Photo by Maher El Aridi
Switchfoot is an American alternative rock band, hailing from San Deigo, California. They became active in 1996, releasing several albums and EP’s, including 14 studio albums, 5 live albums, and 14 EP’s.
They won 31 awards for their work, including Dove’s for Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year, Rock Recorded Song of the Year, and Artist of the Year.
Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/17182317.
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1. What message does the song communicate?
This song is about Switchfoot desiring that their “baby”, their special lifelong earth partner, to sing to them in their “native tongue”. By this, they mean to love like before sin entered the world. This is the kind of love that Jesus expressed throughout His three-year ministry, summarized by the two greatest commandments: to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. It is the kind of love that is not afraid to rebuke and correct when the situation calls for it, yet, gently calls us to obedience to Christ. If we follow Jesus’ lead, we can fulfill Switchfoot’s vision, that all people would love and live like Jesus did.
How do we know this song is about Jesus? Switchfoot hints at it by claiming He is the Word that created the stars.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
The entire song reflects Scriptural concepts.
[Verse 1]
Lines 1-4: The word “baby” in this context indicates a human lover. That is, Switchfoot wants their human lover to sing to them in their “native tongue”, which is defined as love. Outro will later confirm this as love before the fall of Adam.
Lines 5-7: Switchfoot is speaking directly to their human lover, that they should be filled with the Word that created the stars (combines John 1:1 and John 1:14 with Colossians 1:16). He is love embodied (1 John 4:16). His Word is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training others in righteousness so that we would become complete and equipped for good works (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Line 8: Repeats line 4.
[Chorus]
Lines 1-4: Switchfoot admits that they fall short of their “native tongue” that is love (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Job 15:14, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, and 1 John 1:8-10).
Lines 5 and 6: Switchfoot asks and answers a rhetorical question: They forgot their first love (Revelation 2:4).
Lines 7 and 8: Repeats/essentially repeats lines 3 and 4.
Line 9: Calls to Casper the friendly ghost.
Line 10: Repeats line 9.
[Bridge]
Lines 1-7: Though perhaps taken literally, it makes sense to interpret this figuratively given that one is shouting louder than darkness. Thus, loudness is about leading the world by example, showing God’s love through our actions.
According to Jesus, the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40, Mark 12:28-34, and Luke 10:25-28). All other commandments hang on just these two. If we are to live like Jesus lived (1 John 2:6), then we must love like Jesus loved.
Line 8: Repeats line 4.
Lines 9 and 10: Repeats the first part of Chorus, line 9.
[Outro]
Lines 1-6: Switchfoot desires that all people love like before the fall of Adam in Genesis 3. Line 4 repeats line 1.
Line 7-12: Repeats lines 1-6.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
Unbelievers will probably interpret the “native tongue” as a worldly sort of love, but without what the world considers “evil” which includes violence, enslavement, and fighting. The jury’s out on whether they would interpret this as Christian. Certainly, a slight religious overtone given that “My Lord” is present, but with the overall theme more geared towards a loving, committed relationship with little concern about Godly love. It’s a step in the right direction and will help unbelievers love better if they implement its teaching. However, those who haven’t studied the Bible will probably not interpret this as uniquely Christian.
Score: 5/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies Jesus as the One who embodies love, created the universe, and is the source of love that the rest of us should desire to emulate.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Switchfoot’s Native Tongue is helpful for Christians. It reminds us to love like Jesus loved, obeying what He considers the two greatest commandments: love God and love others. This is the kind of love that existed pre-fall. Our aim should be to emulate Jesus’ love in our everyday lives. These points glorify Jesus. However, unbelievers will more likely think it’s about being a better human lover without things that even the world considers evil with little regard to obedience to Christ.
This song is inspirational, but not appropriate for corporate worship.
Final Score: 9/10
Artist Info
Track: Native Tongue (listen to the song)
Artist: Switchfoot
Album: Native Tongue
Genre: Pop
Release Year: 2019
Duration: 4:39
Agree? Disagree? Don’t be shy or have a cow! Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.
Comments
milkpaintpowder
Catchy tune! But if I heard this on the radio and didn’t know that Switchfoot was a “Christian” band, then it just sounds like any regular secular song. So I heartly agree with your number 3 assesment. Perhaps 3/10?
How did you get to state in your introduction that: “This song is about Switchfoot desiring that their “baby”, their special lifelong earth partner, to sing to them in their “native tongue”. By this, they mean to love like before sin entered the world. ” from their lyrics alone? It may well be what they mean but to an average listener, Christian or otherwise, the words “Sing to me baby in your native tongue” can be open to many interpretations. Even New Age ones.
I do agree is that it is not suitable for corporate worship, unless the worship leader goes to great lengths trying to explain what is being sung. Even if they try to link the lyrics to biblical references.
Vince Wright
milkpaintpowder,
Thank you for your comments!
Yes, purely from the lyrics. While I understand your belief that “Sing to me baby in your native tongue” can be open to many interpretations, including new ages ones, I think that Switchfoot gave just enough hints to Christianity that makes such an interpretation untenable.
-Vince Wright
-Vince Wright