John 3:16
James Payne Lyrics


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I remember the night
At the end of my rope
In a motel in Nashville
Searching for hope
In my hand was a Bible
I read as a child
On the table was a bottle
That was driving me wild

Well I poured the whiskey
Into the glass
I prayed it would help me
Forget my past
Then I read how Jesus Died on the tree
And I poured out the whiskey
And fell down on my knees

That night ole Jack Daniels
Met John 3:16
Gods Word broke the hold
That he had over me
I traded Tennessee whiskey
For Calvary's Tree
That night ole Jack Daniel's
Met John 3:16

Now when I see those ole friends
I use to know
Down at the old place
Where I use to go
They tell me I'm different
Than I use to be
Oh, And I love to tell them
What happened to me





That night ole Jack Daniels
Met John 3:16
Gods Word broke the hold
That he had over me
I traded Tennessee whiskey
For Calvary's Tree
That night ole Jack Daniel's
Met John 3:16
That night ole Jack Daniel's
Met John 3:16

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of James Payne's song "John 3:16" tell the story of a man who found himself at the end of his rope, sitting in a motel room in Nashville with a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a Bible in the other. He reads about Jesus dying on the tree and realizes that the alcohol that has been controlling his life all this while is not worth it. He then pours out the whiskey, falls down on his knees, and turns to God. The lyrics emphasize how the power of the Bible and the message of John 3:16 can change a person's life in profound ways.


The song shows how John 3:16 can bring clarity and help people reassess their lives. It highlights how the power of the Word of God is more than sufficient to break any hold that addiction, past experiences or negative feelings might have on individuals. The man's conversion story demonstrated how his life changed after he accepted Jesus Christ into his life. The experience renewed his sense of purpose, changing him for the better, and helping him let go of his past life.


Line by Line Meaning

I remember the night
I recall the specific evening


At the end of my rope
I was desperate and hopeless


In a motel in Nashville
I was in a motel located in Nashville


Searching for hope
I was seeking to find a reason to believe in a better future


In my hand was a Bible
I had a Bible in my possession


I read as a child
I had read it when I was a young person


On the table was a bottle
There was an alcoholic drink on the table


That was driving me wild
This drink was making me feel crazy


Well, I poured the whiskey
I emptied the bottle of whiskey


Into the glass
I put the whiskey into a receptacle


I prayed it would help me
I asked for divine intervention and assistance


Forget my past
I desired to have my memories of past events erased


Then I read how Jesus died on the tree
I came across a description of Jesus' crucifixion


And I poured out the whiskey
I discarded the whiskey


And fell down on my knees
I collapsed to the ground, genuflecting in prayer


That night ole Jack Daniels met John 3:16
I connected drinking whiskey with a scripture verse


God's Word broke the hold that he had over me
Reading the Bible helped me stop drinking


I traded Tennessee whiskey for Calvary's Tree
I replaced drinking with Christ's sacrifice


Now when I see those ole friends I use to know
When I see people I was previously acquainted with


Down at the old place where I used to go
At a location I would frequent in the past


They tell me I'm different than I used to be
They notice that I have changed


Oh, and I love to tell them what happened to me
I enjoy sharing my story of how I found faith and stopped drinking


That night ole Jack Daniels met John 3:16
The night I stopped drinking became associated with a specific scripture verse


God's Word broke the hold that he had over me
Reading the Bible helped me stop drinking


I traded Tennessee whiskey for Calvary's Tree
I replaced drinking with Christ's sacrifice


That night ole Jack Daniels met John 3:16
The night I stopped drinking became associated with a specific scripture verse




Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Fred Fisher. 704_279_1201

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