A Soundtrack for Leading a Quiet Life

Last updated on: September 16, 2025 at 1:00 pm by Jeff McLain

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A Soundtrack for Leading a Quiet Life 2025-09-16T13:00:14-04:00 Jeff McLain

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A Soundtrack for Leading a Quiet Life. Photo by Namroud Gorguis on Unsplash.

Recently, this soundtrack has encouraged me to lead a quiet life.

Music has consistently held a significant role throughout my life. I curate soundtracks and playlists tailored for road trips, vacations, and each distinct season of the calendar. Certain songs become fixtures in my life, echoing the sentiments of a particular moment in time, causing them to be played on repeat. Music, for me, at times transcends the ordinary and carries with it a divine connection to God, an instrument of worship, but also a tool that I believe God has used to encourage and call out to me.

Among the tracks that have become a mainstay in my playlist as of late is, “It’s Okay to Live a Quiet Life” by Denison Witmer, a song re-released in 2023 on Asthmatic Kitty Records. Though I should probably share that he first recorded this song in 2020; but somehow this song stayed off my radar back then. Lately, there has been so much encouragement in this song for me. It is a song that encourages me to live a quiet life, but it also reminds me to give permission myself to focus on what truly matters and not the pressures that we may feel put on us by others or our cultural contexts. Dension weaves a deeply-felt encouragement for me in his James Taylor-vibes.

Honestly, listening to this song as brought about a sense of contentment and gratitude.

When we give ourselves permission to accept life as it is, we become much more thankful.

According to the Bandcamp notes from Denison Witmer on this re-released single and EP, this song came about when Denison Witmer was on a road trip with a friend. On that trip, lost in the throes of conversation, his friend asked, “When is it ok to just be? Can’t I just live a quiet life?” It is stated that Denison Witmer wrote this song as a response to that question. However, I find that this song is not only an encouragement to his friend, but to his family and all of us, as it invites us to pause and work about no one else’s expectations. There is an otherworldly encouragement in this song for me.

The lyrics to “It’s Okay to Live a Quiet Life” by Denison Witmer are as simple as the song itself;

“It’s okay to live your life as quietly as you want. It’s okay to disappear for awhile if you need. You don’t have to prove a thing to yourself or anyone. You don’t have to prove a thing. It’s okay, live your life as quietly as you want. It’s okay, live your life as quietly as you need. You don’t have to prove a thing to yourself or anyone. You don’t have to prove a thing. Maybe you should let go. Fall free” (It’s Okay to Live a Quiet Life by Denison Witmer).

Friends, you don’t have to prove a thing. Embrace what it means to lead a quiet life. Allow yourself to embrace life as it is now and to even be grateful for what good is already in your life.

I have not found many songs that embrace well the intent and journey of this Lead A Quiet Life blog on Patheos. However, this song feels like the perfect soundtrack to this blog, capturing the intent of this journey so well. I hope it encourages you in the way it has encouraged me. Perhaps it will give you some needed permission to embrace stillness.

This blog reflects on what it means to live life at a slower pace, to discover a simple life and faith that embraces downward mobility in a chaotic world and church obsessed with excess. That reflection for this blog is anchored in what means to lead a quiet life according to Paul’s encouragement in 1 Thessalonians 4:11. In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, the verse encourages believers to aspire to live a quiet life, to mind their own affairs, and to work with their hands. To me, this verse resonates deeply with the sentiment conveyed in Denison Witmer’s song. The song echoes the idea that there is beauty and value in simplicity, in finding contentment in the present moment rather than constantly seeking after the noise and distractions of the world. Just as the verse from Thessalonians encourages believers to focus on their own responsibilities and to live peacefully, the song almost otherworldly gives permission to it’s listeners to embrace the quiet, find solace in simplicity, and appreciate the beauty of a life lived with purpose and intention.

What songs would you add to a soundtrack about leading a quiet life? Comment below.

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About Jeff McLain

Through Lead a Quiet Life, Jeff McLain explores his pursuit of simplicity in a tumultuous world as he serves as the Director of Pastoral Ministries at Water Street Mission and as pastor at River Corner Church. Jeff's commitment to Jesus has been shaped by an unconventional journey from activism to hitchhiking, which is reflected in his academic pursuits and throughout his involvement with various initiatives. Residing in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Jeff, along with his wife and three daughters, embraces family moments outdoors, while his love for baseball, boardwalks, beaches, and books adds depth to his vibrant life. You can read more about the author here.

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