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
Scars
Jonny Diaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Covering up lies that she wrote with a razor sharp pen,
And the sting of the blade is no match for the pain of the loneliness she's going through,
But we've all been there too.
Praise God we don't have to hide scars
They just strengthen our wounds, and they soften our hearts.
They remind us of where we have been, but not who we are
You can still see the mark on his hand where there once was a ring
He watched decades of history dissolve when she wanted to leave
And the hole that it left there inside of his chest
Is a canyon a thousand miles deep
We all know how that feels.
Praise God we don't have to hide scars
They just strengthen our wounds, and soften our hearts.
They remind us of where we have been, but not who we are
So praise God, praise God we don't have to hide scars
There once was a King who so burdened with grief
Walked into death so that we could find peace
He rose up with scars on his hands and his feet
By them we are healed, by them we are healed.
So praise God we don't have to hide scars
Yeah we know his are covering ours
Praise God we don't have to hide scars
They just strengthen our wounds and they soften our hearts
They remind us of who we have been, but not who we are
So Praise God we don't have to hide scars.
The lyrics to Jonny Diaz's "Scars" lays out the pain and rawness of emotional and physical wounds, but at the same time, reminds us that these scars are powerful reminders of our past, yet also emblematic of our strength and endurance. The first verse is about a girl who is trying to cover up the pain she's feeling with self-harm. The scars she carries from the damage done with a razor blade are deeper than the cuts themselves; they are painful reminders of her past, and the loneliness she's experiencing. However, the song's chorus points out that scars do not have to be hidden or concealed. Rather, they upgrade and add value to us. Instead of concealing and reducing their visibility, we can learn to embrace our scars as stories and lessons learned.
The second verse is about a man who has lost his partner- someone he loved for decades. The relationship's end has left him with an agonizing hole inside his heart- a deep void, and the pain of this tragedy is insurmountable. However, the bridge of the song pays reverence to Jesus, who suffered and carried scars of his own, yet gave us hope, peace, and the strength to rise out of our own scars. By his death and resurrection, we are healed spiritually. Through these lyrics, Diaz reminds us that scars do not limit our future; instead, they serve as indicators of our ability to persevere and continue moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
She holds for dear life to the ends of the sleeves in her hands,
She clutches her sleeves tightly, desperately trying to cover up the lies that she's written on her skin with a razor-sharp pen. The pain of her loneliness is overwhelming, and the cuts on her skin only add to it. But, we've all experienced that kind of pain and feeling of being alone.
Covering up lies that she wrote with a razor sharp pen,
She's hiding the cuts she's made on her skin to cope with the pain inside of her. The lies that she's written on her skin with a razor-sharp pen represent the pain that she's struggling with.
And the sting of the blade is no match for the pain of the loneliness she's going through,
The physical pain of the cuts is nothing compared to the emotional pain that she feels. The loneliness she's experiencing is powerful and unbearable.
But we've all been there too.
We've all experienced pain and loneliness and have struggled in our own ways. We can all relate to the feelings she's experiencing.
Praise God we don't have to hide scars
We should be grateful that we don't have to cover up our scars because they are an important reminder of our personal journey. They help us grow and become stronger.
They just strengthen our wounds, and they soften our hearts.
Scars help us build resilience and empathy. They toughen us up and make us more caring and compassionate towards others.
They remind us of where we have been, but not who we are
Our scars remind us of our past experiences, but they don't define who we are now. We are not defined by our scars, but rather by how we overcome our struggles.
You can still see the mark on his hand where there once was a ring
He's still carrying the evidence of his past relationship because the mark on his hand where his wedding band was worn is visible to others. Even though the relationship is over, he's still feeling the pain and the aftermath of the breakup.
He watched decades of history dissolve when she wanted to leave
When she decided to leave, decades of history between them disappeared in an instant. He's now coping with the emotional weight of losing a significant part of his life.
And the hole that it left there inside of his chest
The emptiness he's feeling after the breakup is taking a toll on his emotional well-being. The heartbreak has left him feeling hollow.
Is a canyon a thousand miles deep
He's feeling the depths of his pain in a way that seems insurmountable. His grief is immense.
There once was a King who so burdened with grief
The song shifts to reference Jesus Christ, who is referred to as a King in this context. Jesus carried the burden and grief of humanity when he offered himself on the cross.
Walked into death so that we could find peace
Jesus willingly went to his death so that humanity could find peace with God.
He rose up with scars on his hands and his feet
After Jesus was resurrected, he still bore the scars of his crucifixion on his hands and feet. The scars were evidence of the sacrifice he made for humanity.
By them we are healed, by them we are healed.
The scars that Jesus bore are a symbol of healing for humanity. Through his sacrifice, we can find spiritual healing and wholeness.
Yeah we know his are covering ours
Jesus' scars are a reminder that our scars are also covered by his sacrifice. Our emotional and spiritual wounds are healed through his sacrifice.
They remind us of who we have been, but not who we are
Just like our own scars, Jesus' scars are a reminder of his past experiences, but they don't define who he is. He is defined by his sacrifice and the impact it has on humanity.
So Praise God we don't have to hide scars.
The song ends with another reminder to be grateful that we don't have to hide our scars because they help us grow and become stronger. We should praise God for the way our scars shape us in positive ways and remind us of our personal journey.
Contributed by Ethan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jazmine Rose
Bless this man for singing a song that touches the subject of self harm. I used to be ashamed of my scars but they are truly a reminder of who I used to be and how far I've come. If it wasn't for Jesus I know I would still be in bondage to my self destruction. Praise God for coming in to my life and saving me from myself ♡
Jessi Miller
+JazzyRose :) Your scars and the fact that they are scars and not fresh any longer is proof and a reminder of what Jesus has done in your heart and in your life. It's your story. It's your testimony and it's that which will not only remind you but also possibly help many others that God may bring you in contact with. Use that for Him. God bless you and i'm happy to hear that Jesus brought you out of that and to Him. That makes my heart happy!
Jessi Miller
+JazzyRose :) Your scars and the fact that they are scars and not fresh any longer is proof and a reminder of what Jesus has done in your heart and in your life. It's your story. It's your testimony and it's that which will not only remind you but also possibly help many others that God may bring you in contact with. Use that for Him. God bless you and i'm happy to hear that Jesus brought you out of that and to Him. That makes my heart happy!
Kaitlyn
+Jessi Miller I agree with this so much! God Bless!
Guinea Pig How To
JazzyRose ♡♡♡
Sarah McLaughlin
Amen
ArtHorsesStarWars
"Praise God we don't have to hide scars. They just streagthen our wounds and soften our hearts." Beautiful. I don't have a problem of self harm, but my emotional wounds are plenty. This song is so touching.
Maygan DeGreenia
This song is amazing. It's helped me through so much. Praise God we don't have to hide scars! <3
Hannah Smith
Amazing song, I've cut and no one knows I do. I was clean for almost 6 months before a recent relapse. I happened to find this song. So inspiring and encouraging!!!
Sarah Graffam
I love this song!! This song describes what Im going through and now I dont need to be ashamed to hide any scars that might have