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
I just need U.
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woke up and I'm feeling lonely
This world gotta a way of showing me (showing me)
Some days it'll lift you up
Some days it'll call your bluff
Man, most of my days I ain't got enough
And all I know
When I'm up when I'm down (uh, huh)
When the wolves come around (tell me)
When my feet hit the ground
I just need, I just need You
On my darkest days (uh, huh)
When I'm losing faith (tell me)
No, it ain't gon' change
I just need, I just need You
Lord, I need You
Yeah, I just need You
Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me
Thy rod and thy staff
They comfort me when I'm beat down, broken
Hold my heart when it's split right wide open
Turn these eyes to my Soul Protector
Break the will of this born infector
'Cause all I know, all I know
Is You're my only hope
When I'm up when I'm down (uh, huh)
When the wolves come around (tell me)
When my feet hit the ground
I just need, I just need You
On my darkest days (uh, huh)
When I'm losing faith (tell me)
No, it ain't gon' change
I just need, I just need You
Lord, I need You
Yeah, I just need You
When You pull me closer, I come to life
When You pull me closer, I come to life
When You pull me closer, I come to life
When You pull me closer, I come to life
When I'm up when I'm down
When my feet hit the ground
On my darkest days
No, it ain't gon' change
Oh Lord, I need You
When I'm up when I'm down
When the wolves come around
When my feet hit the ground
Yeah, I need, I need, I need, I need You
On my darkest days
When I'm losing faith
No, it ain't gon' change
Ain't no way this thing gon' change, it's You
I need, is You
I need
On my darkest days
When I'm losing faith
I need You, I need, Is You, I need
Every single day, every breath I take
I need You
I need You
In "I just need U," TobyMac sings about his need for God. He starts by describing a night that was hard on him, leading him to wake up feeling lonely. TobyMac then reflects on how life can change rapidly, bringing with it days of encouragement and others that can bring us down. Through it all, TobyMac sings that he knows that God is his only hope. He then describes the nature of the valley of the shadow of death and how it holds the potential for fear; however, he draws comfort in knowing that God is with him. TobyMac concludes the song by boldly stating that he just needs God, every single day of his life.
"I just need U" is a song about the human condition. We all have nightmarish days that cause us to feel like everything is falling apart, and we need a firm foundation to stand on. TobyMac acknowledges that the only way to rise above the darkness is by believing in God. He doesn't suggest that life will become rosy the moment one starts believing but highlights that having faith assures one of eternal companionship that can sustain on the darkest days.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night put the heavy on me
I had a tough day yesterday and can't seem to escape that feeling
Woke up and I'm feeling lonely
After such a difficult day yesterday, I'm still feeling alone and empty
This world gotta a way of showing me (showing me)
The world around me perpetuates my loneliness and despair
Some days it'll lift you up
Occasionally, things will go my way, and I'll feel uplifted
Some days it'll call your bluff
But just as quickly, those good things can turn against me and leave me feeling tricked
Man, most of my days I ain't got enough
Most days, I feel like I can't handle all of life's challenges by myself
And all I know
Is You're my only hope
Despite these struggles, I believe that God is the only one who can help me and guide me through it all
When I'm up when I'm down
Whether I'm happy or sad, fulfilled or lost,
When the wolves come around (tell me)
Or when people or situations threaten me,
When my feet hit the ground
Every day and every moment
I just need, I just need You
All I truly need is God's presence and guidance in my life
On my darkest days
When life feels unbearable and it seems like there's no hope
When I'm losing faith (tell me)
And I struggle to believe that things will get better
No, it ain't gon' change
Even if my circumstances don't change,
I just need, I just need You
I still need God's help and love to make it through
Lord, I need You
God, I'm reaching out to You and asking for Your help
Yeah, I just need You
Because I know that I can't do it all on my own and need Your guidance in my life
Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Even in the darkest and most dangerous of situations
I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me
I won't be afraid, because I know that God is always with me
Thy rod and thy staff
They comfort me when I'm beat down, broken
God's guidance and help are like a comforting shepherd's staff, helping me when life gets hard or throws me curveballs
Hold my heart when it's split right wide open
Even when my heart is broken and in pieces, God is always there to help me through it
Turn these eyes to my Soul Protector
God is the one who can protect and heal my soul from any harm
Break the will of this born infector
God has the power to overcome any challenges or struggles that I may face in life
When You pull me closer, I come to life
When I feel God's presence and love in my life, it brings me back to life and rejuvenates me
Ain't no way this thing gon' change, it's You
There's no way I can change my circumstances on my own - I need God's help and guidance to make a true difference in my life
Every single day, every breath I take
Every moment of my life, every breath I take, I need God's love, guidance, and support to make it through
I need You
More than anything else, I need God and His never-ending love in my life
I need, Is You
All I need is God - nothing else can fully satisfy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Bryan Fowler, David Blake Neesmith, Toby McKeehan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JuwonSonekan
Love You Here’s A FREE Gift❤️
The FULL BODY ARMOR of GOD:
https://youtu.be/H1OEr8cebxs
* The BELT of TRUTH- means "honesty," "truthfulness," "integrity," and "sincerity" that should surround every part of our life’s .
