You know that feeling when a song just hits different? Not just because it’s catchy, but because it feels like it’s vibrating on a completely different frequency than everything else on the radio. For a lot of people in the mid-70s, that song was "The Easter Song" by 2nd Chapter of Acts. It’s weird to think about now, but back then, the idea of "Contemporary Christian Music" (CCM) was barely a thing. It was just a bunch of hippies who loved Jesus and happened to have guitars.
But then came the Ward siblings. Annie Herring, Nelly Greisen, and Matthew Ward didn't sound like a church choir. They sounded like a force of nature. When people talk about a 2nd Chapter of Acts Easter song, they aren't just talking about a holiday track you pull out once a year for brunch. They’re talking about a piece of music history that basically defined the "Jesus Music" movement.
Why "The Easter Song" Isn't Your Average Hymn
Most Easter songs are slow. They’re somber. They build up to a "Hallelujah" that feels like it’s been through a long, exhausting week. This song? It starts with a 12-string guitar riff that sounds like sunshine breaking through a window. It’s fast. It’s urgent. It’s joyful in a way that feels almost aggressive.
Annie Herring wrote it. She didn't sit down to write a "hit." Honestly, if you look at the history of the band, they weren't really trying to be stars. They were orphans who started singing together in their living room after their parents passed away. That grief, and the subsequent healing they found in their faith, is baked into every note they ever recorded. You can't fake that kind of authenticity, and you definitely can't manufacture those harmonies.
The vocal arrangements are insane. Seriously. If you’ve ever tried to sing along, you know. They don’t just do standard three-part harmony. They weave in and out of each other, overlapping lines until it sounds like there are twenty people in the room instead of three. It’s a wall of sound that somehow remains incredibly intimate.
The 1974 Breakthrough
The song first appeared on their debut album, With Footnotes, in 1974. At the time, the music industry didn't know what to do with them. Were they folk? Were they pop? Were they rock? They were just 2nd Chapter of Acts.
📖 Related: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
What’s wild is that the song almost didn't become the massive anthem it is today. It was Keith Green—a legend in his own right and a close friend of the band—who later covered it and helped cement its status as a permanent fixture in the American worship canon. But the original version? That’s where the magic is. It has this raw, unpolished energy that most modern recordings lack. It feels alive.
The Technical Brilliance of the Ward Siblings
Let’s talk about the voices. Matthew Ward was just a teenager when they started, but his range was—and still is—ridiculous. He could hit these soaring high notes that felt effortless. Then you had Nelly, who provided the solid middle ground, and Annie, whose songwriting and distinct, slightly vibrato-heavy lead vocals tied everything together.
They didn't use auto-tune. They didn't have fancy digital workstations. They just had microphones and their own biology.
One of the most interesting things about the 2nd Chapter of Acts Easter song is the tempo. It clocks in at a brisk pace, which was unusual for "religious" music at the time. It reflected the energy of the Jesus People Movement—a time when young people were ditching the stuffy traditions of their parents' churches but keeping the core message. They wanted music that sounded like the stuff they heard on secular radio, but with lyrics that actually meant something to them.
Impact on the Jesus Music Movement
You can't overstate how much this group influenced the artists who came after them. From Amy Grant to Michael W. Smith, everyone in the CCM world owes a debt to the Wards. They proved that you could be uncompromisingly spiritual and musically sophisticated at the same time.
👉 See also: Who was the voice of Yoda? The real story behind the Jedi Master
- They weren't "performers" in the traditional sense.
- Their stage presence was often described as humble, almost shy.
- The focus was always on the lyrics, never the lights or the costumes.
A lot of fans remember seeing them in small coffeehouses or high school gyms long before they were playing theaters. There was a sense of community around their music. When you listened to "The Easter Song," you weren't just a consumer; you were part of the story.
The Legacy of a 12-String Guitar
If you listen closely to the opening of the track, that 12-string guitar is doing a lot of heavy lifting. It creates this shimmering, ethereal texture that sets the stage for the vocals. It’s a very "70s" sound, but strangely, it hasn't aged as poorly as a lot of other music from that era. There’s a timelessness to it.
Maybe that’s because the song isn't trying to be trendy. It’s just telling a story. "Hear the bells ringing, they're singing that we can be born again." It’s simple. It’s direct. It doesn't hide behind metaphors or complex theological jargon. It’s just pure, unadulterated hope.
Why People Still Listen 50 Years Later
We live in a world that is pretty cynical. Music is often manufactured by committees and tested by algorithms to ensure maximum "likability." The 2nd Chapter of Acts Easter song is the opposite of that. It’s a snapshot of a moment in time when three siblings took their pain, their joy, and their talent and turned it into something that still resonates five decades later.
It’s also worth noting that the band didn't stay together forever. They called it quits in 1988. They felt like they had said what they needed to say. There was no messy breakup, no "behind the music" scandal. They just moved on to the next chapter of their lives. That integrity adds another layer of respect to their discography. When you hear them sing about transformation and new beginnings, you know they actually believe it.
✨ Don't miss: Not the Nine O'Clock News: Why the Satirical Giant Still Matters
Finding the Song Today
If you’re looking to dive into their catalog, don't just stop at the Easter track. Check out the How the West Was Won live album or The Roar of Love, which is a concept album based on C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. You’ll see the same level of vocal complexity and emotional depth across all their work.
But "The Easter Song" remains the gateway. It’s the one everyone knows, the one that gets played in churches every spring, and the one that perfectly captures the essence of 2nd Chapter of Acts.
Honestly, even if you aren't particularly religious, it’s hard not to appreciate the sheer musicality of it. The way the voices lock together is a masterclass in vocal arrangement. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the simplest ideas—three voices and a guitar—are the ones that stick around the longest.
Moving Forward With This Classic
If you want to truly appreciate the impact of this song, do these three things this week:
- Listen to the original 1974 version with a good pair of headphones. Pay attention to how the harmonies move from left to right in the stereo field. It's much more complex than it sounds on a first listen.
- Compare it to the Keith Green version. Notice how he brings a different, more piano-driven energy to it. It’s a great example of how a good song can be interpreted in different ways while keeping its soul intact.
- Look up a live performance on YouTube. Watching the Wards sing together is a completely different experience than just hearing the recording. You can see the connection between them, and it makes the music feel that much more authentic.
There’s no need to overcomplicate it. Just sit back and let the music do what it was designed to do: bring a little bit of light into the room.