This anthemic, powerhouse cut off Stephanie Pauline's acclaimed Rush the Sea CD, rose to #5 and stayed on the NCM Euro Christian chart's top 20 for over 19 weeks. The sonic textures are carefully layered to create a song with dynamic range and depth, well worth repeat listenings.
Coproduced by Stephanie Pauline, Dave Cleveland, Steve Dady and now Chris James, this song has been tweaked to near perfection. “Toy soldier” was originally recorded in Nashville with virtuosos like Dave Cleveland on guitar, Steve Brewster on percussion and drums, and David Davidson on violin. It was just remixed for radio in L.A. with a few new lyrical additions from Stephanie and Chris James, and some melodic infusions by Stephanie.
Though she borrows from many genres, Pauline takes her cues from pop music, crafting radio friendly songs that build and explode in a way that catches the ear. With lyrical depth and impassioned vocals "Toy Soldier" pierces the soul and leaves the listener aching for more.
A Note about the Song from Stephanie
I do roughly 30 % of my concerts in detention and drug rehab facilities. This song poured out as I sat at my piano and stared intently at the toy soldier on my key chain that I’ve been carrying around with me for years now to remind me that I’m a warrior in Christ. I had done 3 detention center concerts previously in the week and I was feeling overwhelmed by the pain in the world. Even Jesus wept, was grieved and spent at times...pain in this world is real and we have to grapple with it. Yet, so often, we are afraid to be honest about our pain, and even our desperate need for God. I like to say though that God will be real to us when we are real with Him. This song is just that - a raw, real confession of need. There are no answers in it. It simply poses a question. But just listen, so clearly The Divine Father's heartfelt reply can be heard in the precious vulnerability of the question itself. We wouldn’t dare to ask this to a God who isn’t good, who isn’t loving, and who isn’t more than willing.
“Yes! I Am here."
Thanks for listening. I hope you are blessed by me, by this song and by this video.
IMPACT:
The first time I heard Toy Soldier on the radio I was overcome with emotion and was given a new sense of freedom to own my need for God. From my unique vantage point as a member of the military community I relate so profoundly to this song. I think of our loved ones who carry a toy soldier on the key chains of their hearts to remind them to pray for us as we come and go in harms way. I'm so thankful for our prayer warriors and so thankful for this song that expresses our everyday situations so poignantly!
~Chaplain (CPT) Lisa Northway, U.S. Army
I heard "Toy Soldier" on KTLF Saturday afternoon and immediately thought of one of my dear friends whose 1 yr-old is dying of cancer. She often talks of her son as a warrior who is fighting the giant of cancer. She and her husband tell their other sons that their brother is a brave warrior who is fighting a tremendous enemy and will probably need to rest soon. But when I heard “Toy Soldier”, I thought about my girlfriend and the brave warrior that she is and just how much she must want to rest and not "put up a good fight." We are contending for God's presence this week as the boy has been given just a few weeks to live after his past nine months of chemotherapy. I sent “Toy Soldier” via newchristianmusicnow.com to my friend along with the prayers that she will find rest with her Father.
Thank you for this song - it is, in fact, beautiful.
-Colleen Caikowski
I wanted to say that after seeing the statistics in the Toy Soldier video, I made the decision to stop using. Two days sober! Warm blessings to you & keep doing what you are doing...you are beautiful!
-Anonymous mother of a teen
MUSIC CREDITS:
Video Production:
More than Music & Fresh Design PRESENT - Toy Soldier
Directed by Glenn Sweitzer and Stephanie Pauline
Cinematography by Glenn Sweitzer
with help from Bill Lutsch, Brian Kagan, and Rick Harlow
Edited by Stan Moore
Girl: McKenzie Grace Watkins
Boy: Gabe Mazon
Dad of Girl: Bruce Roderick
Mom of Boy: Ramona Golden
Dad of Boy: Isaiah Wood
Warden: Tara Mazon
Mentor 1: Kathy Morford
Mentor 2: Mike Rueffert
MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS:
Music Produced by Chris James, Stephanie Pauline, and Steve Dady
Guitars – Dave Cleveland
Drums and Percussion – Steve Brewster
Strings - David Davidson
Piano – Jason Webb
Keys – Chris James
Bass – Mark Hill
Synth - Brian Green
BGVs – Michael Rossback
Photography by Inspired Studios; Falcon, CO
Recorded at:
Sunset Blvd Studios; Franklin, TN
Amp Studios; Simi Valley, CA
And at Masterpeace Studio; Colorado Springs, CO
THANKS on the Music Video DVD:
Special Thanks: to the over 40 private sponsors that made this production possible. Thank you so much for your faith in me and for caring about his project and the message within it. A special thanks to Tim Collins, my friend, fellow musician, and dear brother in Christ. It’s so good to make music with you. Also, a special thanks to Richard and Peggy Hijjar for your heroic gift in the final minutes and for your many prayers for me and mine. To Spring Creek Detention Center, and the state of CO for your gracious support of this project and for letting us use your facility. To Pikes Perk and Russ Gordon Real Estate for letting us film at your locations. To Southern CO Youth for Christ Juvenile Justice Ministries for your tireless efforts bringing hope and healing to incarcerated youth through real relationships and the vast love of Jesus Christ. To all the Young people I have encountered over the years in detention and treatment facilities: for all the talks, the hugs, the tears, the songs, the questions, the answers, and the divine moments shared - THANK YOU. You have changed my life and given such clear purpose to the work of God in me and through me. You are precious and more valued than you could ever know. You are God’s and you are not alone. I love you. Finally, to God. Thank you for loving a lost little girl who was torn apart in adolescence, dropped out of school at 15, left home at 16, dealt drugs, used, participated in robberies and had a crisis pregnancy at 17. You alone were there when I was curled up in a ball at 18 too frozen to gather up my son and leave a man who beat me…too afraid to feel, too hurt to ask you all the “why’s I had burning in my heart, dying inside. You did what I couldn’t. You loved when I hated, hoped when I despaired and saved me when I had given up. For believing in me when I believed in nothing – thank you. For leading me faithfully every day since – thank you. For never forsaking me, and for proving yourself faithful over, and over, and over yet again – thank you. For entrusting this song, and all the others to me and for giving me this awesome opportunity to serve you and those so dear to your heart – thank you. I am yours.
Toy Soldier - The lyrics
Music by Stephanie Pauline
Words by Stephanie Pauline and Chris James
Verse 1
The toy soldier on my key chain reminds me I’m a warrior
There’s a creed I could say morning, noon, and night
And everywhere I go I must be aware of the danger
Always on guard, always ready for the fight
It may be true I’m more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ
But I don’t feel like a conqueror tonight
CHORUS
So can I rest on your shoulder
Will you carry me home
It feels so far away
Please don’t leave me here a lone
And tonight if it’s okay
There’s one thing I want to do
Can I put down my armor
And just be a daughter to you
Verse 2
I’ve braved mighty oceans and mountaintop adventures
I’ve stood on your word dauntless, proud, and free
But everything I prized now drops lifeless on this battle ground
With no sense of you, it all makes no sense to me
And with a flash a shell shocked reality comes blasting through
And I know that I’m nothing I’m nothing without you
Bridge
This warfare waged has wore me thin
there’s shrapnel underneath my skin
My sword is stained my hands are red
you know my thoughts before there’re said
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
