Waller was named one of 10 "Faces to Watch" by Billboard Magazine in 2007.
Identity
John Waller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I am love
You are joy
And so I am, joy
You are peace
So I am peace
Lord everything you are
Now becomes me
The line between
Where you begin
And where I end
Is gone, now I'm in
(Chorus)
YOU, I know who I am
You're my true, born identity
I'm not the one I used to be
For now there is no separating
You from who I am
You are strong
So I am strong
You are power
And so I am powerful
You are mercy
So I am mercy
Cause everything you are
Has now become me
Anything less is not us
Anything less is not us
Anything else is not who we are
In John Waller's song Identity, the singer acknowledges and embraces the fact that everything that God is, now becomes a part of him. He sings that God is love, joy, and peace, and therefore, he also has those qualities within him. The line between where God begins and where he ends is gone, meaning that he is completely intertwined with God and has no separate identity. He goes on to echo this with, "You, I know who I am," emphasizing that his true identity lies in God.
The chorus reinforces this idea, emphasizing that God is the true, born identity of the singer. He acknowledges that he is no longer the person he used to be because there is no separating God from who he is. He then goes on to further describe the qualities he has gained from being a part of God, such as strength, power, and mercy. The song ends with the message that anything less than being a part of God is not who they are.
This song speaks to the Christian belief that we are made in God's image and therefore have the potential to possess the same qualities as God. It emphasizes the idea that our true identity lies in God and that we must embrace Him fully to become our true selves.
Line by Line Meaning
You are love
You embody love
So I am love
My essence is love
You are joy
You embody joy
And so I am, joy
My essence is joy
You are peace
You embody peace
So I am peace
My essence is peace
Lord everything you are
All your attributes, qualities or characteristics
Now becomes me
Now defines me, shapes my character
The line between
The boundary that separates
Where you begin
Where your essence starts
And where I end
And where mine ends
Is gone, now I'm in...
Now that line is erased or disappeared, I am now...
YOU, I know who I am
You, God, define my true identity
You're my true, born identity
You are the identity in which I was created
I'm not the one I used to be
I am transformed, changed
For now there is no separating
There is no longer any division or distance
You...from who I am
You are inseparable from me
You are strong
You embody strength
So I am strong
My essence is strength
You are power
You embody power
And so I am...powerful
My essence is powerful
You are mercy
You embody mercy
So I am mercy
My essence is mercy
Anything less is not us
Anything that falls short of your attributes is not our true nature
Anything else is not who we are
We are not defined by anything other than your attributes
Contributed by Gavin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jean Gagnon
on Our Decree
amen