Amen
River Matthews Lyrics
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Hey hey preacher man
Do you mind if I borrow that mic? (Uh-huh!)
You been talking 'bout
How everybody got a story
Here is mine
I was so lost, I was so lost
Hey hey preacher man
Let's take a walk down by the river
Let the holy water wash over me
'Cause now that I've been delivered
I want the whole world
To know that I'm a new man now
And it's only by God's grace
I'm standing here today
If you're feeling what I'm feeling
Let me hear you say amen
If you're a new creation, amen
If you got that feel good in your soul
That hope that won't let you go
If you're feeling what I'm feeling
Let me hear you say amen
Every time I look back over my shoulder
I can see the life He saved me from
Every time I look back over my shoulder
I can see the life He saved me from
Thank God
Hey Church, now you see
This little light of mine
Well, my question is a simple one (Who's next?)
Come get it loud
I'm talking one by
I'm talking one by, one by one
Gonna testify
That it's only by God's grace
We're standing here today
If you're feeling what I'm feeling
Let me hear you say amen
If you're a new creation, amen
If you got that feel good in your soul
That hope that won't let you go
If you're feeling what I'm feeling
Let me hear you say amen
Every time I look back over my shoulder
I can see the life, I can see the life
He saved me, He saved me from
Every time I look back over my shoulder
I can see the life He saved me from
Every time I look back over my shoulder
I can see the life, I can see the life
He saved me, He saved me from
Every time I look back over my shoulder
I can see the life He saved me from
Thank God
If you're feeling what I'm feeling
Let me hear you say amen
If you're a new creation, amen
If you got that feel good in your soul
That hope that won't let you go
If you're feeling what I'm feeling
Let me hear you say amen
Amen
If you're a new creation, amen
If you got that feel good in your soul
That hope that won't let you go
If you're feeling what I'm feeling
Let me hear you say amen
Every time I look back over my shoulder
I can see the life He saved me from
Every time I look back over my shoulder
I can see the life He saved me from
Thank God
The song "Amen" by River Matthews is essentially a testimony of his personal transformation. The song begins with him requesting the preacher man to lend him the mic as he wants to tell his story. Having been lost in darkness, he is grateful for having found redemption through his faith in God. He invites the preacher man to go down to the river with him and have his sins washed away with the holy water. He is determined to spread the message of his transformation to the world and wants everyone to know that he is a new man now only by God's grace.
He then invites the congregation to join him if they too have felt the same transformation in their lives. The repeated invitation to say "amen" throughout the song is almost like a proclamation of their common faith and hope in Jesus. Matthews goes on to share how every time he looks back at his past, he can see the life he was saved from through his faith. The song ends with an expression of gratitude and him exclaiming "thank God". The song, therefore, seems to be a call to everyone who has been redeemed by faith to celebrate their transformation and testify to the saving power of God.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey hey preacher man
Addressing the preacher with respect and asking for permission to speak.
Do you mind if I borrow that mic? (Uh-huh!)
Requesting to use the preacher's microphone to share his own story.
You been talking 'bout
How everybody got a story
Here is mine
Acknowledging the preacher's message about everyone having a story and sharing his own.
I was so lost, I was so lost
But now I'm found, yeah, yeah
Expressing how lost he felt before finding his way and being saved.
Let's take a walk down by the river
Let the holy water wash over me
'Cause now that I've been delivered
Asking to go to the river to be baptized and cleansed now that he has been saved.
I want the whole world
To know that I'm a new man now
And it's only by God's grace
I'm standing here today
Desiring to share his transformation with the world and attributing it solely to God's grace.
If you're feeling what I'm feeling
Let me hear you say amen
Inviting others who are feeling the same way to express it by saying 'amen'.
If you're a new creation, amen
If you got that feel good in your soul
That hope that won't let you go
Specifically identifying the characteristics of those who should say 'amen'.
Every time I look back over my shoulder
I can see the life He saved me from
Reflecting on the past and being grateful for the life that he has been saved from.
Hey Church, now you see
This little light of mine
Well, my question is a simple one (Who's next?)
Addressing the church and challenging them to follow his lead in sharing their own stories.
Come get it loud
I'm talking one by
I'm talking one by, one by one
Gonna testify
That it's only by God's grace
We're standing here today
Encouraging others to join him in testimony and reminding them that their presence is also due to God's grace.
Thank God
Expressing gratitude to God for saving his life.
Writer(s): Michael Needle, River Matthews, Daniel Bryer
Contributed by Jasmine E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.