Commentary on Wayne Watson's "We Belong to Him"
by Matt Campbell
January 31, 2026
What is this?
This is a commentary on the American evangelical Christian pop song "We Belong to Him" by Wayne Watson, from his 1988 album The Fine Line. This song is an anthem in the "inspirational" subgenre.
Full disclosure: I'm not a Christian, not anymore. I grew up immersed in evangelical Christianity, but walked away from the faith in the early 2010s. Still, this song had enough staying power in the contemporary Christian genre that I heard it on my local Christian music station as a teenager around 1995. And it has stayed with me well enough that I've thought more than once about doing this commentary. I do give my perspective on the lyrics as a non-believer, but ultimately, this commentary is about why I still appreciate a well-executed musical formula even though I now reject the message.
With that out of the way, here's a transcript of the commentary audio above, interspersed with the song lyrics.
Intro
[Starting with soft strings fading in. There’s our 80s synth electric piano; this is in the key of F. Interesting chord progressions for an intro. Wait, that sounds like…]
Verse 1
How can we live in sin
[Yes, the verse is now in a different key than the
intro.]
Knowing he died to free us
From the chains within our soul
Let us give the Lord control
[I thought it said he died to free us.]
Of all the things that quickly bind us
[Yes, yes, I know the spin. He died to free us from
sin.]
And walk no longer in darkness
Chorus
We belong to Him
[So this is supposed to feel good, like we’re special because we
belong to God.]
We belong to Him
[But if you think about it, if we belong to him, then
we’re not free.]
Crucified
[Supposedly meaning our sin nature has been put to
death.]
Right by His side
Bought with a price through one sacrifice
[Pretty common Christian phrases there.]
We belong to Him
Interlude
[And now we have our intro motif again, now in the key of G.]
Verse 2
Now is the time to understand
[Slow build-up now with gentle electric guitar in the second
verse.]
That sin has no reign on us
[It sure felt like it still did when I was a
believer.]
The power of life in Jesus Christ
[Gotta work in the full name at least once.]
Has made us free from the ways of death
[Pretty sure that’s fancy Christianese for “set us free from
sin”.]
Extended chorus
We belong to Him
[Continuing the slow build, now with sustained
hi-hat.]
We belong to Him
Crucified
[If you think about it, it’s strange to find a reference to a
brutal form of execution in what is essentially a feel-good
song.]
Right by His side
Bought with a price through one sacrifice
We belong to Him
[Continuing the build-up, now with backing singers and slow
snare drum.]
We belong to Him
[Oh, he went up on that line.]
Flesh of His flesh–Bone of His bone
[Whatever that means. Isn’t God spirit?
Supposedly?]
Born of His blood–His very own
[But it does sound good.]
We belong to Him
Bridge
[Now, here’s where the music really cooks!]
At Calvary
[Translation: the cross]
God’s Son was made an offering
The price required–It was paid in full
[Listen to this build up, with the synth bass, the faster snare
drum, and the backing vocals!]
The Word of God was spoken
The power of sin was broken
[Here comes the key change!]
God’s chosen seed has been redeemed
Final chorus and fade-out
[That synth bass slide gives the key change a little more
oomph.]
We belong to Him
We belong to Him
Crucified right by His side
[Pretty sure that’s Wayne singing both of those
parts.]
Bought with a price through one sacrifice
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
[Ohhh! That soaring overdub entrance is
perfect!]
We belong to Him
We belong to Him
[Listen to him soar over those other two
parts!]
Flesh of His flesh–Bone of His bone
Born of His blood–His very own
[This whole chorus section after the key change can still give
me goosebumps.]
We belong to Him
Oh, we belong, we belong to Him
[And he continues to embellish the chorus as we fade
out.]
Crucified right by His side
Bought with a price through one sacrifice
Afterward (short pause)
[I do think that fade-out was abrupt. They should have stretched it out longer, with that other version of the chorus again, maybe have him hit one more high note just barely audible as it’s fading out… Otherwise though, well executed.]