Awake My Soul

Album: Awake (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Hillsong Worship leader and co-producer Brooke Ligertwood wrote this song about God's majesty. Isaiah 6:1 served as an inspiration: "I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple." (NIV)
  • The song came out of Brooke's personal prayer time as she was driving to pick up her two toddlers from preschool. The first two lines came into her mind a couple of blocks from home and she started singing:

    There is a sound I love to hear
    It's the sound of the Savior's robe
    As He walks into the room where people pray


    She explained to Apple Music: "It's a song about when you hear a group of people in a room praying or singing to God, what we hear is the sound of the music and the sound of singing, but what God hears is the sound that our hearts are making, the sound of faith. In return, when God manifests himself in a place, it's almost as if we can hear him walk into the room by perceiving it with something in our souls that was designed to be that antennae to what's happening in the heavenly realm. So, it's the idea of a sound begetting a sound, in a way."
  • The chorus is inspired by Psalm 57, where the Psalmist exhorts us in times of trials to step out in faith and worship God.

    Awake my soul and sing
    Sing His praise aloud


    Brooke explained to New Release Today: "It's a reminder to open our mouths. What we sing and speak out loud, our soul hears. One of the reasons we fast, as believers, is that we remind our body who is in charge. My spirit is yielded to the Lord. When we open our mouths and pray and sing, we're reminding our body that God's in charge."
  • Brooke Ligertwood is also the vocalist on the track. She has been the singer on many of Hillsong Worship's tunes, including Awake's lead single, "King of Kings."

Comments: 1

  • Brooke H from Merica'This is so beautiful! I love Hillsong Worship!! I think this song hits home for me!! :):)
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Harry Shearer

Harry ShearerSongwriter Interviews

Harry is Derek Smalls in Spinal Tap, Mark Shubb in The Folksmen, and Mr. Burns on The Simpsons.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."

Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell NdegeocelloSongwriter Interviews

Meshell Ndegeocello talks about recording "Wild Night" with John Mellencamp, and explains why she shied away from the spotlight.