A central message in the song is the advice, "God only helps those who learn to help themselves".
The song describes the grandfather as "something like a teacher" who taught him about love and life.
Tedder wrote the track to honor his grandfather's influence as a guide and an "incredible human being" during his childhood. Preacher - OneRepublic
The lyrics reflect on the lessons Tedder learned from his grandfather:
"Preacher" is the 11th track on OneRepublic's 2013 studio album, . It is a deeply personal song written by lead singer Ryan Tedder as a tribute to his late grandfather, who was a preacher. Origin & Songwriting A central message in the song is the
Ryan Tedder, Brent Kutzle, and Steve Wilmot.
Danielle Edinburgh Wilson, Jermon Wilson, Margaret-Anne Davis, and Toni Skidmore. OneRepublic - Preacher: In Studio The lyrics reflect on the lessons Tedder learned
The lyrics note that while his grandfather was "a million miles from a million dollars," his spiritual and personal "wealth" was infinite. Technical Credits