Jimmy Clifton, Forest | Music Lifts 🎶 🏋

In the 65^th edition of Music Lifts (2023), we’re uplifted by Christian musician Jimmy Clifton performing, “Forest.”

Welcome to Music Lifts 🎶 🏋, a column that seeks to highlight songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 65th edition of Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 (2023), we highlight “Forest” as performed by Jimmy Clifton.

“Say / Say what you want to about me / But stay / Stay where I’m at when you’re drowning.” Intriguing lyrics by all means. Christian music, particularly contemporary Christian music, or CCM, can ultimately feel incredibly sanitized and unoriginal. That may sound like a harsh criticism of music meant to magnify God, and it shouldn’t be the case, but, it happens far too frequently. Thankfully, Jimmy Clifton brings some life into the faith-based genre with the enigmatic, ethereal record, “Forest”. “Forest” distinguishes itself from the tried-and-true, serving up a folksier, alternative brand of Christian music.

“I was walking there all alone in the forest,” Clifton sings, continuing, “Heard a branch snap, turned around all I saw was / You standing there trying to scare me devil.” Yikes! Of course, on “Forest”, the second track from Clifton’s 2023 album, There’s Proof of God But Time is Short, he ultimately yields not to temptation – Satan won’t lead him off the righteous path! Ultimately, Jimmy “know(s) Who is in the forest,” and only “HE will give you rest.” The WHO and the HE shouldn’t come as a surprise – The Most High, aka God. Clifton sings radiantly as he stomps the devil out and remains dedicated to J-E-S-U-S. His light, airy tenor haunts, providing chills, further accentuated by vocal harmonies. To reiterate, “Forest” ‘hits different’ than other Christian records.  It’s enigmatic yet reverent vibes, thoughtful songwriting, and chilling performance truly encourage staying on the holy and righteous path.

🎙 Jimmy Clifton • 💿 There’s Proof of God But Time is Short • 🏷 NFGN Productions • 📅 2023 

Jimmy Clifton, Forest: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 No. 65 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; NFGN Productions; Hamid Tajik, Qamar Rehman, vansh mehta, Viridiana Rivera via Pexels]