Songs on the new album, produced by Ed Cash (Dave Barnes, Chris Tomlin), Chris Stevens (Toby Mac, Sanctus Real), Jeff Pardo (Josh Wilson, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra), and Steve Wilson (Josh Wilson, Leeland), encompass a full range of human emotions – from the buoyant heights of love to the immense depths of grief; from praising God for His greatness to a cry for those whose lives are broken. It is Diaz’s ability to express the human condition in song that connects him with fellow believers. Through his music the Church receives challenging and encouraging reminders that every broken human life can find redemption in God’s love.
Jonny Diaz released three independent projects before signing with INO Records. His first release as a signed artist was titled More Beautiful You (2009). This album produced the No. 1 radio single “More Beautiful You,” as well as Top 10 “Waiting Room,” and led to a 2010 Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year.
In his latest project, Diaz found himself revisiting topics from previous songwriting efforts and collaborating with Audrey Assad, Mia Fieldes, Kate York (co-writer on “More Beautiful You”) and Chris Stevens. “It can be challenging coming up with new ways to express themes that are important to believers. Co-writing encourages and inspires me,” says Diaz. “My own personal growth and new insights gave me fresh perspectives on old material, and co-writing added exciting and alternative ways to express what I was learning.”
One such song is “How Can It Be,” a celebration reveling in the greatness of God. “Years ago I wrote a song called ‘Small Enough’ that posed the question, Can the great God Who created the Universe and the billions of people on this planet also be small enough to know and care about me? I no longer question that aspect of God’s character. Instead, I find myself marveling in the fact that God really is that big and rejoicing in the knowledge that He is genuinely concerned about me.” This new perspective of celebrating life’s difficult questions is also heard in the graceful melodies of “God Is Watching” and the comforting lyrics of “Here and Someday,” a song that takes an honest look at grief.
Do not be mistaken, though. Diaz does not sit back and simply write songs of comfort and encouragement – he confronts timely issues in the Church, such as with the challenge to Christians to not settle for a Sunday routine through the pop-jazz fusion of “Figured Out.” He also takes on a personal search for God’s heart for the poor in the cry of “Break My Heart.” “These days we can become immune, and we need to be brokenhearted for the poor, to feel their pain the way that Christ feels it. We simply cannot sit by and listen to another children’s appeal at concerts or on television.”
The inclusion of the debut radio single “Beauty of the Cross” on the album was especially important to Diaz. “This is the first song I’ve recorded that I haven’t written. The first time I heard it, I was drawn straight to God’s throne in worship. I am not a ‘worship artist’ but there is something special about this song and I wanted to be a part of it,” he explains. “The great irony and beauty here is that we’re singing about one of the most awful torture devices ever conceived by man, and yet we are calling it ‘beautiful.’ Those of us whose lives have been changed by the sacrifice Jesus made for us at Calvary know exactly why the cross is so beautiful.”
Diaz explores another paradox in “What Water Can Do,” written after record floodwaters hit his hometown Nashville. Uncertain how to approach the topic, he considered how the water destroyed houses, took lives and swept away possessions, and started to think about how God uses water in some amazing ways. The song tells the story of one man, who loses everything in the flood, watch his neighbors heed a call to serve, mimicking the response of the Nashville community after the flood. It tells how the people’s service impacted this man as he steps into the baptistry and accepts Christ as Savior. Says Diaz, “Initially water brought tragedy, but God uses water to revive a community and change a man’s life.”
Diaz looks forward to sharing these new songs on the road. Though he has toured with well-known acts like MercyMe and Matthew West, Diaz feels that he finds those opportunities to truly connect with people in smaller venues. “As an artist, I believe God gifted me with an ability to relate through the songs and stories I share. I like looking out at the crowd and seeing the smiles on faces or tears in the eyes and knowing straightaway that these songs are connecting.”
Back when Diaz started playing music in college, he told himself he would continue as long as people were interested – and he feels that it is clearer now more than ever that this is what God has for him. “I love making music; it’s challenging and fun,” he says, “but my prayer is always: Whatever God wants me to do, that is where I want to be. It a prayer of abandon to be used by God wherever and whenever.” And today that is sharing music that entertains, encourages and, above all, challenges the body of Christ.
