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
Hello Future
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hello promise, I hope you're here to stay
Ain't nothin' sweeter than welcomin' new mercy every day
Hello sunshine, sure glad you came
Sure glad you came
Well, hello future
Goodbye yesterday
Than anywhere I've lived
You turn these troubled eyes
To watchin' all my troubles wash away
Hello, future (hey)
We gon' be okay
We gon' be okay
We gon' be okay
(Troubles, troubles, troubles, troubles, troubles, troubles, troubles)
Hello purpose, you've alluded me
I thought I'd find you
In victory
I scaled the mountain (Hey)
Just to find nobody beside me
Hello purpose (Hey)
Don't leave me be
Don't leave me be
Don't leave me be
Oh, don't leave me be
Don't leave me be
Hello Jesus
I hope You understand
My last departure was never planned
I came up empty with everyone and everywhere I've been
Hello Jesus
I'm home again
I'm home again
The song "Hello Future" by TobyMac is filled with hope and optimism for the future. The lyrics beginning with "Hello sunshine, goodbye rain, Hello promise, I hope you're here to stay" represents the singer's past struggles and the desire for a better future. The metaphor of sunshine and rain effectively represent the changing times and the ups and downs of life. The line, "Ain't nothin' sweeter than welcomin' new mercy every day" refers to the idea of waking up to a new day and a new chance to do things better than before.
In the chorus, the singer emphasizes the beauty and promise of the future over the past. He acknowledges that the future may be uncertain but believes that it is brighter than the past. The line "Your grass is greener than anywhere I've lived" is a metaphorical statement that represents hope for a better future. The song's message becomes stronger in the lines "We gon' be okay, We gon' be okay, We gon' be okay," which symbolizes the singer's assurance that everything will be alright, and the future will be better.
In the second verse, the singer talks about feeling lost and looking for a purpose in life. The line "Hello purpose, you've alluded me, I thought I'd find you in victory" refers to the singer's past search for purpose but failing to do so. The singer seeks purpose in climbing the mountain but finds that nobody is there to help him. He then calls out for purpose, hoping it does not leave him alone.
In the final verse, the singer welcomes Jesus back into his life. The line "Hello Jesus, I hope You understand, My last departure was never planned" refers to the singer's return to faith after experiencing past struggles, loss, and suffering. The line "I'm home again" represents the singer's reconnection with Jesus, and the return to a belief system that offers comfort, hope, and strength.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello sunshine, goodbye rain
Welcoming positivity and saying goodbye to negativity
Hello promise, I hope you're here to stay
Welcoming hopeful thoughts and wanting them to persist
Ain't nothin' sweeter than welcomin' new mercy every day
Feeling grateful and blessed to receive new opportunities every day
Hello sunshine, sure glad you came
Feeling ecstatic that positivity has entered one's life
Well, hello future
Greeting the upcoming events in one's life
Goodbye yesterday
Letting go of past events
Your grass is greener
Seeing a more hopeful future compared to the present and past
Than anywhere I've lived
Comparing the future to the past and not finding satisfaction in them
You turn these troubled eyes
Looking to the future to overcome current struggles
To watchin' all my troubles wash away
Finding relief and fulfillment in the future
Hello, future (hey)
Continuing to greet the future with positivity
We gon' be okay
Feeling hopeful and assured that future events will have positive outcomes
Hello purpose, you've alluded me
Looking for a sense of purpose in life
I thought I'd find you in victory
Believing that accomplishments and success would bring purpose
I scaled the mountain (Hey) just to find nobody beside me
Going through difficult times with no support and still not finding purpose
Hello purpose (Hey)
Continuing to search for purpose with a positive attitude
Don't leave me be
Wanting to find a true sense of purpose and not giving up the search
Hello Jesus
Turning to faith to find peace and answers
I hope You understand
Seeking understanding and guidance from a higher power
My last departure was never planned
Feeling lost and disconnected from faith due to unforeseen circumstances
I came up empty with everyone and everywhere I've been
Not finding fulfillment or purpose in life's experiences
Hello Jesus
Turning back to faith and feeling at home
I'm home again
Feeling a sense of belonging and contentment in faith
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Toby McKeehan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eastdallasalice
Amen, Hello Jesus, I’m home agsin
Took an early flight but arrived late.
Still found you waiting for me at the gate.
I’m so tired and I’m lonely,
But your always there, your not phony.
@anthonycourteaux8165
You never alone king 👑 Jesus
@eastdallasalice
@@anthonycourteaux8165 True, it’s a feeling you get when you doubt or lose faith.
@lindabarling7719
Thank you LORD for giving us this gifted soul during this generation 🙏 ❤Y'all 4EVERMORE ❤❤
@user-rt7rv6nu6o
Thanks, Toby. Future looks slighty cloudy, with a chance of rain, mixed in with humidity. But I believe that better things are on the horizon🎉
@tanyasells9877
Toby Mac, this sounds fantastic. I love this song 100%. It does remind you of God and losing control all the love it. 100 %, thank you, Toby Mac.❤❤❤
@BNHAalltheway
This song is such a blessing every song You've ever written is a blessing praise God for God always there when we need Him God bless You
@tameramcwhirt5933
I can't wait to see u all in concert again in November I'm so so excited and my husband is going with me this time he was sick at hone recovering from peripheral artery bypass surgery
@kathyhollenbach7413
@tameram...
Praise our God and King. That surgery your husband had was no laughing matter, Praise our Lord and Savior Jesus for his recovery!!!!
@vickigrey
WOW 😲 I wasn't feeling good at all a few days ago, and was in a lot of pain. I had a lot I had to do, but it hurt, and I felt so bad. So, I was trudging along, and saw the notification, "TobyMac- 'Hello Future'". So I tapped it and started listening to it. "We're gonna be ok," just sort of hit me, and I just felt an overwhelming sense of peace and hope. I felt God was saying, "I have not carried you this far to abandon you."
💛 TobyMac, well, what can I say? This is just PERFECT. 👌