Holy Water

The song, “Holy Water” was sung by the duo Big & Rich and was released in 2004. It was written on behalf of both Big Kenny’s and John Rich’s sisters, who were both victims of abuse. According to Big & Rich’s own website, “Big & Rich wrote ‘Holy Water’ as a personal prayer of love and support for their sisters, and for the countless women who have suffered from and survived domestic violence.” However, any girl/woman who has experienced a traumatic abuse of any kind can relate to the words.

Ironically, I heard this song when it was released and because it climbed to #15 on the charts, heard it often enough to be able to sing along with most of the words to it. Even more ironic is that, while I liked the song, it never climbed into me and claimed me as other songs had, even though I was a girl who was subjected to traumatic abuse.

I heard it again, recently, while searching out another song by this duo, and POW! – I finally really understood the words’ meaning. I even understood that the words “holy water” were not speaking in religious/ spiritual terms, but in the sense of being fully cleansed from the pain by drowning in a clean, healing water. Because of the power of these lyrics, I feel compelled to share them with the hope that they will empower any of my readers who relate!

Somewhere there’s a stolen halo
I used to watch her wear it well.
Everything would shine,
Wherever she would go
But lookin’ at her now, you’ll never tell

Someone ran away with her innocence
A memory she can’t get out of her head
And I can only imagine what she’s feelin’ when she’s prayin’
Kneelin’ at the edge of her bed

And she says take me away
Then take me farther
Surround me now
And hold, hold, hold me
Like Holy Water
Holy Water

She wants someone to call her angel
Someone to put the light back in her eyes
She’s lookin’ through the faces and unfamiliar places
She needs someone to hear her when she cries

When she says take me away
Then take me farther
Surround me now
And hold, hold, hold me
Like Holy Water
She just needs a little help

To wash away the pain she’s felt

She wants to feel the healin’ hands of someone who understands
And she says take me away
Then take me farther

Surround me now
And hold, hold, hold me
She says take me away
Then take me farther
Surround me now
And hold, hold, hold me
Like Holy Water
Like Holy Water
Like Holy Water
Like Holy Water.