The ascension of TobyMac’s solo career has been nothing short of spectacular. In an era of declining music sales he has consistently defied the odds and has seen his sales increase with each new album release. This is no small feat. With his fourth studio album TONIGHT released on Feb. 9, he is poised to take things higher yet again.
Having climbed the mountain once with the group dcTalk (4 Grammys, more than 8 million albums sold), TobyMac knows how difficult the journey can be and how much work the process actually takes. Rarely does an artist get to soar to great heights for a second time, but soar he has. He took home his first Grammy as a solo artist last year after receiving Grammy nominations for each of his first four solo projects (Momentum, Welcome To Diverse City, Portable Sounds, Tonight). And last year TobyMac topped 2 million in total albums sold during his solo career. TobyMac has also remixed the Welcome to Diverse City album and Momentum, calling the new albums Renovating Diverse City and Re:Mix Momentum, respectively. He has done it with a combination of talent, hard work and humility which has produced songs that resonate with people from all walks of life .
Upon embarking on his solo career, Toby sought to surround himself with a talented and diverse cast of characters, aptly named the Diverse City Band. The result has been a musical fusion that radiates with an unquenchable energy and a penetrating message.
A self-professed perfectionist when making records—he’s been known to relentlessly tweak and massage every little thing in an inexorable effort to make it sound better—Toby is the first to admit that he has to work really hard to make great music. “That’s what drives me,” he says. “I feel like I have to work harder than other people to get there. Sometimes I feel like I’m slightly under-gifted; I usually don't sit down and write a great song in just a few minutes like others can. But I think my work ethic makes up for that.”
Starting with dcTalk, and then going solo when the group disbanded in 2000, Toby still clings to such rootsy notions as hard work, persistence, patience and—perhaps most relevant of all—the power of music, which he insists is still what keeps him going.
“It’s the truth,” he says. “I still believe that a song can penetrate a heart. I believe God can use a song to open someone’s mind and heart. Other songs can just drop what I call, 'the joy bomb' on somebody. I fight really hard to remain unjaundiced—to keep believing that you can actually walk into a studio and write a song that breathes life. That’s the hardest fight for a guy who’s been doing this for a while; it’s easy to fall into the trap of just making it your job. But I still believe that songs matter.”
The songs on TONIGHT certainly matter—everything from the prayerful first single “City On Our Knees” to the testimonial “Changed Forever,” from the worshipful “Captured” to the confessional “Start Somewhere,” and even down to the put-on-your-party-hat grooves of “Funky Jesus Music” and “ShowStopper.” One theme that runs loud and clear throughout is the idea that we all need God, and we need him now—this morning, this afternoon, tonight.
“Right here, right now / Under the stars / I promise You my heart / ’Cause it starts tonight,” Toby sings on the chorus of the title track. “If you gotta start somewhere why not here? If you gotta start sometime why not now?” he asks on “City on Our Knees.” And “I wanna straighten this before the sun goes down tonight,” he proclaims on “Start Somewhere.”
“There’s definitely a sense of urgency on this record,” says co-producer Chris Stephens, who has worked on TobyMac’s last three CDs. “And it’s an album that speaks of unity, of coming together and finding common ground to worship God.”
Toby has long had a passion for racial reconciliation and unity, a recurrent theme in his music. TONIGHT includes songs of reconciliation of another kind—between husband and wife. Toby and Amanda have been happily married for 15 years, but like all couples, it can be hard work sometimes. For Toby, who best expresses his emotions through music, it was a natural step to write about it. In “Hold On,” he sings, “If you move just a little bit closer / You can put your head on my shoulder . . . / Wipe away those tears / This one’s for you.” And on “Start Somewhere,” he’s downright confessional: “I said some things that I regret / And if I could, I’d take ’em back / But here I am, and there you are / The space between us is not so far / I’m reaching out my hand in love.”
“‘Hold On’ is very personal,” Toby says. “Many lines are there to encourage my wife, but I know those lines could encourage anybody in a relationship. As for ‘Start Somewhere,’ any time you’re in love with somebody, you’re going to bang heads from time to time. I don’t know how many times I’ve been lying in bed, sweating it out and thinking, How am I going to make this right? But then you reach that moment of apology and forgiveness. That’s one of my favorite songs on the record; it’s a personal perspective on confrontation and reconciliation.”
