Artists around the world oftentimes turn to the spiritual to inspire them when making music; Nigerian artists aren’t left out with some of their lyrics drawing from the scriptures to create Bible verse-inspired messages. These lyrics either echo the same themes or build on them to create something rich and different. The Bible is a […]
Artists around the world oftentimes turn to the spiritual to inspire them when making music; Nigerian artists aren’t left out with some of their lyrics drawing from the scriptures to create Bible verse-inspired messages. These lyrics either echo the same themes or build on them to create something rich and different.
The Bible is a timeless piece of literature that has on multiple occasions inspired art and artists. In this article we’ve curated 5 Bible verse-inspired lyrics that Nigerian artists have written.
Ayra Starr – Rush
In Rush Ayra Starr sings “Dem wan dey check if my tap e no rush. But e dey rush, e dey rush well well, e be much. Na God dey make my tap e dey rush.” The entire song which is about abundance and prosperity was inspired by Psalm 23:5: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” According to Ayra Starr, the term “E dey rush” means “my cup runneth over.”
Asake – Nzaza
In Nzaza, Asake sings “Person wey no work oh, tell me how e wan chop? Men, I don’t know know.” He’s tapping from the Bible verse 2 Thessalonians 3:10 which reads, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” The verse and lyrics are simply stressing the importance of hardwork and the byproduct of laziness being a lack of food to eat.
Tems – The Key
In The Key, Tems sings “No man can curse what God has made.” The lyrics have a root in the Bible verse Numbers 23:8 which reads, “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?” Although it takes a slight twist on the original verse, the lyrics remain certain of the fact that nothing and no one that God hasn’t cursed can be cursed by man.
Burna Boy – African Giant
In African Giant, Burna Boy sings “Because God no go give you more than you can handle.” The line is gotten from the Bible verse 1 Corinthians 10:13: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” The verse and lyrics share the same belief in the fact that God doesn’t test you with more than He knows you can handle.
Asa – Jailer
In Jailer, Asa quotes Jesus when she says “Let he who is without sin be the first to cast a stone.” The Bible verse-inspired lyrics draw from John 8:7 which reads, “So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” The verse and lyrics serve as a call to action for those who are quick to judge, forgetting their own shortcomings.
