Since disbanding, two other bands were formed by members of MDJ: Letters of Warning and Eldridge. LOW was a short lived, female fronted project formed in 2003 by Hinojosa & Payne. Eldridge was formed by Goodwin in 2003 and has since reunited drummer Dan Payne with bassist & vocalist Chris Goodwin in the band Eldridge- which is making its own waves in the music world.
You can purchase MDJ music on the Outbound Music website: www.outboundmusic.com/moderndayjohn
Refuge
Modern Day John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and the weight of this world falls heavy on my head
when i feel the pain
and agonize over failing you again
then i come before your throne
Your grace and mercy fill my soul
winds of deception whirl in my heart
thoughts without discernment flood my head
forgiveness- i need forgiveness
wash me in your blood
Lord I come to you this hour
touch me with Your healing power
tame this heart that goes astray
lead me down the narrow way
restore in me the man I am
in You and in Your mighty plan
touch me * heal me * restore me * fill me
The song "Refuge" by Modern Day John is about seeking comfort and solace in God during times of emotional turmoil and spiritual distress. The opening line "when life becomes a little too real" sets the tone for the song, implying that the singer is struggling with the weight of existence and the realities of the world around them. The load is heavy on their head, signifying the mental stress and pressure they are feeling. The pain they are experiencing likely refers to emotional pain as they talk about failing again and again.
The chorus of the song pivots to a more hopeful tone. The singer turns to God and seeks his forgiveness and mercy to wash away the negative thoughts and emotions inside of them. The phrase "winds of deception", suggests the singer is feeling lost and overwhelmed by their thoughts and feelings- overwhelming them, potentially leading them astray. So, they are asking God to guide them down the narrow path and help restore who they are in Him. The final line of the chorus- "Touch me * heal me * restore me * fill me"- captures the essence of the singer's plea to God- a desperate cry for help and rejuvenation.
Overall, "Refuge" is an emotional and deeply spiritual song that explores the human need for divine intervention in times of struggle and hardship. Through this song, the artist expresses how valuable the power of faith can be in navigating and overcoming life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
when life becomes a little too real
When living in reality becomes emotionally overwhelming.
and the weight of this world falls heavy on my head
And when the burdens of this world become too much to bear.
when i feel the pain
When the emotional pain becomes unbearable.
and agonize over failing you again
And when the guilt of past mistakes weighs heavy on my heart.
then i come before your throne
At that moment, I turn to God for guidance and comfort.
Your grace and mercy fill my soul
God's love and forgiveness help me find peace and comfort.
winds of deception whirl in my heart
I struggle with my thoughts and emotions, trying to figure out what's true and what's not.
thoughts without discernment flood my head
I am bombarded by negative and unclear thoughts that cloud my judgment.
take me far from this emptiness
I long to escape from my current emotional state.
forgiveness- i need forgiveness
I acknowledge my mistakes and request forgiveness from God.
wash me in your blood
I pray that God will cleanse me of my sins and make me whole again.
Lord I come to you this hour
I approach God in prayer, seeking guidance and comfort.
touch me with Your healing power
I pray for God to heal my emotional and spiritual wounds.
tame this heart that goes astray
I ask God to help me control my emotions and overcome negative thinking.
lead me down the narrow way
I ask God to guide me in the right direction and help me stay on the path of righteousness.
restore in me the man I am
I ask God to bring back my inner strength and restore my emotional and spiritual well-being.
in You and in Your mighty plan
I acknowledge that God has a plan for me and that I need to trust in Him.
touch me * heal me * restore me * fill me
I pray for God's love and guidance to fill me and make me whole once again.
Writer(s): Devon L. Harris, John Stephens, Paul Cho
Contributed by Bella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.