* The BODY ARMOR of GODS RIGHTEOUSNESS- Righteousness is the quality or state of being morally correct and justifiable.
* The SHOES of PEACE that come from GOOD NEWS- To put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
* The SHEILD of FAITH- To stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
* The HELMET of SALVATION- A gift of God's grace and cannot be obtained through works. It is freely given to those who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. All who confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead will be saved.
* The SWORD of the SPRIT- GODS WORD.———————————————————
Steps to fight addiction:
1.) Grow up
2.) Stand firm in my faith
3.) Sing praises and worship
4.) Call onto the lord
5.) Rebuke the devil and his demons, then call onto the lord
7 Faith Principles:
* Faith that is Waiting on Him
* Faith that is Expecting on Him / Alive & Awake to GOD
* Faith that is Walking and Trusting in Him
* Faith that is abiding in Him
* Faith that is on fire
* Faith that is manfaithing in you
* Faith that is not compromised
* Faith that is strengthend even when we are weak
9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
— Galatians 5:22-23
7 Mystery Keys:
“And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.””
— Revelation 5:12
receive power
and riches
and wisdom
and strength
and honor
and glory
and blessing
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
— Galatians 6:9
“But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
— Isaiah 54:17
4 Types of Destiny Changers:
https://youtu.be/7muz7gY_Sqc
1.) Destiny Connectors, Changers, & Helpers
2.) Men Of Access & Influence
3.) Gifted People Who Can Get The Job Done
4.) Burden Bearers
Prayer Points
https://youtu.be/psse_S3zDBQ
Supernatural Divine Protection & Healing
Supernatural Divine Speed
Supernatural Divine Favor
Supernatural Divine Preservation
Supernatural Divine Strength
Supernatural Divine Anointing
Supernatural Divine Counseling
Supernatural Divine Discernment
Supernatural Divine Timing
Great Worship & Prayers
https://youtube.com/shorts/2LhVE2Mdnxg?feature=share
https://youtu.be/v70K0s6m2Vg
https://youtu.be/kkcVqAsPpZ4
https://youtu.be/kaeQYViAUlM
https://youtu.be/kkcVqAsPpZ4
https://youtube.com/shorts/m0pd--gccQo?feature=share
https://youtu.be/bGiim-N9WlM
@SharbelFernando
I just wanted to thank you for the great Christian music you've put out there. It's made a huge impact on our lives and brightens out souls every time we listen to it. Thank you for being such an inspiration to us. I hope our young generation can follow in your footsteps.
May you have a long life!
May you create many songs
Please make more songs from the Bible scriptures
Psalms
I love this song
Psalms 23 is our favorite psalms
Thanks
Great music
Great beats
Love Tge team
@JuwonSonekan
Love You Here’s A FREE Gift❤️
The FULL BODY ARMOR of GOD:
https://youtu.be/H1OEr8cebxs
* The BELT of TRUTH- means "honesty," "truthfulness," "integrity," and "sincerity" that should surround every part of our life’s .
* The BODY ARMOR of GODS RIGHTEOUSNESS- Righteousness is the quality or state of being morally correct and justifiable.
* The SHOES of PEACE that come from GOOD NEWS- To put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
* The SHEILD of FAITH- To stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
* The HELMET of SALVATION- A gift of God's grace and cannot be obtained through works. It is freely given to those who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. All who confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead will be saved.
* The SWORD of the SPRIT- GODS WORD.———————————————————
Steps to fight addiction:
1.) Grow up
2.) Stand firm in my faith
3.) Sing praises and worship
4.) Call onto the lord
5.) Rebuke the devil and his demons, then call onto the lord
7 Faith Principles:
* Faith that is Waiting on Him
* Faith that is Expecting on Him / Alive & Awake to GOD
* Faith that is Walking and Trusting in Him
* Faith that is abiding in Him
* Faith that is on fire
* Faith that is manfaithing in you
* Faith that is not compromised
* Faith that is strengthend even when we are weak
9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
— Galatians 5:22-23
7 Mystery Keys:
“And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.””
