Lay It Down

Despite the response to her heralded debut, kansas (add multiple 1999 Dove awards, a Billboard award, national media attention, etc.), Jennifer Knapp remains intensely grounded on lay it down.

Building upon the fiery rootsiness of 1998's kansas, lay it down expands her rock-folk-bluesy style and organic song construction. From the warm, thick bass grooves of the title track, to the endearingly fallible string-wisps of “Peace,” or her inventive take on Shawn Colvin’s “Diamond in the Rough,” Jennifer has pushed herself creatively, and the result decorates all 10 of the album’s cuts.

“I swam around more on the inside. . .”

Jennifer describes production work in the studio (she co-produced lay it down) as an exciting new facet of her career. Recorded at Dark Horse Studios in the rolling countryside just outside Nashville, Knapp expanded her musical role on the album under the watchful eye of producer Mark Stuart. (Mark also produced kansas.) “I’ve always felt comfortable communicating within the studio—this time I just opened up a little more. It’s the first time having any responsibility that I can get punished for!” She says that as opposed to the recording of kansas, she tried to allow for creative opportunity during recording sessions. “I swam around more on the inside . . . left room for interpretations. Rather than knowing exactly how the songs were going to sound going in, I ended up letting it be surprising and new.” The result is a textured wash of sound, which serves to highlight her two years of backbone work on challenging lyrics.

“I spent a lot of time with my head buried, lyrically . . . encouraging myself to do something different”

In terms of content, Jennifer’s songs are pensive and tend to be sharp, personal testaments. “I spent a lot of time with my head buried, lyrically . . . encouraging myself to do something different,” she says of the time spent writing, accompanied only by her ever-present acoustic guitar.

With the recording of lay it down, Jennifer Knapp has illustrated that her music holds fast to personal goals and ideals.

a little more | lay it down | usher me down | into you
you remain | you answer me | all consuming fire
when nothing satisfies you | diamond in the rough* | peace

a little more
turn Your eyes from on this way
i have proved to live a dastardly day
i hid my face from the saints and the angels who sing of Your glory

what You had in mind
when we seek we'll find shine show me grace

a little more than i can give
a little more than i deserve
unearth this holiness i can't earn
it's a little more than i can give
a little more than i deserve

for all the sin that lives in me
it took a nail to set me free still,
what i do i don't want to do and so goes the story

what You had in mind
when we seek we'll find, shine, show me grace

a little more than i can give
a little more than i deserve
unearth this holiness i can't earn
it's a little more than i can give
a little more than i deserve

with all this motivation i still find a hesitation deep in my soul
despite all my demanding i still find You understanding
show me grace show me grace i know is.

a little more than i can give
a little more than i deserve
unearth this holiness i can't earn
it's a little more than i can give
a little more than i deserve

lay it down
seeing as i found a rock in my pocket
seeing as i found a glitch in my soul
make believe won't hide the truth
when judgment falls and it falls on you
bend a knee my friend, bend a knee

lay it down say it's all my fault, all my fault
say i believe, i believe
lay it down
this the hour of my healing, of my healing, yeah

pride can break a man right down from iron
twist him 'round 'round and tatter up a soul
handprint of God on the small of my back
my second chance, my second chance
i'll bend a knee my friend, i'll bend a knee

lay it down say it's all my fault, all my fault
say i believe, i believe
lay it down
this the hour of my healing, of my healing, yeah

my heart, my heart redeemed
if it pleases You Love
if it pleases You Love
if it pleases You Love

lay it down say it's all my fault, all my fault
say i believe, i believe
lay it down
this the hour of my healing, of my healing, yeah

usher me down
alone, alone is where i'll be
waiting, waiting so patiently
escape this little war raging
one still small voice
come rescue me

why wait, why wait
why wait for You to usher me down
many o, many o, Lord, my God
the wonders that i have found
when You usher me down

sacrifice and offering
You do not desire of me
i say here i am, You come
as if i ever had to call

