Missing
For King Lyrics


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I threw your picture in the fire
I watched you melt away
You turned to smoke, you burned my eyes
But I couldn't escape
My love for you remains
So why was I afraid?

When you were next to me,
Why didn't I tell you?
You were so good to me
Why didn't I just take back everything I said to you?
And take back everything I put you through?
Why didn't I tell you?

They said we never would survive
And I believed the lies
And then their words were verified
When I replaced my heart for your demise
But you were always on the side

When you were next to me,
Why didn't I tell you?
You were so good to me
Why didn't I just take back everything I said to you?
And take back everything I put you through?
Why didn't I tell you?

I love the way you understand,
The way you love,
The way you were when no one was looking
That you were beautiful and you were worth it all
You were everything I need
You captured my attention,
Did I mention I think you're beautiful, darling?
If I could tell you now,
I'd tell you how the world is dark now that you're missing
Now that you're missing

When you were next to me,
Why didn't I tell you?
You were so good to me
And why didn't I just take back everything I said to you?
And take back everything I put you through?
Why didn't I tell you?

I love the way you understand,
The way you love,
The way you were
Why didn't I tell you?
That you were beautiful
And you were worth it all
So why didn't I tell you?
You captured my attention, did I mention?
So why didn't I tell you?
That you were beautiful
That you were worth it all
So why didn't I tell you?





If I could tell you now
I'd say I love you

Overall Meaning

The song "Missing" by for King & Country is a poignant reflection on the regret and pain that is often felt after a loved one has been lost. The lyrics tell a story of missed opportunities and unspoken feelings, with the singer questioning why they didn't tell the person they loved just how much they meant to them. The first verse describes the physical act of throwing a picture of the loved one into a fire and watching it melt away. This metaphorical destruction of something that was once cherished represents the painful loss that the singer is feeling. However, despite this loss, the singer's love for the person remains strong.


The second verse reveals that other people, likely friends and family, had doubts about the relationship from the beginning. The singer unfortunately listened to these negative opinions and allowed them to influence their feelings towards the person they loved. The regret and guilt is palpable as the singer realizes they should have stood up for their relationship and fought against the outside opinions. The chorus repeats the central question of the song: why didn't the singer tell the person they loved just how much they meant to them when they had the chance? The final verse is a tribute to the person the singer loved, highlighting all the qualities they admired but never vocalized. The song ends with a simple declaration of love.


Overall, "Missing" is a heartbreaking song that resonates with anyone who has felt the loss of a loved one. The lyrics express the idea that our time with the people we love is finite and we should cherish every moment and let them know that they are loved.


Line by Line Meaning

I threw your picture in the fire
I got rid of all evidence of you


I watched you melt away
All remnants of you were destroyed


You turned to smoke, you burned my eyes
You disappeared into nothing and it hurt me


But I couldn't escape
I couldn't forget about you


My love for you remains
Despite everything, I still love you


So why was I afraid?
Fear held me back from being honest with you


When you were next to me,
When we were together


Why didn't I tell you?
Why didn't I express my feelings to you?


You were so good to me
You treated me so well


Why didn't I just take back everything I said to you?
Why didn't I apologize for my mistakes?


And take back everything I put you through?
And make up for hurting you?


They said we never would survive
People doubted our ability to make it together


And I believed the lies
I let their negativity get to me


And then their words were verified
Our relationship ended up failing


When I replaced my heart for your demise
I broke my own heart by causing our relationship to end


But you were always on the side
You were always there for me, even when things fell apart


I love the way you understand,
I appreciate how you comprehend my thoughts and feelings


The way you love,
I admire the way you show affection


The way you were when no one was looking
I appreciate your genuine self when you don't have to put on a front


That you were beautiful and you were worth it all
You were amazing and deserved everything


You were everything I need
You were my perfect match


You captured my attention,
You caught my eye


Did I mention I think you're beautiful, darling?
I find you gorgeous and lovable


If I could tell you now,
If I had the chance to speak to you again


I'd tell you how the world is dark now that you're missing
My life seems empty without you here


So why didn't I tell you?
Why didn't I let you know how important you were to me?


That you were beautiful
That you were stunning


And you were worth it all
And you were deserving of everything


So why didn't I tell you?
Why didn't I express how much you meant to me?


I'd say I love you
I would express my love for you




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BEN GLOVER, JOEL SMALLBONE, JOEL DAVID SMALLBONE, LUKE SMALLBONE, LUKE JAMES SMALLBONE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@phllpmrn

People have previously commented that this song is about a relationship between a boy and girl. The first time I heard it, I interpreted as a strained relationship between a sinner and God:

I threw your picture in the fire
I watched you melt away
You turned to smoke, you burned my eyes
But I couldn't escape
My love for you remained
So why was I afraid?
[The sinner acknowledges his own sinful life and the despair it has brought him; yet hidden inside his soul is the desire for God. He can’t understand why he fears this desire.]