— Revelation 5:12
receive power
and riches
and wisdom
and strength
and honor
and glory
and blessing
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
— Galatians 6:9
“But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
— Isaiah 54:17
4 Types of Destiny Changers:
https://youtu.be/7muz7gY_Sqc
1.) Destiny Connectors, Changers, & Helpers
2.) Men Of Access & Influence
3.) Gifted People Who Can Get The Job Done
4.) Burden Bearers
Prayer Points
https://youtu.be/psse_S3zDBQ
Supernatural Divine Protection & Healing
Supernatural Divine Speed
Supernatural Divine Favor
Supernatural Divine Preservation
Supernatural Divine Strength
Supernatural Divine Anointing
Supernatural Divine Counseling
Supernatural Divine Discernment
Supernatural Divine Timing
Great Worship & Prayers
https://youtube.com/shorts/2LhVE2Mdnxg?feature=share
https://youtu.be/v70K0s6m2Vg
https://youtu.be/kkcVqAsPpZ4
https://youtu.be/kaeQYViAUlM
https://youtu.be/kkcVqAsPpZ4
https://youtube.com/shorts/m0pd--gccQo?feature=share
https://youtu.be/bGiim-N9WlM
@JuwonSonekan
Love You Here’s A FREE Gift❤️
The FULL BODY ARMOR of GOD:
https://youtu.be/H1OEr8cebxs
* The BELT of TRUTH- means "honesty," "truthfulness," "integrity," and "sincerity" that should surround every part of our life’s .
* The BODY ARMOR of GODS RIGHTEOUSNESS- Righteousness is the quality or state of being morally correct and justifiable.
* The SHOES of PEACE that come from GOOD NEWS- To put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
* The SHEILD of FAITH- To stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
* The HELMET of SALVATION- A gift of God's grace and cannot be obtained through works. It is freely given to those who put their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. All who confess Jesus as Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead will be saved.
* The SWORD of the SPRIT- GODS WORD.———————————————————
Steps to fight addiction:
1.) Grow up
2.) Stand firm in my faith
3.) Sing praises and worship
4.) Call onto the lord
5.) Rebuke the devil and his demons, then call onto the lord
7 Faith Principles:
* Faith that is Waiting on Him
* Faith that is Expecting on Him / Alive & Awake to GOD
* Faith that is Walking and Trusting in Him
* Faith that is abiding in Him
* Faith that is on fire
* Faith that is manfaithing in you
* Faith that is not compromised
* Faith that is strengthend even when we are weak
9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
— Galatians 5:22-23
7 Mystery Keys:
“And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.””
— Revelation 5:12
receive power
and riches
and wisdom
and strength
and honor
and glory
and blessing
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
— Galatians 6:9
“But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
— Isaiah 54:17
4 Types of Destiny Changers:
https://youtu.be/7muz7gY_Sqc
1.) Destiny Connectors, Changers, & Helpers
2.) Men Of Access & Influence
3.) Gifted People Who Can Get The Job Done
4.) Burden Bearers
Prayer Points
https://youtu.be/psse_S3zDBQ
Supernatural Divine Protection & Healing
Supernatural Divine Speed
Supernatural Divine Favor
Supernatural Divine Preservation
Supernatural Divine Strength
Supernatural Divine Anointing
Supernatural Divine Counseling
Supernatural Divine Discernment
Supernatural Divine Timing
Great Worship & Prayers
https://youtube.com/shorts/2LhVE2Mdnxg?feature=share
https://youtu.be/v70K0s6m2Vg
https://youtu.be/kkcVqAsPpZ4
https://youtu.be/kaeQYViAUlM
https://youtu.be/kkcVqAsPpZ4
https://youtube.com/shorts/m0pd--gccQo?feature=share
https://youtu.be/bGiim-N9WlM
@joycestone1898
I accepted God
@lucascastillo4269
Yayy I'm so happy for you!!!😁
@pulldog9073
Praise God
@bignose37
Good for you!!!
@libbydavis5414
Praise Jesus!
@coilledragon279
Blessings to you!
@MaverickMusicCompilation
I’m 19 years old, it’s so hard to be a Christian teenager and many teenagers don’t believe in Jesus but i want them to believe in Jesus I’ll pray for them everyday and I’ll keep my faith forever 💗💗🙌🙌
@placefeature5329
AMEN! ME too, i'm almost 14!
@user-vz5jk3xk8d
life'struggle is Real, So is God.Shine in the corner where you are.❤❤❤In Christ 57 only Jesus freak in the class of 1980's going strong not wrong.
@d212611
M
L
)😊