the songs of Overdressed: Two Weeks in Africa
what you already knew…
Track Number: 8
Author(s): Andrew Osenga
what you probably didn’t know…
…Andy says: “The song is about missions trips overseas, and how we can get ramped up on feeling super-Spiritual, but it’s a feeling that passes all too quickly. Meanwhile, God is doing great things in other places, even if we aren’t responsible, or we’ve forgotten about it. The reality is that God is doing the good things despite us, but we can have those opportunities to see it and in a tiny way be a part of it.”
…Andy also says “…the song is deceptively upbeat because it probably has some of the darkest moments of the record.”
…The “village in Malawi” line originally was about another country, but Andy got some info from bass player Aaron Sands (who works for Blood:Water Mission) that a clean water well was recently built in Malawi, so Andy used that country instead.
…The song was recorded in two different sessions. The 2nd recording session worked much better than the first, so it’s the version they used.
September 28th, 2007 at 11:03 am
I saw Derek Webb in Gettysburg a couple of weeks ago (great show! Love your messages!), and found out about the new Caedmon’s Call CD. This year I was in Africa for two weeks on a mission trip leading 14 youth. We had an amazing experience and saw God move in mighty ways! Your song is a great reminder never to forget what God is doing throughout the world, with or without us there. It is also a great reminder how much at home I felt there and renews my desire to return every time I listen to it. Thank you!