And then there’s “Wonderin’,” in which Toby reminisces about the past with Kevin Max and Michael Tait in dcTalk, one of Christian music’s biggest acts in the 1990s. “We was ridin’ in style, clockin’ them miles / With the songs that He put down deep in our hearts . . . / I’m wonderin’ ’bout the way I spend my days / Wonderin’ if it’s even worth the chase / Wonderin’ if they’re stealin’ me from you.”
“It’s just a warm look back at dc Talk,” says Toby, almost wistfully. “It’s reminiscing about Michael and Kevin and what we did together, and recognizing their influence on me. I love what I do today, but there are times when I wonder,What if we stayed together? I’ve got these dreams I’m pursuing now, but are they stealing me from you? I think about Kevin and Michael on every song I write. That's the truth man, we climbed a mountain together.”
Sonically, TONIGHT is typical TobyMac in many ways—an eclectic mix of rap, rock, pop and funk, all laden with catchy hooks and melodies just itching for airplay and audience singalongs. There’s even a healthy dose of reggae on the album closer “Break Open the Sky,” where Toby flexes his Jamaican family ties while Israel Houghton provides guest vocals. Other visiting vocalists include Skillet’s John Cooper on “Tonight” and Relient K’s Matthew Thiessen on “Wonderin’.”
Of course most of the vocals belong to the artist himself. Stephens says Toby “has stretched himself as a vocalist, he writes about things he is passionate about and his vocals reflect that urgency''. Toby agrees: “I do more singing on this record than ever before. I’m learning to use my vocal instrument in different ways, and I’m getting more comfortable with it everyday''.
It all adds up to a project that reflects one man’s desire to push himself beyond “very good,” to dig deep in the quest for that other country where greatness resides. He certainly reached for it. Hard.
“I’ve worked very hard not to fall into the trap of making this just a gig,” he says. “If it is a labor, it’s a labor of love. I know music can’t change the world, but who says God can't speak through a song."
Right here, right now. TONIGHT.
TobyMac is usually styled tobyMac or TOBYMAC
Deeper
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People up there, they get me nervous (nervous)
Some days I pray I got no service (service)
'Cause that phone is robbin' me of purpose (purpose)
You can always tell me when I'm needin' a push
Breathe a little deeper just to slow down the rush
If you got the time could you just come by and hang?
Deeper, I wanna go deeper
I'm getting tired of the surface (tired of the surface)
Deeper, I wanna go deeper
I'm getting tired of the surface, tired of the surface
(Tired of the surface, tired of the surface) T. Wells
Let's stop and have a conversation
Tell me what's really goin' on (tell me what's really goin' on)
You probably feel some reservation
Real talk is fading like a song
'Cause I've been lost in my thoughts for a couple of days
You know I can't catch my mind when it's running away
If you can make the time can me and you conversate?
Let's push aside the noise and marinate on some things
Deeper, I wanna go deeper
I'm getting tired of the surface (tired of the surface), oh
Deeper, I wanna go deeper
I'm getting tired of the surface, tired of the surface
Tell me what's been goin' on with you (with you)
And I'll tell you everything I've been walking through
Deeper, yeah yeah
I'm gettin' tired of the surface
If you need a friend, need some shade (need some shade)
I'll always be a safe place
If you need some love, someone to pray (someone to pray)
I'll stay up all night for you
I'll leave on the light for you
Yeah
Deeper, I wanna go deeper (I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna go)
I'm getting tired of the surface (I'm getting tired of the surface)
Deeper, (oh yeah) yeah yeah
I'm getting tired of the surface, tired of the surface
We gon' take it down to the roots to the roots, to the roots
We gon' dig a little deeper, just me and you, me and you, me and you
We gon' take it down to the heart of it, to the heart of it
I'ma meet you where you are
We gon' talk through every part of it, yeah
We gon' talk through every part of it
We gon' talk through every part of it
In TobyMac's song "Deeper," the lyrics express a desire to go beyond the superficial and explore deeper levels of connection and understanding. The first verse sets the tone by acknowledging the distractions and anxieties of the surface level, highlighting the overwhelming influence of technology ("'Cause that phone is robbin' me of purpose"). The artist craves genuine human interaction, expressing a need for someone to push them and help them slow down the rush of life. The chorus, repeated twice, reinforces this longing for depth, stating that they are tired of living on the surface.
