4Him disbanded in 2006 to pursue individual careers of ministry and music. They have released 11 studio albums which have produced 24 number one singles.
Since 2006 Andy Chrisman, Mark Harris, Marty Magehee and Kirk Sullivan have all released a solo album.
Stay Forever
4HIM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's water thru our hands
Minutes turn the hands of time
They're waves upon the sand
I can't hold on living without you
When all hope is gone
Only you remain the same
Roses always fade
The sweetest summers pass away
This thing I know
God's love will stay forever
All things have to end
But with the spring life starts again
This thing I know
God's love will stay forever
Thinking back on years gone by
You held me by my hand
The wonder in a child's eyes
helps me understand
That life will go on with each new beginning
As it passes on
Only Your love stays the same
(chorus)
Never ending love
Never changing
Only Your love stays the same
The song "Stay Forever" by 4HIM talks about the passing of time and the certainty of change, but also the assurance of God's love staying forever. The lyrics begin with the notion that time doesn't wait for anyone, and it slips away just like water through our hands. The minutes change the hands of the clock, and this passing of time is compared to waves upon the sand. After this intro, the singer acknowledges that he cannot imagine living without God, especially when all hope is gone, and that faith in God is what remains constant through all the ups and downs of life.
The chorus of the song magnifies the fragility of human life, roses and summers are ephemeral, and everything has an end, but God's love is unchanging and eternal. The songwriters try to convey that even though our life is like a reed in the wind, and everything we are experiencing now will pass with time, we will be lucky enough to experience new beginnings again, just like the spring that comes after winter. In this way, our lives are a cycle of beginnings, endings, and rebirth, but through it all, the Lord's love remains the same and is ever-present.
In the final verse, the singer reflects on his memories of past experiences and how they have helped him understand how life goes on with new beginnings. The innocence of the child's perspective and wonder renewed give art to a feeling of hope, and then the singer underlines again how only God's love is unchanging and everlasting.
Line by Line Meaning
Time waits for no one
Time never stops or takes a break for anyone
It's water thru our hands
Time flows through our lives like water and we can't hold onto it forever
Minutes turn the hands of time
Time is measured in minutes and it continues to move forward
They're waves upon the sand
The movement of time is endless and similar to the waves on the sand
I can't hold on living without you
Living without someone you love is hard to endure alone
When all hope is gone
When there's no chance left for success or happiness
Only you remain the same
The only constant and unchanging presence is the one you love
(chorus)
The following lines repeat the idea that God's love lasts forever compared to the temporary nature of life
Roses always fade
Flowers that represent love and beauty are also tied to the temporary nature of life
The sweetest summers pass away
The happiest times in life are fleeting and don't last forever
This thing I know
Through all the changes and challenges of life, there is one thing I am certain of
God's love will stay forever
God's love is eternal and unchanging, a source of comfort and consistency
All things have to end
Everything in life has a limited time span
But with the spring life starts again
Just as the seasons change in cycles, new beginnings and opportunities arise
This thing I know
Repeating the certainty and security of God's love in the midst of life's ups and downs
God's love will stay forever
Ending with a strong assertion of the eternal nature of God's love
Thinking back on years gone by
Reflecting on past memories and experiences
You held me by my hand
The comforting and supportive presence of a loved one
The wonder in a child's eyes
The perspective of seeing the world through a child's eyes can bring joy and renewed hope
Helps me understand
Gaining insight and clarity through the experiences of the past
That life will go on with each new beginning
Life is a process of continuous change and new opportunities for growth and renewal
As it passes on
Time inevitably moves forward and cannot be stopped
Only Your love stays the same
Final affirmation of the unchanging and sustaining nature of God's love
(chorus)
Repeating the chorus to emphasize the central message of the song
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: B. SMILEY, D. MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind