BEHIND THE SONG WITH KEVIN DAVIS #975 - "Legendary" by Skillet NRT's Kevin Davis talks with lead singer John Cooper about the band's newest song.

Posted: June 11, 2019 | By: KevinDavis_NRT

NRT Editorial RSS Feed





Over the years, it's been a treat for me to watch their meteoric ascent into one of rock's biggest bands in the world and the incredible success of their last four albums, Awake,



I've had the opportunity to speak with John Cooper about several songs from prior albums, including "



Please tell me the personal story behind the song.



The idea behind "Legendary" is that, in the end, you're probably not going to be legendary or remembered. In 200 years, I doubt many people will know who Skillet is. We all have a very short time on this planet.



The song's general message is to make your life count. That's what this song is talking about. For me, I want to get to the end of my life and know that I lived out my faith in a real way. Not just in words, but in deeds on a day-to-day basis.



You're going to have a lot of hard things in your life. Sometimes it will get you down, but you need to make your life count. You're only here for so long. So, every day, fight to be legendary. Every day is a spiritual battle.



When I was younger, I thought when I got older, things would get easier with spiritual battles and in my walk with the Lord. I'm a new creation. I'm born again and made new. It's true, but I'm still fighting those battles, dealing with anger issues, and not always walking in the Spirit. That fight will continue until I meet the Lord face to face. Until then, I want to make each day count: to be legendary.



Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?



Psalm 90:12 (NIV): "Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom."



John 16:33 (NIV): "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."



Micah 6:8 (NKJV): "He has shown you, Oh, man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you. But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?"



1 John 3:16 (NIV): "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."



James 4:14 (NKJV): "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."



Philippians 4:13 (NKJV): "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."



What is the takeaway message?



For me, this song is also about all the people who said that Skillet would never make it. They said we were too Christian. We were too pretty. We had too many girls in the band. Too many keyboards. Too musical. It's too this or too that. And 23 years and 10 albums later, we're very unlikely people to still be doing music. There's a line in the chorus that says, "Still the one who is standing now." And that's how I feel about Skillet. You all said it couldn't happen, and we're all still standing. That's what "Legendary" means.



I've gotten a little older, and I've accepted struggle as part of the journey. The lyrics are a call to make your life matter. You're realizing you have a chance for your life to count everyday. In a sense, we're all destined to be forgotten, so live the way you want and don't turn your back on who you are. I drew the sentiment from my own career. We've always put our heads down and pushed forward when confronted with adversity.



Lyrics:

Legendary, Oh, Legendary



Oh, my heart bleeds adrenaline

The fire I breathe is where I live

Say my name, incredible

Say my name, an animal

One life to live

I never give up

I never give in



Some people wanna turn and run

But the strong rise under the gun



Top, to the top

Ain't never gonna stop

To the top, to the top

Ain't never gonna stop



Never gonna keep me down

Never keep me

Still the one that's standing now

Never falling

Destiny is calling me

Go down in history

Every day I'll fight to be legendary

Oh, legendary



Fly high or will I fall

Legends made when faith is strong



Say my name, No time to plead

Say my name, I'm conquering

While I'm alive, I'll push through the pain

I'll run for the prize



Some people wanna turn and run

But the strong rise under the gun



Top, to the top

Ain't never gonna stop

To the top, to the top

Ain't never gonna stop



Never gonna keep me down

Never keep me

Still the one that's standing now

Never falling

Destiny is calling me

Go down in history

Every day I'll fight to be

Legendary



Oh, everyday I'll fight to be

Legendary, Oh, legendary



Wings are made to fly, made to fly

Fears are born to die, born to die

Pushing through the pain, through the pain

Pushing through, breaking through

Whatever it takes, what I gotta do

Giving my all, giving all that I've got

Never will stop 'til I get to the top



Top, to the top

Ain't never gonna stop

To the top, to the top

Ain't never gonna stop



Never gonna keep me down

Never keep me

Still the one that's standing now

Never falling

Destiny is calling me

Go down in history

Every day I'll fight to be legendary



Never gonna keep me down

Never keep me

Still the one that's standing now

Never falling

Destiny is calling me

Go down in history

Every day I'll fight to be

Oh, legendary



Closing Thoughts



As we live in these last days, it's very important to think about what you would be found doing if the Lord were to return today. Love is the answer. Not only should we love God because He first loved us, but we should also love others unconditionally because while we are still sinners. Christ died for us.



When I first heard "Legendary," I was immediately hooked by the message, connected to the themes found in Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, Oh, man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you; But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" That's how we can show the world what we are for instead of what we are against. Be followers of Jesus and make your life count.



Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires people to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to fully trust God more with our lives. God tells us in the bible that with faith, we can do anything in Christ.



I'm completely convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in "Legendary," which is filled with biblical truth. We can face our daily battles with more courage and strength. Because we know that, whatever the outcome, based on His promise in Romans 8:28 "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."



I've personally been convicted by the bible verse, "teach me to number my days" from Psalm 90:12. "Legendary" and Psalm 90 are great examples of how to express your faith and not lose heart. Pray for God's mercy.



We're all united in our struggles and spiritual warfare, and in our desire for truth and relationship. It is a prayer for God to teach us to realize that this life isn't forever. Help us to realize what we're living for.



