Shallow

Shallow – By Lady Gaga

Main Point: You were made to move past the shallow life and realize you were created for something greater.

About the Artist – Lady Gaga

Manhattan native Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known professionally as Lady Gaga, started her music journey as a four year old.  Her mother made her take piano lessons, which led her to creative arts camp, open mic nights, and eventually high school musical theater.  As a twenty year old, Gaga was recommended to a music producer who helped her develop songs and put her on the path to stardom.  Her name “Gaga” is taken from the 1984 song “Radio Gaga” by the legendary band Queen.  As of February 2018, Gaga has sold 11.46 million albums in the United States alone, in addition to 56.2 million digital song sales and 2.6 billionon-demand song streams.  Her top selling songs include Poker Face and Just Dance, which have both been sold over 7 million times each.  Her music is incredibly popular with youth and adults alike, and she has become perhaps one of most recognizable artists in the world.

Song Lyrics:  Shallow

Tell me somethin’ girl

Are you happy in this modern world?

Or do you need more

Is there somethin’ else you’re searchin’ for?

[Refrain: Bradley Cooper]

I’m fallin’

In all the good times

I find myself longing for change

And in the bad times I fear myself

[Verse 2: Lady Gaga]

Tell me something boy

Aren’t you tired tryin’ to fill that void?

Or do you need more

Ain’t it hard keepin’ it so hardcore?

[Refrain: Lady Gaga]

I’m falling

In all the good times

I find myself longing for change

And in the bad times I fear myself

[Chorus: Lady Gaga]

I’m off the deep end

Watch as I dive in

I’ll never meet the ground

Crash through the surface

Where they can’t hurt us

We’re far from the shallow now

[Post-Chorus: Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper]

In the sha-ha-sha-ha-ha-low

In the sha-sha-la-la-low

In the sha-ha-sha-ha-ha-low

We’re far from the shallow now

[Bridge: Lady Gaga]

Ooooo aahaaa ooou (s)

Ooo ouo oooo haaaa (s)

[Chorus: Lady Gaga]

I’m off the deep end

Watch as I dive in

I’ll never meet the ground

Crash through the surface

Where they can’t hurt us

We’re far from the shallow now

[Post-Chorus: Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper]

In the sha-ha-sha-ha-low

In the sha-sha-la-la-low

In the sha-ha-sha-ha-ha-low

We’re far from the shallow now

Introducing the Song – You Say This:  Shallow is a duet between Lady Gaga and famed actor Bradley Cooper and is prominently featured in the 2018 remake of A Star is Born.  The song is featured in a pivotal scene when Cooper’s character debuts the song he wrote with Gaga’s character, then invites her to garner the courage to come onstage and sing, which propels her to become an overnight sensation.  Writing about the song Shallow, Rolling Stone says, The key moment, of course, is Gaga’s 17-second run at the song’s bridge… musicians crouch into their starting blocks at 2:25, and two seconds later, she fires the starter’s pistol, teasing what’s to come with a breathy gasp; her voice then opens, and opens more, until she’s seemingly threatening to swallow the entire stage whole.  The powerful vocals make this song stand out, which explains why the video has over 70 million views on YouTube.

The Music Video:  The music video can be viewed for free at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_efYhYU2A

Hand out Lyrics and Play Song. 

Transition Statement – You Say This:  This song paints the picture that there is more in this world than what they are currently experiencing.  The lyrics say “we’re far from the shallow now” meaning there is a place to go that the change they are longing for is possible.  Do you ever wonder if there is more to life than what you are experiencing? Let’s take some time and talk about what it means to move past the shallow life and fully embrace the life God created you to live.

Divide into Small Groups:  Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format – a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. ASK A FEW: The song asks the girl if she’s happy in this modern world, or if there’s something else she’s looking for.  Have you ever asked that question?  Tell us about it.
2. ASK A FEW:What do you think the song means when it says “in the bad times I fear myself?”
3. ASK A FEW: What do you think you were created for?  Why do you think that way?
4. ASK A FEW: What are some ways we try to fill the void the song talks about?
5. AROUND THE CIRCLE: What are some ways you’ve settled for living the “shallow life?”
6. ASK A FEW: If you could do anything with your life for God, and resources were not an issue, what would you do?

Read the following passage:

John 17:3

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

7. ASK A FEW:Let’s read John 17 together.  What is Jesus doing in this chapter?
8. ASK A FEW:This chapter contains Jesus’ longest recorded prayer.  Are there other parts of this prayer of Jesus that you recognize or that stand out to you in any other way?
9. ASK A FEW: Looking at verse three, how does Jesus define eternal life?
10. ASK A FEW:What does it mean to know God?  How is it possible to know someone who is so much greater than we are, and also someone we cannot see?
11. ASK A FEW:If knowing God means we live forever, how should that impact the way you live your life right now?
12. ASK A FEW:Why do you think it’s easier to embrace shallow things instead of pursuing God with your life?
13. AROUND THE CIRCLE:What do you think God is saying to you in response to the things we’ve talked about here?

Wrap Up – You say this:  During this time we looked at the song “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and actor Bradley Cooper.  We talked about moving past the shallow life and embracing a life of something greater.  We looked at ways we settle for the shallow life, and considered that God created us for something greater.  How incredible is it that the same God who spoke everything into existence is the one who is inviting you and I to embrace an abundant life that goes on forever?

(Pause and give them a quiet moment to reflect on this.)

You were created to know God. He has a greater vision for you than anything you could ever imagine. Ephesians 3:20 says, God is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.”  If this is true, and it is – then nothing can be greater than taking time to know this amazing God and putting our best efforts in living our life as He leads us. A few minutes ago, we asked what God is saying to you in response to these things. Take a moment and reflect your heart to God in those things He is saying.

(Pause and give them a moment to pray silently.)

You were made to move past the shallow life and realize you were created for something greater.  That greater thing is knowing God.  Knowing God is everything, which is why Jesus prayed that we would do just that.  Let’s be people who pour our lives out in chasing the best life, the one God created us for – and that life is all about knowing God now and forever. 

CLOSE IN PRAYER