[Intro] [Instrumental, ugly pipe organ drone, slow building guitar feedback, distant tom pulse] [Verse 1] [Spoken word, rough gritty male baritone, restrained triumph over organ swell] Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. [Instrumental Build] [Organ roars, guitars crash in, drums slam] [Verse 2] [Post-hardcore high male, urgent rising intensity over jagged riffs] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [Bridge] [Female strong singer enters, half-sung building tension, organ dominant] Death where is thy sting? Grave where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [Chorus] [All three singers + gang vocals, massive layered explosion, organ/guitar wall] This is not in vain! This ache, this wait, this cost The risen Christ has sworn No love is ever lost! Not in vain! (rough male) Not in vain! (high male) NOT IN VAIN! (female belt + gang) [Verse 3] [All three overlapping, chaotic scripture delivery over breakdown] (Rough male) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory (High male) through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Female) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, (All) unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, (Rough) forasmuch as ye know (High) that your labour (Female) is not in vain (All) in the Lord! [Breakdown] [Heavy drop D chugs, organ stabs, all vocals growl/shout scripture fragments] O DEATH WHERE IS THY STING? O GRAVE WHERE IS THY VICTORY? NOT IN VAIN! NOT IN VAIN! [Bridge Variation] [Female lead, soaring over organ/guitar swell] Thanks be to God! Which giveth us the victory! Through our Lord Jesus Christ! [Final Chorus] [All singers, extended massive lift, layered harmonies + gang vocals] This is not in vain! This ache, this wait, this cost The risen Christ has sworn No love is ever lost! This is not in vain! (rough layered) This ache, this wait! (high soaring) The risen Christ! (female belt) NO LOVE IS EVER LOST! (full choir) [End] [Organ sustains, final "Not in vain..." whisper from rough male, cymbal crash fade]
