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
Get Back Up
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And hesitated when I asked if you were alright,
Seems like you're fighting for your life,
But why? Oh why?
Wide awake in the middle of your nightmare,
You saw it comin' but it hit you outta nowhere,
And there's always scars
When you fall that far
We lose our way,
We get back up again
It's never too late to get back up again,
One day you're gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever,
Lose our way,
We get back up again,
So get up, get up,
You gonna shine again,
Never too late to get back up again,
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever
(May be knocked down but not out forever)
You're rolled out at the dawning of the day
Heart racin' as you made you little getaway,
It feels like you've been runnin' all your life
But, why? Oh why?
So you've pulled away from the love that would've been there,
You start believin' that your situation's unfair
But there's always scars,
When you fall that far
We lose our way,
We get back up again
Never too late to get back up again,
One day, you're gonna shine again,
You may be knocked down but not out forever,
Lose our way, we get back up again,
So get up, get up
You gonna shine again
It's never too late, to get back up again
You may be knocked down, but not out forever,
May be knocked down, but not out forever!
This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken,
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken
This is love callin'.
This is love callin', love callin',
I am so broken
This is love callin' love callin
We lose our way, (way way way ay ay ay)
We get back up, (get back up again)
It's never too late (late late late ate ate ate)
You may be knocked down but not out forever!
Lose our way,
We get back up again,
So get up get up
You gonna shine again
Never too late to get back up again
You may be knocked down,
But not out forever,
This is love (lose our way) callin' love callin' (get back up again)
To the broken
This is love (never too late) callin'
(May be knocked down but not out forever)
This is love (lose our way) callin' love callin' (we get back up again)
To the broken
This is love (never too late) callin'
(May be knocked down but not out forever)
This is love callin' love callin'
Out to the broken,
This is love callin'
In TobyMac's song "Get Back Up," the singer addresses someone who is facing a difficult time in their life. The first verse describes how this person seems to be struggling and fighting, yet they are not communicating what is wrong, possibly out of fear or shame. In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that the person has been running from something, from love or from past hurts, and has convinced themselves that their situation is unfair. The chorus provides hope and encouragement by urging the person to get back up and keep going, with the promise that they will shine again.
The message of the song is one of hope and resilience, highlighting the struggles and scars that come with falling down, but ultimately emphasizing the importance of getting back up again. The love that is mentioned in the lyrics seems to represent a higher power or a source of support for the person going through a tough time; it is calling out to them, urging them to keep going.
Overall, "Get Back Up" is a powerful anthem about perseverance and the human spirit's ability to overcome difficulties. Its message is universally relatable, making it a popular and inspiring song for many people.
Line by Line Meaning
You turned away when I looked you in the eye,
The person being addressed avoided eye contact, indicating that they were not willing to share what was going on with them.
And hesitated when I asked if you were alright,
When asked directly about their wellbeing, the person being addressed was unsure how to respond or reluctant to speak about it.
Seems like you're fighting for your life,
The person being addressed is going through a tough time, facing difficult challenges that they must overcome to survive.
But why? Oh why?
The singer wonders why the person being addressed is struggling, seeking to understand the root cause of their pain.
Wide awake in the middle of your nightmare,
The person being addressed is experiencing a difficult and overwhelming situation that has them feeling traumatized.
You saw it comin' but it hit you outta nowhere,
Despite anticipating something bad happening, the person being addressed was caught off guard and surprised by the severity of the situation.
And there's always scars
The difficulties and challenges that the person being addressed faces will leave marks and have lasting effects on them.
When you fall that far
The depth of the struggles that the person being addressed is experiencing is intense, and they will need to work hard to recover.
We lose our way,
People often lose their path and wander aimlessly through life.
We get back up again
It is possible to recover from setbacks and regain one's sense of purpose.
It's never too late to get back up again,
No matter how long one has been struggling, it is always possible to turn things around and start making progress towards a better life.
One day you're gonna shine again,
The person being addressed will eventually emerge from their struggles and succeed, shining brightly and inspiring others with their resilience.
You may be knocked down,
The person being addressed has been through tough times and struggled to keep going.
But not out forever,
Although the person being addressed has faced difficult challenges, they will overcome them and eventually succeed.
You're rolled out at the dawning of the day
The person being addressed wakes up early, fleeing their troubles and seeking a new start to the day.
Heart racin' as you made you little getaway,
The person being addressed is anxious and afraid, trying to escape from what is troubling them.
It feels like you've been runnin' all your life
The person being addressed has struggled to find peace and happiness for a long time, and has always been running away from their problems.
But, why? Oh why?
The singer is still trying to understand why the person being addressed is struggling and what has caused their problems.
So you've pulled away from the love that would've been there,
The person being addressed has distanced themselves from others who care about them and could have helped them through their tough times.
You start believin' that your situation's unfair
The person being addressed feels like their struggles are unjust and that they have been unfairly burdened.
But there's always scars,
The trials and tribulations that the person being addressed faces will leave lasting marks and have a profound effect on them.
When you fall that far
The depth of the struggles that the person being addressed is experiencing is intense, but it is still possible to recover and move forward.
This is love callin', love callin', out to the broken,
The singer is sending a message of love and support to those who are struggling, reaching out to offer hope and encouragement.
We lose our way, (way way way ay ay ay)
People often feel lost or adrift, struggling to find their path in life.
We get back up, (get back up again)
No matter how many times they fall down, people can always get back up and keep moving forward.
It's never too late (late late late ate ate ate)
No matter how old or how stuck they feel, people can always start making positive changes and moving towards a brighter future.
You may be knocked down but not out forever!
Although the person being addressed has been through tough times, they are still capable of overcoming their struggles and succeeding.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Major Bob Music, Inc. / Rio Bravo Music, Inc. / Castle Bound Music, Inc. / Hanna Bea Songs, Capitol CMG Publishing, Spirit Music Group
Written by: AARON CHARLES RICE, CARY RYAN BARLOWE, JAMES L. MOORE, TOBY MCKEEHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kalebblakeingram1781
I battle depression, and this song always helps me to try to win, and stay positive. This song is almost always in my head
@thetardis3718
Me too I honestly can't count the times listening to this song has helped me after a bad day toby mac is an amazing singer :D
@Good-Win2015
you're not alone, guys!)
@user-cy4xb7bz5s
Hi
@woftrip7326
i can't count the times I've heard this song in general!!
@imoveddddd4709
Kaleb Blake Ingram me hugs u
@triggerfist903
Listening to this stuff just makes my soul feel better!
@TheKillzoz
I've been fighting panic attacks and depression and heard this song before. Well the other morning when first got up had this song in my head and looked it up I thank the good lord cause he put this song in my head to cheer me up. Thank you Jesus!!!!!
@laurastone7409
Love this song and I love God,Jesus and the Holy Spirit!!!!
@mariapierce2707
Amen