The second verse expands on the theme of disconnect and the fading art of honest conversation. The lyrics suggest that the artist has been lost in their thoughts, unable to catch their mind as it runs away. They yearn for meaningful dialogue and suggest setting aside the noise of the world to truly engage and marinate on important matters. The bridge further emphasizes the desire for authentic connection, offering to be a safe place, a source of love, and someone who will stay up all night for a friend in need.
Line by Line Meaning
I need to get below the surface
I want to explore deeper aspects or hidden meanings
People up there, they get me nervous
Interacting with certain individuals makes me anxious
Some days I pray I got no service
Sometimes I wish to disconnect from technology and distractions
'Cause that phone is robbin' me of purpose
Constant phone usage is taking away my sense of meaning and direction
You can always tell me when I'm needin' a push
You can encourage and motivate me when I'm feeling stuck
Breathe a little deeper just to slow down the rush
Take a moment to relax and calm down the fast-paced life
If you got the time could you just come by and hang?
If you have some free time, can you spend it with me?
We'll put it all aside and marinate on some things
Let's set aside distractions and deeply contemplate on important matters
Let's stop and have a conversation
Let's pause and engage in a meaningful discussion
Tell me what's really goin' on
Honestly share what's happening in your life
You probably feel some reservation
You may have some hesitations or doubts
Real talk is fading like a song
Genuine and sincere conversations are becoming less common
'Cause I've been lost in my thoughts for a couple of days
I have been preoccupied and consumed by my thoughts recently
You know I can't catch my mind when it's running away
I struggle to control or calm my racing thoughts
If you can make the time can me and you conversate?
If you can spare some time, can we have a conversation?
Let's push aside the noise and marinate on some things
Let's ignore distractions and deeply contemplate important matters together
Tell me what's been goin' on with you
Share with me what has been happening in your life
And I'll tell you everything I've been walking through
I'll honestly communicate my experiences and challenges
If you need a friend, need some shade
If you need a companion or some comfort
I'll always be a safe place
I will always be a source of security and support
If you need some love, someone to pray
If you need affection or someone to pray for you
I'll stay up all night for you
I'll be there for you, even if it means sacrificing sleep
I'll leave on the light for you
I'll keep a light on for you, symbolically representing my availability and care
We gon' take it down to the roots
We will delve into the fundamental aspects of the situation
We gon' dig a little deeper, just me and you
We will explore further together, seeking greater understanding
We gon' take it down to the heart of it
We will focus on the core or essence of the matter
I'ma meet you where you are
I will accept and support you wherever you may be
We gon' talk through every part of it
We will thoroughly discuss and address every aspect or issue
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Micah Kuiper, Toby McKeehan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@karrielidysyiem682
I needed you to pray for me that GOD will send me His man so to help me in GODs ministry 🙏❤
@TheCreepypro
may we go deeper with you Lord and stop being superficial
@thatomofolo452
Team Tauren Wells let's go 🚀 🥳 🥁🪘🎼🎹🎶🔁🦅🔥💪♥️😊💫
@TobyFrankDJ
Hi! I make a unofficial remix of this song, maybe like you
@thatomofolo452
@@TobyFrankDJWOW 😲
@melyndasmith3304
Toby !! God is really using you..such a mighty way !! What rises out of the ashes of your brokeness..I love all these new and meaningful songs , thankyou , dear sweet brother !!!
@abdiel_jimenez
Just what I say! Glory to God
@comictitan4509
This song feels almost like a direct sequel to "It's You" from The Elements!
@user-eg5nl1ek8h
May god bless you and always be with you to anyone who is reading this, remember to smile and remember God loves you 🤍🕊️
@kimbaker8397
Two Times TobyMac! I Love You DEEPLY, DEEPER than the ocean..this is not only Love this is devotion!!! To God be the Glory ❤❤❤