The band's journey has been marked with significant milestones. In 1998, their self-titled debut on the KMG label yielded the successful Christian CHR radio single "Justified." A bittersweet honor came for the group when their song "Nothing Back" was used at the funeral of Columbine shooting victim Cassie Bernall. The song was later used in a video tribute to her life and faith. "It made us feel very humble," said John. "That song went so perfectly with what we had heard about her life. Obviously, we could've never made that happen - God just dropped the song in that teenager's life."
For John, Jason, Matt and Josh, the prayers continue - they pray that they would have more than critical or financial success - but that they would, in John's words, "impact people wherever we go. Our goal is to be faithful to enter the doors God opens for us. And our mission is to get people caught up in the excitement of walking with Christ in everyday life." That is the bottom line - According To John."
(Note: This is an abbreviated version of the biography that was available on the band's website (www.accordingtojohn.com), which is no longer in existence. The band itself also seems to have broken up to pursue other goals in life.)
For reference:
- Google "Meet According To John band"
- Under the first result click the "Cached" link
- Enjoy!
Everlasting
According To John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The driver passes steeples
All day as he's making his rounds
He tries to look away
'cause it reminds him of a brighter day
When his mother taught him to say
God so loved the world that He gave
Gave His only Son
Will never die, but have life Everlasting
There's an old man mowin' the graveyard
And he stops to wipe his brow
He was trimming around a statue
Of Jesus with His arms reaching down
And carved there in stone
Is a Bible verse he made his own
Such a long, long time ago
And it said
God so loved the world that He gave
Gave His only Son
That whosoever believeth on Him
Will never die, but have life Everlasting
A young man lost his wife to Heaven
Now family and friends have gone
At her closet, he's weeping into empty dresses
Full of memories, every one
And he whispers, ""I miss you""
And he tries to remember a promise or two
But he know that it's still true
God so loved the world that He gave
Gave His only Son
That whosoever believeth on Him
Will never die but have life, Everlasting
God so loved the world that He gave
Gave His only Son
That whosoever believeth on Him
Will never die but have life, Everlasting
Never die but have life Everlasting
The lyrics of According To John's song "Everlasting" are a powerful depiction of the impact that faith can have on a person's life, particularly during times of struggle and loss. The first verse introduces us to a bus driver who passes by steeples on his rounds, and tries to avoid looking at them because they remind him of a brighter day from his youth, when his mother taught him the famous verse John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." In the next verse, we meet an old man who is mowing a graveyard and stops to rest by a statue of Jesus, against which he carved the same verse many years ago. Finally, the last verse recounts the story of a young man who has lost his wife and is weeping among her dresses, trying to remember the promises of faith that they had shared, and finding comfort in the same words from John 3:16.
The song offers a poignant meditation on the enduring power of faith, which can sustain us even in times of great sorrow and uncertainty. The image of the bus driver passing by steeples is particularly evocative, suggesting that faith can be a source of inspiration and guidance in our daily lives, even if we don't always acknowledge it. Similarly, the image of the old man mowing the graveyard serves as a powerful reminder of the ways in which faith can be a lifeline for those who are grappling with loss and grief. And the story of the young man mourning his wife underscores the comfort and solace that can be found in the words of John 3:16, which offer a profound affirmation of the eternal nature of God's love and grace.
Overall, "Everlasting" is a moving and deeply affecting song that speaks to the human experience of loss, grief, and faith. Through its powerful imagery and lyrical depth, it offers a powerful message of hope and resilience, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we can find comfort and strength in the enduring love of God.
Line by Line Meaning
To take another ride to town
The singer is starting a journey to town.
The driver passes steeples
The driver passes by churches on his route.
All day as he's making his rounds
The driver has a long day ahead of him as he goes about his job.
He tries to look away
The driver tries not to think about anything that will make him emotional during his job.
'cause it reminds him of a brighter day
The churches remind the driver of happier times in the past.
When his mother taught him to say
The singer recalls his mother teaching him a religious phrase.
God so loved the world that He gave
This line references the well-known bible verse, John 3:16.
Gave His only Son
The phrase 'Gave His only Son' refers to Jesus Christ being sent to earth for the salvation of humanity.
That whosoever believeth on Him
Anyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life according to Christian beliefs.
Will never die, but have life Everlasting
This phrase means that believers in Jesus will have eternal life.
There's an old man mowin' the graveyard
An elderly man is cutting the grass in a cemetery.
And he stops to wipe his brow
The old man takes a break from his work to rest.
He was trimming around a statue
The old man was tending to the landscaping around a statue.
Of Jesus with His arms reaching down
The statue depicts an image of Jesus Christ with his arms outstretched.
And carved there in stone
A bible verse is engraved on the statue.
Is a Bible verse he made his own
The old man has taken the bible verse to heart and made it part of his faith and identity.
Such a long, long time ago
The old man has cherished and lived by the verse for many years.
And it said
The singer is referencing the bible verse quoted on the statue.
A young man lost his wife to Heaven
A young man has recently lost his spouse to death.
Now family and friends have gone
The people who came to console the young man have left him alone to grieve.
At her closet, he's weeping into empty dresses
The young man is struggling to cope with the grief and loss of his wife.
Full of memories, every one
The clothes in the closet are a reminder of cherished memories with his wife.
And he whispers, 'I miss you'
The young man expresses his longing and sorrow for his wife.
And he tries to remember a promise or two
The young man recalls the promises of comfort and hope given to him by his religious faith.
But he know that it's still true
The young man believes that the religious promises of comfort and hope are still valid and meaningful.
Never die but have life Everlasting
The song concludes with a repetition of the central message of eternal life through Jesus Christ for believers in Christianity.
Contributed by Adrian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.