Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian vocal group that was founde… Read Full Bio ↴Acappella is an all-male Contemporary Christian vocal group that was founded in 1982 by Keith Lancaster, who has variously played the role of singer, songwriter, and producer throughout the group's history. Acappella is by far the most popular musical group to have come out of the Churches of Christ in the U.S. They are in large part responsible for inspiring an entire culture of a cappella musical performance in the Church of Christ. Churches of Christ members strive to worship as first century Christians worshiped, and believe one should sing 'making melody in your heart' (Eph. 5:19), instead of using musical instruments in worship. The song "Acappella" from 1986's Conquerors was the first to achieve widespread popularity within the church of Christ (it could almost be called a 'hit') and the 1988 album Sweet Fellowship has become their all-time best seller. AVB's breakout Song in My Soul was released almost concurrently, and the number of like-minded a cappella vocal groups within the church of Christ grew almost exponentially after these two albums. Acappella experienced their first mainstream success outside the church of Christ with 1993's Set Me Free. This album also had a song licensed for use in a Sony Camcorder Super Bowl commercial (with the refrain "They are more precious than gold").

Gone Away
Acappella Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

On my way, on my way,
On my way home, on my way
On my way (repeat)

Heaven's where we want to go (You better get ready)
But for now ('Cause you know not when the Lord will come)
We will wait here on the earth (Just keep your faith steady)
For that sound (The cross bears all, the battle has been won)

The dead in Christ will rise
Every knee will bow
The King will take His bride
When the trumpet sounds

Chorus:
Our Savior (Our Savior) has gone away
Promised He's coming for us any day
We're waiting (we're waiting here) for His shout
Final revealing what it's all about

On my way, on my way, on my way home,
On my way, on my way

It will be so nice on the (Oh won't it be exciting)
Crystal shore (There'll be no rich and there'll be no poor)
Nobody will be left out (He's always inviting)
Any more (We'll all be the same on the crystal shore)

Descending on a cloud
Come to claim His own (claiming His own)
The Savior of the world
Will take His children home

Repeat Chorus (x2)

Bridge (x3):
He's the way to get there
See you when I get there
He's the way, He's the way
3x: On my way, on my way
(3rd time – He is the way)

He's the way to get there (He is the way)
See you when I get there
He is the way and the truth and the life

Standing in the presence of (Oh tell me the story)
Christ the Lamb (of Christ the Lamb, the living Holy One)
We can hear the story from (We'll live in his glory)
Him first hand (His light shines brighter than a million suns)

We'll gather round the throne
Lift our praises high (Lifting our praises on high)
We'll walk the street of gold
In the place where no one cries (Where no one cries)

Chorus 2:
Our Savior (our Savior) has gone away
Promised He's coming for us any day
We're waiting (we're waiting here) for His shout
Final revealing what it's all about

Repeat Chorus 2
(2nd time – Savior's gone away, waiting for His shout)

Bridge to ending (x4): He's the way to get there
See you when I get there
He's the way, He's the way (3x on my way, on my way)
(2nd, 3rd 4th time – He is the way)

Scriptural Reference:

"While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven." Luke 24:51

Overall Meaning

The song “Gone Away” by Acapella is a reflection on Christian belief's apocalyptic teachings. The song creates a general picture of the rapture, a view that Jesus Christ will appear in the sky and that Christians will ascend to heaven. The song’s repetition of “on my way, on my way, on my way home,” emphasizes the theme of going to heaven. The song also highlights the notion that Christians must wait for Christ’s second coming, alluding to Matthew 24:44, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

The lyrics provide the main idea of the song, and the chorus is the central point of emphasis. It reinforces the idea that Christ is coming back for His followers, and they should stay prepared. “Our Savior has gone away, Promised He’s coming for us any day, We’re waiting for His shout, Final revealing what it’s all about.” The second verse provides a general assessment of what heaven should be like. It describes a place where everyone is equal, unlike the present world. The chorus further stresses the need to be prepared as no one knows when the coming of the Lord will be. The bridge provides clarity by referring to Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life in line with the gospel of John 14:6.

Line by Line Meaning

On my way, on my way,
I am leaving, continuing towards a destination

On my way home, on my way
I am returning to where I belong

On my way (repeat)
Continuing on my journey

Heaven's where we want to go (You better get ready)
We desire to go to heaven, we need to prepare for it

But for now ('Cause you know not when the Lord will come)
However, we currently reside on Earth, as you do not know when the Lord will return

We will wait here on the earth (Just keep your faith steady)
We will remain on the Earth for the time being, we should keep our faith strong

For that sound (The cross bears all, the battle has been won)
Waiting for a specific event, the cross has already taken care of everything

The dead in Christ will rise
Those who have died with Christ will be resurrected

Every knee will bow
Everyone will acknowledge the power of Jesus

The King will take His bride
Jesus will take his followers as his bride

When the trumpet sounds
At the sound of the trumpet

Chorus:
Refrain:

Our Savior (Our Savior) has gone away
Jesus has left Earth

Promised He's coming for us any day
He has promised to return soon

We're waiting (we're waiting here) for His shout
Waiting for his call to come to him

Final revealing what it's all about
Knowing the ultimate purpose of all things

It will be so nice on the (Oh won't it be exciting)
It will be a great experience at

Crystal shore (There'll be no rich and there'll be no poor)
A shore made of crystal where there is no distinction between the richer and poorer

Nobody will be left out (He's always inviting)
Nobody will be excluded, God always invites everyone

Any more (We'll all be the same on the crystal shore)
Everyone will be equal on the crystal shore

Descending on a cloud
Coming down from heaven on a cloud

Come to claim His own (claiming His own)
Claiming those who are his

The Savior of the world
Jesus Christ who saved the entire world

Will take His children home
He will take those who have followed him to heaven

Repeat Chorus (x2)
Refrain repeat (twice)

Bridge (x3):
Section between verse and chorus (3 times):

He's the way to get there
Jesus is the only way to get to heaven

See you when I get there
I will meet you when we both get to heaven

He's the way, He's the way
Jesus is the way to salvation

3x: On my way, on my way
Continuing on my journey

(3rd time – He is the way)
On the third time, indicating that Jesus is the way

He's the way to get there (He is the way)
Jesus is the only way to get to heaven

He is the way and the truth and the life
Jesus is the only true and living way

Standing in the presence of (Oh tell me the story)
Being in the company of

Christ the Lamb (of Christ the Lamb, the living Holy One)
Jesus who is both a lamb and a living Holy One

We can hear the story from (We'll live in his glory)
We can learn about Him directly from Him, and we'll experience His glory

Him first hand (His light shines brighter than a million suns)
We will hear his story from Jesus himself, and His light is much brighter and powerful than the light of a million suns

We'll gather round the throne
We will be gathered around Jesus' throne

Lift our praises high (Lifting our praises on high)
Praising Jesus with great joy

We'll walk the street of gold
We will walk on a street made of gold

In the place where no one cries (Where no one cries)
In a place where there is no weeping, crying, or tears shed

Chorus 2:
Refrain 2:

Our Savior (our Savior) has gone away
Jesus has left Earth

Promised He's coming for us any day
He has promised to return soon

We're waiting (we're waiting here) for His shout
Waiting for his call to come to him

Final revealing what it's all about
Knowing the ultimate purpose of all things

Bridge to ending (x4): He's the way to get there
Section between verse and chorus to ending (4 times): Jesus is the only way to get to heaven

See you when I get there
I will meet you when we both get to heaven

He's the way, He's the way (3x on my way, on my way)
Jesus is the way to salvation (3 times, continuing a journey)