One thing kids know is that it is hard to wait. Rain for Roots, the group of young Christian singer/songwriters from Nashville, explores that idea in Waiting Songs, their third childrenās album.
This is not your typical Christmas album. It actually isnāt a Christmas album at all. Itās an Advent album, an album about waiting. The album opens and closes with traditional advent songs (āO Come, O Come Emmanuelā and āCome Thou Long Expected Jesusā) but in between are eight original songs about the idea of waiting (āEvery Valley [Itās Hard to Wait]ā), songs from the Bible (āMagnificatā) and even a song inspired by a painting (āMary Consoles Eveā).
The songs are catchy and easy to learn. I found myself singing along to the chorus on many of the songs the first time through the album. While there are many thoughtful, serious songs, like the beautiful āCome Light Our Hearts,ā I think my favorite is the fun and slightly silly āZechariah,ā where the words āand Zechariah saidā are followed by garbled and mumbled syllables.
Rain for Roots once again shows that simple does not have to mean simplistic and childlike is not childish.
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About the Author
Robert J. Keeley is a professor of education emeritus at Calvin University and leads music at 14th St. Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Mich.