Waller was named one of 10 "Faces to Watch" by Billboard Magazine in 2007.
Still Calls Me Son
John Waller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've known shame that no child of his should know
I've seen pain on broken faces
Beyond all thought of hope
I was just too far from home
Still I always wondered when I closed my eyes
After all I've done
Would he kiss my face?
Could he even look at me?
After where I've been
should he take me back?
I would understand
I've disgraced him
But it would be amazing
If he still calls me son
With nothing left for me to bring him
I left my pride and turned my heart toward home
I saw my home on the horizon
And from a distance
I saw my Father
Watching for his own with forgiving eyes
After all I'd done
He just ran to me
Then he kissed my face
He would not let go of me
After where I'd been
He just welcomed me
I didn't understand
But he put his robe on me
It was so amazing
That he still called me son
One day as I breathe my last
And I know my days on earth have ended
When every hour is spent
I will close my eyes in amazement
And I'll hear angels
They'll be singing
Amazing Grace
Cause he will run to me
And he will kiss my face
He will not let go of me
After where I've been
He will welcome me
I won't understand
How he'll put his robe on me
It will be amazing
That he'll still call me son
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
When he calls me son
I once was lost but now I'm found
Cause he calls me Son
The song "Still Calls Me Son" by John Waller is a powerful representation of the forgiveness and love that God has for his children, no matter how far they may stray. The first verse reveals the pain and shame that the singer has carried with him, as he has wandered away from God and into godless places. He acknowledges that he has seen pain in others, beyond anything he thought possible, and that despite being far from home, he always wondered if God would still accept him.
In the chorus, the singer questions whether God could still love him, after all that he has done. He wonders if he is even worthy of being called God's son, after having disgraced him so much. However, he acknowledges that it would be amazing if God still treated him with love and forgiveness, despite his past.
The second verse shows the singer's transformation, as he leaves his pride behind and turns his heart toward home. He sees his father watching for him with forgiving eyes, and as he nears, his father runs to him, embraces him, and puts his robe on him. Despite the singer's lack of understanding, he is amazed that God could still call him son, after all that he has done.
The final verse expresses the singer's faith in God's grace, and the certainty that he will be welcomed into heaven as God's son. Once he has passed from this life, he will close his eyes in amazement as the angels sing "Amazing Grace," and he hears God call him son once again.
Overall, "Still Calls Me Son" is a beautiful and emotional tribute to God's love and forgiveness for his children, no matter how far they may stray.
Line by Line Meaning
I drug his name through godless places
I dishonored his name in places devoid of righteousness
And I've known shame that no child of his should know
I have experienced extreme guilt and shame that shouldn't be part of a faithful child's life
I've seen pain on broken faces
I've witnessed agony on shattered faces
Beyond all thought of hope
Beyond what can be imagined or anticipated as hopelessness
I was just too far from home
I was too distant from home
Still I always wondered when I closed my eyes
Despite everything, whenever I closed my eyes, I always wondered
After all I've done
Considering everything I have done
Could he run to me?
Would he come to me swiftly?
Would he kiss my face?
Would he embrace my face with love?
Could he even look at me?
Would he be able to face me?
After where I've been
After the places I've been to
should he take me back?
Is it right for him to accept me?
I would understand
I would accept if he rejects me
I've disgraced him
I have brought shame and dishonor to him
But it would be amazing
Still, it would be astonishing
If he still calls me son
If he still refers to me as his offspring
With nothing left for me to bring him
I didn't have anything to offer him
I left my pride and turned my heart toward home
I gave up my arrogance and decided to head back home
I saw my home on the horizon
I recognized my home from afar
And from a distance
From a distance, I saw
I saw my Father
I recognized my father
Watching for his own with forgiving eyes
Observing and forgiving those who belong to him
He just ran to me
He quickly approached me
Then he kissed my face
Then he embraced me with a kiss on my face
He would not let go of me
He refused to let go of me
He just welcomed me
He accepted me with open arms
I didn't understand
I couldn't comprehend
But he put his robe on me
But he dressed me in his robe
It was so amazing
It was incredibly wondrous
That he still called me son
That he continued to identify me as his offspring
One day as I breathe my last
Eventually, when I take my final breath
And I know my days on earth have ended
And I am aware that my time on earth is concluding
When every hour is spent
When every moment has elapsed
I will close my eyes in amazement
I will close my eyes in astonishment
And I'll hear angels
And I will hear divine messengers
They'll be singing
They will sing
Amazing Grace
Of the amazing and transformative grace
Cause he will run to me
Because he will come to me quickly
And he will kiss my face
And he will embrace my face with love
He will not let go of me
He will not release his hold on me
He will welcome me
He will accept me with open arms
I won't understand
I will be unable to comprehend
How he'll put his robe on me
How he will dress me in his robe
It will be amazing
It will be staggeringly remarkable
That he'll still call me son
That he will continue to refer to me as his offspring
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
The amazing and transformative grace, how delightful the sensation
When he calls me son
When he identifies me as his offspring
I once was lost but now I'm found
I was previously misguided, but now I am no longer lost
Cause he calls me Son
Because he identifies me as his offspring
Contributed by Maya A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jean Gagnon
on Our Decree
amen