Sara received her Bachelor of Science degree in History and English in 1994 from Evangel University, a private Christian university in Springfield, Missouri. Sara spent four years teaching high school in Rosemount, Minnesota before recording her first album, Past the Wishing, in 1998. Since then, she has released five more albums and appeared on several others (see below). Sara has been nominated for 3 Dove Awards including "New Artist of the Year" in 2002 and "Special Event Album of the Year 2003" by the Gospel Music Association. She was named one of the best Christian music artists of 2005 and the album, Add to the Beauty, was named "Album of the Year" for 2005 by CCM Magazine. In 2009 Fireflies & Songs earned enough votes from a panel of ten music critics to be named Christianity Today's Album of the Year. The magazine explained their choice: "Already known for her transparent songwriting, Sara Groves gets even more piercingly honest on this, her ninth album. Whether her relationship with God, marital tension, or a private battle with anxiety, it's poetically spilled forth in Groves' call for the church to 'live confessionally.' And paired with less poppy, stripped-down arrangements, her achingly clear vocal remains front and center. This is vintage Groves—yet more herself than ever."
You Did That for Me
Sara Groves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't have to worry about what's in store
I've walked that road exhausted and poor
I don't have to cry anymore
And I don't have to know it all
I don't have to be so proud and stand so tall
I climbed that mountain only to fall
You did that for me
Oh, you did that for me
You wore the chains so I could be free
Yeah, yeah
You did that for me
And I don't have to be ashamed
Hang my head or shoulder the blame
Wondering if my life's been in vain
I don't have to be ashamed
Oh, you did that for me
Oh, you did that for me
You wore the chains so I could be free
Yeah, yeah
You did that for me
Man of sorrows
Well acquainted with grief
Drug down to the city dump
Spread eagle on a cross beam
Propped up like a scarecrow
Nailed like a thief
There for all the world to see
You wore the chains so I could be free
Yeah, yeah
Oh Lord, you did that for me
Oh Lord, you did that for me,
You wore the chains so I could be free
In the song "You Did That for Me" by Sara Groves, the singer expresses gratitude for what Jesus did on the cross. She acknowledges that she doesn't have to struggle through life anymore, and she doesn't have to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. She has seen the end of her suffering and pain because Jesus wore the chains that bound her to sin, so she could be free. The lyrics invite the listener to rest in the freedom that comes from knowing Christ's love.
The second verse of the song digs deep into the imagery of the crucifixion. Sara talks about how Christ, a man of sorrows, was well-acquainted with grief, but He still decided to take on the weight of humanity's sin to set them free. The image of Him being drug down to the city dump and being spread eagle on the cross beam like a scarecrow is a stark reminder of the violence that He endured. Despite all of this, He still bore the weight of the chains that bound humanity to sin. Through His sacrifice, the chains have been broken, and humanity can now be free.
In conclusion, "You Did That for Me" is a song of gratitude and recognition of the sacrifice Christ made on the cross for humanity. Its lyrics speak to the freedom that comes from knowing Him and the peace that comes from not having to carry the weight of sin anymore.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't have to cry anymore
I no longer have to shed tears because of the support you have provided me
I don't have to worry about what's in store
My path in life is no longer a concern for me as you will guide me through it
I've walked that road exhausted and poor
I have traversed through the path of life, facing challenges and hardships, before your intervention
And I don't have to know it all
My quest for knowledge is not a necessity as you will provide me with the necessary solutions
I don't have to be so proud and stand so tall
My pride and ego no longer have a place in my life as I acknowledge your guidance for me
I climbed that mountain only to fall
I have experienced failures and setbacks despite my efforts and struggles
You did that for me
The assistance and support that were provided to me were due to your benevolence
Oh, you did that for me
It is my gratitude for the help and guidance given to me by you
You wore the chains so I could be free
You took upon yourself the burden of sin and suffering so that I may live a life free from them
And I don't have to be ashamed
I need not feel guilty or ashamed due to my past actions as you have forgiven me
Hang my head or shoulder the blame
I do not have to bear the weight of guilt or responsibility of my past actions
Wondering if my life's been in vain
I can let go of the constant worry about my life's purpose and existence
Man of sorrows
Referring to Jesus' suffering that he endured for mankind
Well acquainted with grief
Jesus, who had experienced significant mourning and pain throughout his life
Drug down to the city dump
Jesus was brought down to the refuse of society, emphasizing the deprecation and negativity that he had to go through
Spread eagle on a cross beam
Jesus was nailed down with arms outstretched on a wooden beam to be crucified
Propped up like a scarecrow
Jesus was put up as a spectacle and object of fear by the people for his teachings and beliefs
Nailed like a thief
Jesus was executed like a common criminal, even though he was innocent
There for all the world to see
The death of Jesus, which was visible to all, is a testament to the unconditional love that he has for mankind
Oh Lord, you did that for me
The singer acknowledges the importance of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus and its impact on their life
You wore the chains so I could be free
The suffering of Jesus, his burden of sin, and his death allowed people to be free from the chains of guilt, shame, and sin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONELL MOSSER, PIERCE RAY PETTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Matt Leitner
on Conversations
Thanks for the commentary, I think the line by line suffers a little - clearly Sara is a believer in Jesus Christ and that is what means so much to her, whereas the line by line interpretation "dumbs it down" to "my faith and religious beliefs". The line by line even mentions "my truth" which is moral relativism (see a Tim Keller sermon or talk on idolatry). Just because a believer in Christ expresses uncertainty or vulnerability does not mean that they are abandoning their faith!!!!!! In this the line by line commentary does a disservice to the song. Nevertheless I appreciated the overall meaning comments.