Agabaidu (Lion of Judah)

Chris Morgan's “Agabaidu (Lion of Judah)” blends English with phrases in Igbo, the language of southeastern Nigeria. The opening lines address God as “Rock of Ages,” who stays “the same age to age,” and ask, “Who can stand when You roar, and who can fight You and win?” The repeated Igbo refrain, “Agaba idu eh,” is the congregation's response, and the Lion of Judah in the subtitle fills in the name.

The middle of the song is personal testimony. “I remember where You brought me from, through the fire, through the storm. Only You deserve my praise.” Then the changes are named: “You took my pain away, You took my past away, You took the shame away, You gave me a new song, You gave me a new life.” The singer describes joy as “unspeakable” and says that only God can do this. The last section turns to a psalm picture, “Mountains skip like rams at the sound of Your name,” with all creation bowing and the words “Our God reigns!”

The Lion of Judah is Revelation 5:5. God as an everlasting rock is Isaiah 26:4, and mountains skipping like rams is Psalm 114:4.