Jesusfreakhideout.com: Seth Davey, "39 Years and Counting

JFH Indie Review

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Seth Davey
39 Years and Counting - Single

Street Date: June 25, 2025
Style: Acoustic / Singer-Songwriter
Buy It: Bandcamp
Buy It: Amazon Music

Attalus has been dormant for quite some time now, but vocalist/pianist Seth Davey remains busy. Davey released an album in 2023 and 2024 and has now released four singles in 2025. Davey's approach to writing is more towards modern day hymns than the very familiar modern worship sound we all know too well. Seth likes to emphasize a more lyrical, earthy, and orchestral approach with his music. His newest track, "39 Years and Counting," the first single off his upcoming album Words in the Wounds, is a great example of this. The lyrics are raw and open and show the juxtaposition of our relationship with God.

Davey opens the track with, "I lift my voice and cry to You, Oh God, You've got my heart! The very same voice that I use to curse what You've made." Each line of both verses follows this format in showing the hypocrisy of which we're all guilty. It shows the person we want (or even pretend) to be, but also reveals the sinful human underneath it all. However, the most cutting part of the lyrics likely come at the end of the chorus. Here, Davey puts an exclamation on it by singing, "So why do I keep loving You like this after 39 years and counting?" It's an extremely convicting line.

While the words may cause a very difficult look in the mirror, the point of the song isn't to focus on the darkness and our failures. It's a lamentation of these things, a realization of the problem, and then the payoff comes in the final refrain of the song, "God, it is still confounding, that Your grace is still abounding. For 39 years and counting You've been by my side. So, till I take my last breath and run with laughter past death. May all of the days I have left be pleasing in Your sight!" We're all broken and sinful beings. This doesn't mean that we should make excuses or just decide to live in the sin. We recognize God's love for us and strive to worship and please Him. Seeing the way He loves us, despite how we've treated Him, should make us love Him even more.

While this review focused heavily on the lyrical content, that is not to discount the musical accompaniment. The piano, strings, and drums are perfect. I particularly love how Davey takes the music to the darkest place where the lyrics are the bleakest. However, the music crescendos and brightens at the end to also match the mood. It's reminiscent of some Beatles tunes that accomplish this same thing. "39 Years and Counting" is a well-written song from all aspects. I've enjoyed Seth Davey's solo material, but this song is a gut-punch in the best of ways. It's deeply personal, but also extremely relatable. I cannot recommend this song enough -- especially if you're a believer struggling with feelings of unworthiness.

- Review date: 8/1/25, written by Michael Weaver of Jesusfreakhideout.com

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JFH Staff's Second Opinion

The opening line of Seth Davey's latest single, "39 Years and Counting," declares, "I lift my voice and cry to You/"Oh God, You got my heart!" The listener is immediately primed for a worship song full of cliches. Then the next line hits, "The very same voice that I use to curse what You've made." After the energetic musical opening to this track, that kind of contrast isn't what you're expecting. The rest of the verse (and the second verse as well) continue the hard contrast between what we say and do out of habit and what is actually happening in our hearts. The chorus only continues the contrasts by noting how God isn't fooled by our hypocrisy and yet He keeps loving us. While Davey wrestles with this concept, the music bounces competently along with bright, vibrant aplomb. The piano, in particular, leads the way, giving its best moment on the bridge when the other instruments take a break. As the final note fades out, Seth Davey's "39 Years and Counting" feels like a classic CCM song. It walks the line between convicting and encouraging. It perhaps helps that Davey puts himself in the bullseye. Through his vulnerability, we can admit our own faults. It's a classic move that many a CCM artist has done before, but Seth Davey pulls it off well, making it a standout single for the year. - Review date: 7/29/25, written by John Underdown of Jesusfreakhideout.com