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
Eye On It
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eye on it, eye on it
Eye on it
Eye on it
Eye on it, eye on it
I set my eyes to the west, walking away from it all
I see my sweat hit the ground
I put my foot in the block
This is the race of my life
And I can't wait for this shot
'Cause I can feel the wind at my back
Chest is pumping like a heart attack
Feet are moving and my mind is locked
Pressing on with everything I got
I got my eye on it
I got my eye on it
I got my eye on it
Eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize and I will not quit
I've got a new passenger to help me navigate the way
So when my heart hits the floor I can re-calibrate
I feel the deeper call in me, all else is fading in the past
So let me run in the race that I know is built last
'Cause I can feel the wind at my back
Chest is pumping like a heart attack
Feet are moving and my mind is locked
Pressing on, I gotta take my shot
I got my eye on it
I got my eye on it
I got my eye on it
Eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize and I will not quit
I will not quit
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
I've got my eye on the prize and I will not quit
The song "Eye On It" by TobyMac is about persevering and keeping one's focus on their goals no matter what obstacles lie in their way. The lyrics describe the determination of an individual who is willing to work hard, overcome challenges, and pursue their dreams. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy tune make it an energetic anthem that inspires listeners to push through tough times and stay on track.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer describing how they are walking away from their past and focusing on the future. The second verse talks about the importance of having a support system to help navigate through difficult times. The chorus is a repetition of "I've got my eye on the prize, and I will not quit," emphasizing the importance of perseverance and never giving up.
Through his lyrics, TobyMac encourages listeners to stay focused on their goals, no matter how difficult the journey may be. The song is not only motivational but also speaks to individuals who have gone through tough times and are determined to keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Eye on it, eye on it
Repeated emphasis on the importance of keeping focus on the goal
I set my eyes to the west, walking away from it all
Moving on from the past towards the promise of a better future
Reaching for what lies ahead, I got my eye on it
Determined to achieve goals and constantly looking forward
I see my sweat hit the ground
Physical evidence of hard work and effort
I put my foot in the block
Ready to start the race
This is the race of my life
An important and defining moment
And I can't wait for this shot
Eager and excited for the opportunity to succeed
'Cause I can feel the wind at my back
Acknowledgement of favorable conditions and momentum
Chest is pumping like a heart attack
Intense physical and emotional reactions to the task at hand
Feet are moving and my mind is locked
Focused and in control of actions
Pressing on with everything I got
Giving maximum effort and not holding back
I've got my eye on the prize, I've got my eye on it
Repeated emphasis on not losing sight of the ultimate goal
I've got a new passenger to help me navigate the way
Acknowledgement of guidance and support from a higher power
So when my heart hits the floor I can re-calibrate
In challenging times, using faith and inner strength to regain focus
I feel the deeper call in me, all else is fading in the past
Sense of purpose that overrides other distractions and obstacles
So let me run in the race that I know is built last
Confident in pursuing a path that will stand the test of time
I will not quit
Determination to persevere despite challenges
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: CHRIS STEVENS, MIKE WOODS, TOBY MCKEEHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@satanchurches
I love how all worship music isn't just classical, I love how some of its this generation. It makes me feel like listening not just at church. And this is coming from a 12 year old :)
@firebird1918
REMEMBER THIS COMMENT BITCH
@RhondaRTEM
My favorite running song!!! Play it at the last stretch every time!
@KTM-therapy
He's had a huge impact for Christ. He's one of the boldest if not the boldest Christian artists ever. he's not ashamed of the gospel but just the opposite. This song debuted #1 on the Billboard Top 200. You know how many people will look into his music after this? Many who wouldn't normally check out a Christian artist and his message. Trust God that he's in control and can handle Toby's songwriting decisions.
@topworshipmusic8953
If you're reading this then have a nice day have fun and don't stress just thank god for another day and live ur life and do the things u want to do and don't worry about what people say cuz u only live once💕💕
@lilah2104
Well don’t thank God if you won’t live for him
@isabellasutton3423
🥰🥰
@renekastewart3975
Same to you keep living for GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR ALL OUR SINS AND JESUS ROSE AGAIN THE 3RD. ✝️😇🙏👍
@davidvargas2166
This is all about the Illuminati of you people have no discernment you won’t read between the lines! The eye represents all Illuminati. Don’t get fooled by these falls teachers of the end of times! These lyrics are not biblical at all. Toby Mac you need to repent
@shawncraft3805
WOW.....I LOVE IT....GOING OUT TO GET THE CD TONIGHT IF ITS OUT THERE...TOBY YOU HAVE BEEN A BLESSING IN MY LIFE...YOUR MUSIC HAS GOTTEN ME THROUGH SOME DARK TIMES....I KNOW I WILL BE OK BECAUSE I HAVE JESUS IN MY SOUL...THANK YOU FOR MAKING MUSIC THAT REALLY COUNTS...