Watch the Lamb (1986)

Joel Caballero
Apr 23
2 min read

Updated: May 2

Watch the Lamb is the debut studio album by Christian singer - songwriter Ray Boltz. It was independently released in February 1986 on Heartland Records. The album was produced by Steve Millikan. It was recorded in Alexandria, Indiana and mixed at Bill Gaither's studio. These simple songs were the foundation for a future that would include selling millions of records and producer Millikan would produce and co-write subsequent albums with Boltz throughout the 1990s.

The title song "Watch the Lamb" is the album's centerpiece, telling the story of the crucifixion from the perspective of Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus' cross and has been used to tell the story of the crucifixion in services around the world. The song, according to the liner notes, "was inspired by a dramatic presentation written and performed by Norm Arrington." A conceptual music video for "Watch the Lamb" was made for the release of Boltz's VHS video collection to accompany the 1996 release No Greater Sacrifice.

The lead single and opening track "What Was I Supposed to Be?" is pro-life song. The song is written from the perspective of an unborn child who was never born, questioning what their life and potential purpose in the world might have been. "What Was I Supposed to Be?" became a cornerstone of Boltz's early ministry and is often used in religious and pro-life contexts. While "Watch the Lamb" is his most famous work from that era, "What Was I Supposed To Be?" established Boltz's reputation for writing "story-songs" that tackled heavy emotional and social themes.

Watch the Lamb charted on the Billboard Top Christian Albums and peaked at number 19 in May 1987 after a full year of its release. It had a slow start but the album did set the stage for future albums to come. It was originally issued on LP and cassette tape when it was first released. Then it was reissued on CD by Diadem Music Group in 1988 with subsequent reissues through Word Distribution. Watch the Lamb is not available on digital platforms, but is sold at Boltz's website at www.rayboltz.com. A YouTube link to listen to the album is posted below this article.

Track listing

All songs written by Ray Boltz, except where noted.

1. What Was I Supposed To Be? -4:14

2. Touching Him -5:17

3. It's Not Enough -3:08

4. Watch the Lamb -7:22

5. I've Come to Serve (Ray Boltz, Steve Millikan) -3:51

6. Six A.M. Blues -3:50

7. Break the Yoke -3:48

8 Behold -7:30

Radio singles

1986 "What Was I Supposed to Be?" -#11 Christian CHR