why wait, why wait
why wait for You to usher me down
many o, many o, Lord, my God
the wonders that i have found
when You usher me down

who could replace You?
none i know of
the Throne is Yours alone
left to stand unshaken
can't be taken back
can't be taken back

why wait, why wait
why wait for You to usher me down
many o, many o, Lord, my God
the wonders that i have found
when You usher me down

into you
she's a skin art junkie all cute and petite
all her fat-cat schemes don't look around
don't you even blame me
it's a real bad thing to spill your shades for a blind man to find it
who can feel the whole earth move and don't even mind it

i wanna know You
better than i do
relieve me from myself, bring me into You
i wanna know You
better than i do
relieve me from myself, bring me into You

she's a wanna be hero
yeah, she try to be strong
and the end of the hour you find that that tower ain't standing so tall
it's a real hard thing
to show your weakness
if anyone can love you, i know my King does

i wanna know You
better than i do
relieve me from myself, bring me into You
i wanna know You
better than i do
relieve me from myself, bring me into.

Your holiness
Your kingdom
Your righteousness
my freedom

she's an easy scare
she's a simple bluff
she's a timid girl
she's in love

i wanna know You
better than i do
relieve me from myself, bring me into You
i wanna know You
better than i do
relieve me from myself, bring me into You

you remain
though i am poor and needy
my Shelter You'll be
not by my merit lead me
to where You say

waste my time on lover's quarrels
speed my breath and hope to stumble
out of my disdain and still
You remain

my Wall, my Mighty Tower
be my Shadow come cover me
till all my enemies cower
jealous of my King

though the day be laced with trouble
be the stone o'er which i stumble
straight into the arms and stay
where You remain

they said to me i would fall by the wayside
answer me now
answer me now

the fatherless we may be weary
be our Peace and do not tarry
wait we will for Your joy

be my Portion promised me, o Lord
may i be forever
where You remain
where You remain
where You.
where You remain

you answer me
all the things i want to say
all at once they wash away
as You walk by, out of mind
my thoughts fly away

all the things i long to hear
suddenly they reappear
You say in that hour Your holy power
will wipe away my fears

i can hear You cry out loud
when You answer me
when You answer me
once again i am revived
when You answer me You answer
when You answer me You answer me with love

to know You are I Am
confidence of lion laying with the lamb
in greener fields, with all my zeal,
is hard to comprehend

i can hear You cry out loud
when You answer me
when You answer me
once again i am revived
when You answer me You answer
when You answer me You answer me with.

(with) love so understanding
i can hardly catch my breath
seeing this i wonder how You have any love left
(left) me not alone
when i did not believe
through the darkness, through the darkness You answer me

i can hear You cry out loud
when You answer Me
when You answer me
once again i am revived
when You answer me You answer
when You answer me You answer me with love

all consuming fire
i sit here and question why my God loves me
though i have never done a good thing, or a righteous deed
and though i'm rich, i claim that i'm poor
crying over earthly things i know i can't afford but
He who died is greater than these
i should be thankful, praying on my knees
crying

Alpha and Omega
Prince of Peace
o, my King of Kings
the Great I Am, Jehovah Jireh
who cares for me
the Holy One, the Holy Father of the Blessed Trinity
All Consuming Fire burn in me

now i never claimed to be anymore than i am
any more than i seem
in fact i bill myself so much less than i am
so much less than He sees
so may i hold out with an open hand
this frail life of mine and pray that You can make it stand
most Holy God it's all i need to say that i'm thankful
i can believe in the

