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
Upside Down
Jonny Diaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is chained to You as You lead
Learning how victory
Starts with surrendering
Yeah, it might seem strange
But it's no less true
That my whole world
When I′m following You
Is upside down in every way
I keep finding out every day
That losing my life is
The only way it can be found
Yeah, it's upside down
Having faith in what's unseen
Loving my enemies
I′ve been given what I
Haven′t earned, 'cause You
Took the cross I deserve
And that′s upside down in every way,
I keep finding out every day
That losing my life is
The only way it can be found
Yeah, it's upside down
Giving all I have away
Finding joy inside the pain
Where last is first
And lost are finally found
It′s upside down
And I'm finding out
Is upside down in every way
I keep finding out every day
That losing my life is the only way
And it′s upside down in every way,
I keep finding out every day
That losing my life is
The only way it can be found
Yeah, it's upside down
Yeah, it's upside down
The song "Upside Down" by Jonny Diaz is a powerful and thought-provoking reflection on the ways in which a life of faith can be counterintuitive and counter-cultural. Diaz speaks to the paradoxes of living for Christ, suggesting that the only way to find true life is to give one's life away, that strength is found in surrender, and that winning comes through losing. Diaz's image of an upside-down world challenges listeners to see faith, and the world, through a new lens, to embrace faith as countercultural, paradoxical, and transformative. Throughout the song, Diaz focuses on the power of surrender, on the ways in which giving one's life to Christ can change everything, and on the transformation that can come when one's worldview is turned upside-down.
At its core, "Upside Down" is a song about the transformative power of faith. Diaz's lyrics celebrate the ways in which surrender and sacrifice can open up new possibilities for joy, peace, and meaning. The song's powerful imagery invites listeners to see the world in a new light, highlighting the beauty of the counterintuitive nature of faith. Through his lyrics, Diaz encourages listeners to let go of their preconceptions and embrace the paradoxes of faith, to find joy in the midst of pain, to find strength in surrender, and to find victory through loss.
Line by Line Meaning
The only time I've been free
I have only truly experienced freedom when I am connected to You and under Your leadership.
Is chained to You as You lead
Being chained to You and following Your guidance is my path to freedom.
Learning how victory
I am gaining the knowledge that victory comes from
Starts with surrendering
letting go of my own desires and submitting to Your plan.
Yeah, it might seem strange
Admittedly, this concept may seem unusual to some.
But it's no less true
Nevertheless, it is absolutely true.
That my whole world
My entire way of viewing the world and how I live within it
When I'm following You
is completely transformed when I am following You.
Is upside down in every way
My way of living is completely inverted in comparison to the world's view of success and happiness.
I keep finding out every day
I am constantly discovering and learning
That losing my life is
that giving up my own self-interests and desires is
The only way it can be found
the only way I can truly find my purpose and happiness.
Having faith in what's unseen
Believing in things that cannot necessarily be seen with the naked eye,
Loving my enemies
and showing love to those who may not love me back,
I've been given what I
I have been given things I don't necessarily deserve,
Haven't earned, 'cause You
because You have taken the punishment that I deserve.
Took the cross I deserve
You bore the weight of my sins on the cross, even though I deserved it more than You did.
Giving all I have away
Giving away everything I have,
Finding joy inside the pain
Finding happiness and purpose in difficult situations,
Where last is first
Where those who are considered the least important or successful are actually the most valued and respected,
And lost are finally found
Where those who have been lost can be found and given a new meaning and purpose.
It's upside down
My entire way of living is completely flipped in comparison to the world's view of success and happiness.
And I'm finding out
I am discovering more about this way of living and its truth every day.
Yeah, it's upside down
Yes, it is completely flipped and different than what the world tells us to strive for.
And it's upside down in every way
This concept is completely upended and unconventional in every aspect of life.
That losing my life is the only way
Giving up my own desires and interests is the sole approach
It can be found
to discovering true happiness and purpose.
Writer(s): Dalton Diehl
Contributed by Adrian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Anderson Andre Ferreira
#Brasil ♥
Zairia Vallie
How do you pronounce his last name, like "days", or "dye-as"?
Jessi White
+Zairia Vallie, It's "dye-as"
Syw Z
🥴❤️🥴
Bea TV
Di-az
B.M. ?
So sorry
B.M. ?
So sorry