What am I wasting my time on? What am I doing with my life? We also need to think about what we are doing for His Kingdom. That's our legacy, and the theme of this song. You can sincerely pray these words along with Skillet. His love is never-ending, and He is our refuge and our strength. If you are looking for a firm foundation in your life, make these lyrics your personal prayer: "Legends made when faith is strong." Amen to that. I've long been a "Panhead"--that's what the Skillet fan club members call themselves--going back to their self-titled grunge rock debut album and their electronic-tinged rock follow-ups, Hey You, I Love Your Soul and Invincible . These offerings hooked me with their catchy, personal and vertically-focused songs, including "More Faithful," "Rest," and "Best Kept Secret."Over the years, it's been a treat for me to watch their meteoric ascent into one of rock's biggest bands in the world and the incredible success of their last four albums, Comatose Rise , and Unleashed . Each album has reached another level of popularity.I've had the opportunity to speak with John Cooper about several songs from prior albums, including " Believe ," " Awake and Alive ," " One Day Too Late ," " Lucy ," " American Noise ," " Good to Be Alive ," " Stars ," " Lions ," and " The Resistance ." And, with each discussion, we've built on how John's biblical life verses, Romans 8:38-39, have shaped his songwriting. In anticipation of their new upcoming new album Victorious , their 10th studio album, Skillet released the energetic new single, "Legendary." I had the chance to speak with John Cooper about the song.The idea behind "Legendary" is that, in the end, you're probably not going to be legendary or remembered. In 200 years, I doubt many people will know who Skillet is. We all have a very short time on this planet.The song's general message is to make your life count. That's what this song is talking about. For me, I want to get to the end of my life and know that I lived out my faith in a real way. Not just in words, but in deeds on a day-to-day basis.You're going to have a lot of hard things in your life. Sometimes it will get you down, but you need to make your life count. You're only here for so long. So, every day, fight to be legendary. Every day is a spiritual battle.When I was younger, I thought when I got older, things would get easier with spiritual battles and in my walk with the Lord. I'm a new creation. I'm born again and made new. It's true, but I'm still fighting those battles, dealing with anger issues, and not always walking in the Spirit. That fight will continue until I meet the Lord face to face. Until then, I want to make each day count: to be legendary.: "Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.": "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.": "He has shown you, Oh, man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you. But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?": "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.": "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.": "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."For me, this song is also about all the people who said that Skillet would never make it. They said we were too Christian. We were too pretty. We had too many girls in the band. Too many keyboards. Too musical. It's too this or too that. And 23 years and 10 albums later, we're very unlikely people to still be doing music. There's a line in the chorus that says, "Still the one who is standing now." And that's how I feel about Skillet. You all said it couldn't happen, and we're all still standing. That's what "Legendary" means.I've gotten a little older, and I've accepted struggle as part of the journey. The lyrics are a call to make your life matter. You're realizing you have a chance for your life to count everyday. In a sense, we're all destined to be forgotten, so live the way you want and don't turn your back on who you are. I drew the sentiment from my own career. We've always put our heads down and pushed forward when confronted with adversity.Legendary, Oh, LegendaryOh, my heart bleeds adrenalineThe fire I breathe is where I liveSay my name, incredibleSay my name, an animalOne life to liveI never give upI never give inSome people wanna turn and runBut the strong rise under the gunTop, to the topAin't never gonna stopTo the top, to the topAin't never gonna stopNever gonna keep me downNever keep meStill the one that's standing nowNever fallingDestiny is calling meGo down in historyEvery day I'll fight to be legendaryOh, legendaryFly high or will I fallLegends made when faith is strongSay my name, No time to pleadSay my name, I'm conqueringWhile I'm alive, I'll push through the painI'll run for the prizeSome people wanna turn and runBut the strong rise under the gunTop, to the topAin't never gonna stopTo the top, to the topAin't never gonna stopNever gonna keep me downNever keep meStill the one that's standing nowNever fallingDestiny is calling meGo down in historyEvery day I'll fight to beLegendaryOh, everyday I'll fight to beLegendary, Oh, legendaryWings are made to fly, made to flyFears are born to die, born to diePushing through the pain, through the painPushing through, breaking throughWhatever it takes, what I gotta doGiving my all, giving all that I've gotNever will stop 'til I get to the topTop, to the topAin't never gonna stopTo the top, to the topAin't never gonna stopNever gonna keep me downNever keep meStill the one that's standing nowNever fallingDestiny is calling meGo down in historyEvery day I'll fight to be legendaryNever gonna keep me downNever keep meStill the one that's standing nowNever fallingDestiny is calling meGo down in historyEvery day I'll fight to beOh, legendaryAs we live in these last days, it's very important to think about what you would be found doing if the Lord were to return today. Love is the answer. Not only should we love God because He first loved us, but we should also love others unconditionally because while we are still sinners. Christ died for us.When I first heard "Legendary," I was immediately hooked by the message, connected to the themes found in Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, Oh, man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you; But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" That's how we can show the world what we are for instead of what we are against. Be followers of Jesus and make your life count.Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires people to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to fully trust God more with our lives. God tells us in the bible that with faith, we can do anything in Christ.I'm completely convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in "Legendary," which is filled with biblical truth. We can face our daily battles with more courage and strength. Because we know that, whatever the outcome, based on His promise in Romans 8:28 "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."I've personally been convicted by the bible verse, "teach me to number my days" from Psalm 90:12. "Legendary" and Psalm 90 are great examples of how to express your faith and not lose heart. Pray for God's mercy.We're all united in our struggles and spiritual warfare, and in our desire for truth and relationship. It is a prayer for God to teach us to realize that this life isn't forever. Help us to realize what we're living for.What am I wasting my time on? What am I doing with my life? We also need to think about what we are doing for His Kingdom. That's our legacy, and the theme of this song. You can sincerely pray these words along with Skillet. His love is never-ending, and He is our refuge and our strength. If you are looking for a firm foundation in your life, make these lyrics your personal prayer: "Legends made when faith is strong." Amen to that. NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, an avid music collector and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.