While speaking to a class on worship at Wheaton College (IL) last December, one student presented this song. The student, Rebekah Mangels, writes about the song below:
“Vizija Fest” (literally translated, “Vision Fest”) is an annual Macedonian Christian music festival that has been going on since 2012. If you’re unfamiliar with Macedonia (which is now North Macedonia), it is a small country in Eastern Europe just north of Greece. It is also where I grew up, so I remember hearing the songs from Vizija Fest as they were released on CD each year. The festival typically takes place with a live audience, and I had a chance to participate in this festival twice in high school. The concept of a Macedonian Christian music festival is a novel one. The country of Macedonia is traditionally Orthodox. When asked about your religion, the traditional cultural answer is to say, “I’m a Christian,” but many of the same people do not share a personal relationship with Christ. The culture typically entails attending church once or twice a year: On Christmas and Easter. The country is culturally Christian, but faith sadly does not characterize the hearts of most Macedonian people. In 2012, a number of evangelical Christians joined a board centered around the unprecedented vision of organizing a Christian music festival in Macedonia where new artists could have a platform for sharing their faith. The festival has taken place annually, with the exception of 2019, and this year it premiered virtually. Today I will be talking about a song premiered in this year’s Vizija Fest, “Разбуди ме,” or “Wake Me Up.” The lyrics and music were written by a friend, Dina Jashari, who is a Christian singer-songwriter living in Macedonia. It was premiered by Angela Vujevska, taking part in the festival for a third year in a row this time.
The lyrics of the song talk about depression, fatigue, and a spiritual sleep that I believe describes the spiritual state of Macedonia right now. However, it operates from a first-person female perspective: One person struggling with her thought life who asks God to wake her up. She describes accurately how God’s word is alive and powerful, which is a very Biblical idea that can be found in Hebrews 4:12, which says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” We can also see the idea of God’s omniscience reflected in the lyrics of the pre-chorus, which say:
You know who I am even before I think
You know the words that I will say
Don’t leave me to live
In the places that You haven’t imagined
Likewise, in Matthew 10:29-31, Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” Scripture again repeats this message in Psalm 139, “Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all…For You formed my inward parts; You wove me together in my mother’s womb.”
This intimate knowledge that God has of us is something I really appreciated about the song. I love how the lyrics reflect that God knew us before we can know Him, before we can even think. As we have discussed in class, we would have no knowledge of God without Him revealing Himself. I believe the song expresses a true desire to know God more, and even ponders the concept that, if we don’t fully have the desire to know God, we should ask Him and He will give us that desire. The song has spoken to me deeply over the last few days as I have reflected on it, as someone who struggles with her thought life and depression. It encourages me that God doesn’t always promise immediate relief, but He does promise to share knowledge of Himself with us, as well as the endurance to make it through the trials that come.
Lyrics (Macedonian) and English translation below:
Разбуди Ме – Дина Јашари, Ангела Вујеска
Стих 1
Сонувам, се борам
Со мислите од кои страдам
Станувам без волја
Со себе си се судирам
Во болка сум и барам
Причини да не сум сама
Но Твојот глас
Знае да утешува
Пред рефрен
Ме знаеш кое сум и пред да помислам
Ги знаеш зборовите што ќе ги изиустам
Не ме оставај да живеам
На местата кај што немаш замислан
Рефрен
Разбуди го копнежот во мене
Да Те запознавам
Го живеам тоа што го знам
Не ми е доста
Х 2
Разбуди ме, разбуди ме, да Те запознавам
Разбуди ме, разбуди ме
Стих 2
Твојот Збор е жив
Твојот Збор е моќен
Многу повеќе од тоа што
Можам да го замислам
Правиш да се трудам
Да сум подобра и будна
Кога уморот е тука
Ми помагаш да издржам
Мост
На сигурни извори
На сигурни извори
Се потпирам
Х 3
На Тебе се потпирам
Wake Me Up – Dina Jashari, Angela Vujevska
Verse 1
I’m dreaming, I’m fighting
With the thoughts I’m suffering from
I get up without a will
I am fighting with myself
I’m in pain and I’m searching
For reasons to not be alone
But Your voice
Comforts me well
Pre-Chorus
You know who I am even before I think
You know the words that I will say
Don’t leave me to live
In the places that You haven’t imagined
Chorus
Wake up the desire in me
To know you (lit. to get to know You)
I live out what I know
It’s not enough for me
X 2
Wake me up, wake me up, so that I can know You
Wake me up, wake me up
Verse 2
Your Word is alive
Your Word is powerful
Much more than
I can imagine
You make it so that I can try
So that I am better and awake
When the fatigue is here
You help me to endure
Bridge
To the sure streams [of life]
To the sure streams [of life]
I turn (lit. I lean on)
X 3
I lean on You
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enjoy our song ideas and reading our blog? Consider becoming a Patreon subscriber for free and discounted songs, more ideas and resources, and other perks!