was telling me I was to write a song about Jael (a woman in the Old Testament) and specifically a hammer and a nail. This song was written over the course of several weeks. As the first verse unfolded and the chorus, I began to get excited about how it was turning out but didn't know where to go from there. Within the new week or so I began to realize the second verse would be about Jesus himself as Jael in this song became a foreshadowing of what Christ did on the cross and the victory that He won through a hammer and a nail.

Song Description

Hammer and a Nail is a rock/blues hybrid that encourages the hearer to rise up in their God given authority. A warlike drumbeat sets the tone while the organ adds to the blues style storytelling. The addition of the bass and the old school electric guitar sound brings it into a classic rock space. The industrial sound of the hammer and spike drive home the theme of this song.

Lyrics

Vs. 1
The battle was ragin', enemy at my door
Thinkin' he had found a friend, what he got was somethin' more
A stirring in my spirit, as he laid himself down
I took a hammer in my hand and nailed him to the ground

Chorus 1
Rise up, rise up, rise up with holy fire
Rise up, rise up in Jesus' name
Rise up, rise up, the devil is a liar
Rise up, rise up and take your place

Vs. 2
Hell came against You, thought they took You down
Your body hangin' on a tree, beneath a bloody crown
They thought that it was over, then heaven tore the veil
Jesus won the victory with a hammer and a nail

Chorus 2
Rise up, rise up, with resurrection power
Rise up, rise up in Jesus' name
Rise up, rise up, you were born to be a fighter
Rise up, rise up and take your place

Bridge: Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh (2x)

Chorus 2
Rise up, rise up with resurrection power
Rise up, rise up in Jesus' name
Rise up, rise up, you were born to be a fighter
Rise up, rise up and take your place

Bridge: Oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, oh, oh oh oh, oh oh (2x)
I'm claimin' the victory, I'm claimin' the victory,
I'm claimin' the victory in Jesus' name (2x)

Outro:
Oh the victory wasn't won with a knife or a gun
It was won by a hammer and a nail.