*From jonnydiaz.com
One Thing
Jonny Diaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought that this time the ride would last
And lead me to what I am looking for
I see the world as it rushes by
But nothing new is grabbing my eye
Just everything that I have tried before
Maybe I've been thinking that the world will
Fill me up full enough but it never works that way
There is just one thing that fills me up
One thing that's true
There is just one thing that satisfies
That one thing is You
Show me everything I did not see
While I was searching the world
For what was right in front of me
So much wasted wasting time
I see that I've been headed down the wrong track
Now I don't wanna ever go back
To the way it was all because
You're all I'll ever need
There is just one thing that fills me up
One thing that's true
There is just one thing that satisfies
That one thing is You
I'm tired of settling for this world
And its bitter dreams
There's nothing here that satisfies like You
There is just one thing that fills me up
One thing that's true
There is just one thing that satisfies
There is just one thing that fills me up
One thing that's true
There is just one thing that satisfies
That one thing is You, one thing is You
In the lyrics of Jonny Diaz's song "One Thing," the artist talks about how he has been searching for something in the world, buying tickets and paying in cash, and hoping that the rides would last and lead him to what he is looking for. However, no matter how much he sees the world rushing by, he's not able to find anything new that will grab his attention, and he realizes that everything he has tried before has never fulfilled him. He believes that he has been looking in the wrong places and that the world will never fill him up enough. Diaz then finds a realization that there is only one thing that fills him up, and that is You.
Diaz is trying to express how he has been searching for fulfillment in worldly things, but he cannot find anything that can satisfy him the way You can. When Diaz talks about You, he means God, as this song has Christian themes. He believes that God is the one thing that fills him up and satisfies him, and everything else is just a waste of time. Diaz also explains that he's tired of settling for this world and its bitter dreams, and that nothing here satisfies him the way God does. This song ultimately shows us how all the materialistic stuff and the worldly fulfillment can never satisfy us the way religion can.
Line by Line Meaning
I bought my ticket and I paid in cash
I committed fully and invested my resources, hoping it would lead me somewhere.
I thought that this time the ride would last
I held onto the hope that this venture would be different and more long-lasting.
And lead me to what I am looking for
I believed that this would take me to the ultimate goal that I'm pursuing.
I see the world as it rushes by
I observe everything that's happening around me, though without much interest or engagement.
But nothing new is grabbing my eye
Despite all that I'm seeing, nothing is really standing out or capturing my attention.
Just everything that I have tried before
It all seems very familiar and repetitive and it's just more of the same things I've experienced in the past.
Maybe I've been looking in the wrong place
I wonder whether my approach has been misguided and I haven't been looking where I should.
Maybe I've been thinking that the world will
I may have had an expectation that the world could provide for me what I'm lacking.
Fill me up full enough but it never works that way
But I've come to realize that this hope has always been in vain and it's not possible to fulfill myself with the world's offerings.
There is just one thing that fills me up
I've discovered that there's only one thing that can truly satisfy me and make me feel complete.
One thing that's true
This thing is genuine, honest, and trustworthy.
There is just one thing that satisfies
This is the only thing that can make me content and fulfilled.
That one thing is You
This thing is a relationship with God.
Show me everything I did not see
I pray for God to reveal to me everything that I've been missing and not recognizing in my search.
While I was searching the world
During my journey and exploration of the world and its offerings.
For what was right in front of me
For something that has been present and available to me all along, though I haven't realized it.
So much wasted wasting time
I regret all the time and effort I've expended pursuing things that ultimately led me astray and didn't satisfy me.
I see that I've been headed down the wrong track
I now recognize that I've been pursuing the wrong path, something that has not been leading me to my true desire.
Now I don't wanna ever go back
I'm now firmly committed to continuing on the right path and not returning to my old ways.
To the way it was all because
To the lifestyle and habits that I was previously living because I had not yet discovered the only thing that satisfies.
You're all I'll ever need
God is the only true source of comfort, completeness, and satisfaction and I don't need anything else besides Him.
I'm tired of settling for this world
I'm sick of making peace with the world's inferior and inadequate offerings, which ultimately let me down.
And its bitter dreams
The world's promises and illusions are unsatisfying and ultimately lead to disappointment and regret.
There's nothing here that satisfies like You
Nothing can compare to the fulfillment and contentment that I experience through a relationship with God.
Contributed by Maya W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.