 Chorus:
 When you were next to me
 Why didn't I tell you
 You were so good to me
 And why didn't I just
 Take back everything I said to you
 Take back everything I put you through
 Why didn't I tell you
[The sinner remembers his past when God was in his life; God’s goodness and blessings. He regrets having turned away from the Lord; having rejected him. He regrets not telling God how much he loves Him]

They said we never would survive
And I believed the lies
And then their words were verified
When I replaced
My heart for your demise
But you were always on my side
[“They” are the demons who haunt the sinner. They lie to him saying that God would never love such an awful, sinful man. The sinner believed the lie and “their words were verified” when he chose to turn away from a God, fall into despair, and chose to commit more sins. He replaced his “Heart” for the Lord’s “Demise”; the death of their relationship. Despite this, however, God remained near him]

 Chorus
 I love the way you understand
 The way you laugh
 The way you were when no one was looking
 That you were beautiful
 And you were worth it all
 And you were everything I need
 You captured my attention
 Did I mention I think you're beautiful darling
 If I could tell you now
 I'd tell you how my world is dark now that you're missing
 Now that you're missing

TWO THINGS HAPPEN SIMULTENEOUSLY DURING THIS CHORUS:
[Though the sinner and God are apart, God replies back: He still loves the sinner and he tells him why: He loves him for coming to realize his own sinfulness, He loves him for the way he was before: joyful, faithful, beautiful and good. God tells him that he was “worth it all”; His Passion and Death on the Cross. The sinner captured the Lord’s attention; the sinner is everything God needs but he is still missing. The Lord is calling his heart.]
[The sinner listens to the Lord meekly. As the Lord speaks to him, he begins to weep. His body quivers and his head shakes in disbelief. He now realizes why he feared his desire for God: he can’t trust His Mercy. He fears Mercy because he feels unworthy to receive from God and that God might ultimately reject him. God, however, does not give up on him and continues to call to the sinner’s heart.]

This is where I find myself right now. The Lord is constantly pounding on the door of my heart and I’m too afraid to open it.
 
 



All comments from YouTube:

@brackensavvy

I can't explain how much Luke and Joel have impacted my life through their music.  I have an incurable neurological disorder and it 's very, very painful at times. I listen to the energy and love for God and it inspires me to be a better person, be closer to God when I'm experiencing those physical painful times and the emotional ones.  There's no way to have this disorder and not become somewhat depressed at times, but I will sit and listen  to their music and it makes me feel better.  Music is the universal language, so it does have an influence on me.  They are great and I love what they stand for!

@thekamenfamily3696

Sorry to hear about your pain. Prayers for you. Music is my calm too.

@adrianamcdonnell4406

Beautiful song

@kaleidoscopingwe

Hey Beloved priceless Kelley Bracken-Rainey =) Thanks allot for your testemony what you wrote just encouraged me and I can relate to this Thank God for music ! pray for you that his perfect peace will hold you and you will feel His comfort all arround you in Jesus name. bless your <3

@saripanczel

I'm so glad that a Christian band actually writes and sings about disappointment in relationships, the process of getting over someone and the regret and pain of letting go.

It encourages me, because, for example looking at Joel's life, you can see God still had a plan and a purpose despite his pain and disappointment (someone below commented about him going through something hard with a female). He is now married to Moriah Peters, which is amazing.

I guess it's just really about learning to trust God with our hearts and let go of stuff no matter how painful it might be.

@mervynjordanmydad206

The morning and you will

@Kevin-kf5dn

It happened to me when my wife took her own life just over 3 years ago.

@phllpmrn

People have previously commented that this song is about a relationship between a boy and girl. The first time I heard it, I interpreted as a strained relationship between a sinner and God:

I threw your picture in the fire
I watched you melt away
You turned to smoke, you burned my eyes
But I couldn't escape
My love for you remained
So why was I afraid?
[The sinner acknowledges his own sinful life and the despair it has brought him; yet hidden inside his soul is the desire for God. He can’t understand why he fears this desire.]

 Chorus:
 When you were next to me
 Why didn't I tell you
 You were so good to me
 And why didn't I just
 Take back everything I said to you
 Take back everything I put you through
 Why didn't I tell you
[The sinner remembers his past when God was in his life; God’s goodness and blessings. He regrets having turned away from the Lord; having rejected him. He regrets not telling God how much he loves Him]

They said we never would survive
And I believed the lies
And then their words were verified
When I replaced
My heart for your demise
But you were always on my side
[“They” are the demons who haunt the sinner. They lie to him saying that God would never love such an awful, sinful man. The sinner believed the lie and “their words were verified” when he chose to turn away from a God, fall into despair, and chose to commit more sins. He replaced his “Heart” for the Lord’s “Demise”; the death of their relationship. Despite this, however, God remained near him]

 Chorus
 I love the way you understand
 The way you laugh
 The way you were when no one was looking
 That you were beautiful
 And you were worth it all
 And you were everything I need
 You captured my attention
 Did I mention I think you're beautiful darling
 If I could tell you now
 I'd tell you how my world is dark now that you're missing
 Now that you're missing

TWO THINGS HAPPEN SIMULTENEOUSLY DURING THIS CHORUS:
[Though the sinner and God are apart, God replies back: He still loves the sinner and he tells him why: He loves him for coming to realize his own sinfulness, He loves him for the way he was before: joyful, faithful, beautiful and good. God tells him that he was “worth it all”; His Passion and Death on the Cross. The sinner captured the Lord’s attention; the sinner is everything God needs but he is still missing. The Lord is calling his heart.]
[The sinner listens to the Lord meekly. As the Lord speaks to him, he begins to weep. His body quivers and his head shakes in disbelief. He now realizes why he feared his desire for God: he can’t trust His Mercy. He fears Mercy because he feels unworthy to receive from God and that God might ultimately reject him. God, however, does not give up on him and continues to call to the sinner’s heart.]

This is where I find myself right now. The Lord is constantly pounding on the door of my heart and I’m too afraid to open it.
 
 

@jeffmcclish127

p.m.m that's an amazing idea

@myriangarcia9060

But what about the ending:
If I could tell you now I'd say I love you.
What you said was nice and all and IK that 4K&C would feel nice that you interpreted their song like that but I'm sure the original meaning was a relationship between a boy and girl. It's not their first love song....

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