Alpha and Omega
Prince of Peace
o, my King of Kings
the Great I Am, Jehovah Jireh
who cares for me
the Holy One, the Holy Father of the Blessed Trinity
All Consuming Fire burn in me

when nothing satisfies you
with Margaret Becker

-for Adam

when it rains or it shines on this pillow of mine
i will lift up my head to the sky
so i have chance to see
where my hope has come from
know there's nothing that i can't abide

when nothing satisfies you
when nothing satisfies you
when nothing satisfies you
hold my hand

send forth Your light Lord,
and send forth Your truth
let them guide me to Your holy place
then will i go to the altar of God
to my Joy, my Delight and my Strength

when nothing satisfies you
when nothing satisfies you
when nothing satisfies you
hold my hand

why are You so downcast o my soul?
why so disturbed within me?
put your hope in God
my Savior, my King
my Savior, my King

when nothing satisfies you
when nothing satisfies you
when nothing satisfies you
hold my hand

diamond in the rough*
as a little girl i came down to the water
with a little stone in my hand
and it would shimmer and sing
and i knew everything

in a little while i got steeped in authority
heaven only knows what when wrong
when there is nothing so cruel
than to bury that jewel when it was mine all along
and i'm gonna find it

you're shining, i can see you
you're smiling, that's enough well
i'm holding onto you, like a diamond in the rough
like a diamond in the rough

ever now and then i can see that i am getting somewhere
where i have to go is so deep
i was angry back then, and you know i still am
i have lost too much sleep and i'm gonna find it

you're shining, i can see you
you're smiling, that's enough well
i'm holding onto you, like a diamond in the rough
like a diamond in the rough

snake's in the grass better step on the gas

in my dreams i go down by the water
with a little girl in my arms and we shimmer and sing
and we know everything
as a little girl i came down

you're shining, i can see you
you're smiling, that's enough well
i'm holding onto you, like a diamond in the rough
like a diamond in the rough

peace
He is my Light and my Salvation
whom have i to fear
in His secret place i'll hide and pray
that i might hear a simple word

o, how i would have despaired
if You had not come found me there
i can lean against Your throne and find my peace
find my peace

and when my enemies draw near
i pray that they will find
that i'm protected and secure
all tempests He will bind with a mighty word

o, how i would have despaired
if You had not come found me there
i can lean against Your throne and find my peace
find my peace

He is my Light and my Salvation whom have i to fear?

“. . . there are moments in my life that God has given me grace, and it seems so overwhelming. And the next time He comes it’s more than I received the time before—and it’s even that much more overwhelming. You can’t imagine it coming out in greater doses.”

As she entered college, Knapp was on a quest for meaning—and it took her down some hard roads before she found her way: ‘I was making a lot of horrible decisions against myself and punishing myself. I figured that’s what my worth was, so I might as well prove it.” Along the way she discovered the grace of God that she sings about so beautifully, and soon after began to give small performances—at first for friends, and later at small venues—while working on songwriting. As her artistic voice grew, so did the size of her shows. Her reputation quickly spread beyond the Kansas college scene, and earned her a record deal with the Nashville-based label, Gotee Records.

“To be honest is really what it’s about for me.”

The rare realism of Knapp’s style, as first expressed on kansas, caught the attention of industry and fans alike. Capping a whirlwind 8-month tour, Knapp was presented the Dove Award’s 1999 “New Artist of the Year” and “Rock Song of the Year” honors. She also won a Billboard Video Award and even earned a Dove nomination for the GMA “Female Vocalist of the Year.”

“One of the biggest struggles for me is understanding the free gift of God’s grace . . .We can’t earn it. It’s very difficult to model it, yet we desperately need it.”

Knapp’s commitments extend beyond the studio walls. She has given her time and effort to philanthropic work in countries like Estonia and the Dominican Republic, as well as children’s mercy foundations, battered women’s shelters and rescue missions across the United States. During her Lillith Fair appearance, her single “Undo Me” was featured on a promotional release to help raise awareness of breast cancer prevention.

“Even though we are Christians, we need grace.”

Jennifer Knapp has remained true to her commitment to express her heart through her music. Her story tells the truth: that God takes our pain in the palm of His hand and transforms it into something as beautiful as the music we hear her singing.