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
Love Is In The House
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I need uno momento
Them cynics gonna ride me like a pinto
No resentment do you comprehend my innuendo
You still can't leave the party til you drop your crucial info
Am I jaded in assuming that you're simply bound to do me
Like them other lyricists who's message ain't so gloomy
Pan my positivity cause love has let you down
They'd be making sweeter sounds, 'T
Government checks they flex with no dollars
Two turntables and a plate full of collards
Royalty checks reflects with few dollars
But my DJ makes the people wanna holler
Love is in the house and the house is packed
So much so I left the back door cracked
Mama always said it's a matter of fact
That when love is in the house the house is packed
Love is in the house and the house is packed
So much so I left the back door cracked
Daddy always said that I wish I was black
'Cause when love is in the house the house is packed
Packed like a baby nine months in the womb
Man it was packed like the closet full of Nike's in my room
Singin' Oh sweet Lord take me to the next level
Where the love's much thicker than the stares of my devils
So whether or not this is a dream or reality
Let me appeal to the graces of His majesty
Amazing it will be when this tree bears life
My roots run to the river and the Giver of Life
Corporate jets they flex with big dollars
Two palm pilots and a room full of bawlers
Royalty checks reflects with few dollars
But amazing grace makes the people wanna holler
Love is in the house and the house is packed
So much so I left the back door cracked
Mama always said it's a matter of fact
That when love is in the house the house is packed
Love is in the house and the house is packed
So much so I left the back door cracked
Daddy always said that I wish I was black
'Cause when love is in the house the house is packed
Woke up this morning, didn't know what to do
There was people all around me tellin' me to sing the blues
Said they ain't seen no happy since 1992
Then they turned to me thinking I'd agree and I offered
This humble view
The lyrics to TobyMac's song Love Is In The House are an ode to love and its ability to bring people together. TobyMac starts the song by acknowledging that there may be cynics who question his positivity or dismiss his message as overly cheerful. However, he chooses to embrace love and its transformative power instead of being jaded like other lyricists. He encourages people to share their own experiences of love, recognizing that everyone's journey is unique but equally valuable. TobyMac believes that if people tasted the love he has, they too would be inspired to make positive changes in their lives.
The second verse continues to celebrate love's ability to unite people from different walks of life. TobyMac uses colorful imagery to convey just how full of love the "house" is when it's present. He juxtaposes the struggles of everyday life, such as government checks and low royalty payments, with the joy that love brings. The chorus repeats the message that when love is around, the house is always packed. TobyMac also pays homage to his parents, who instilled in him the belief that love is a unifying force that can transcend any differences.
Overall, Love Is In The House is a testament to the power of love to overcome cynicism and negativity. TobyMac embraces love and encourages others to do the same, recognizing that it can bring joy and healing into people's lives, no matter their circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
I clear my throat before I grab the mic
I prepare myself before speaking publicly
I need uno momento
I require a moment to gather myself
Them cynics gonna ride me like a pinto
Critics will be harsh on me
No resentment do you comprehend my innuendo
I don't hold grudges, do you understand my indirect message?
You still can't leave the party til you drop your crucial info
You must share your important thoughts before leaving
Am I jaded in assuming that you're simply bound to do me
Is it cynical to think that you will treat me like others have?
Like them other lyricists who's message ain't so gloomy
Like other artists who don't always have positive messages
Pan my positivity cause love has let you down
Don't criticize my positivity, even though love has failed you
'Cause if they taste the love you tasted, They'd be making sweeter sounds
If they experienced the love that I have, they would sound more positive
Government checks they flex with no dollars
People with government assistance still struggle financially
Two turntables and a plate full of collards
The tools of a DJ and a delicious southern meal
Royalty checks reflects with few dollars
Even with music success, royalty payments are not always substantial
But my DJ makes the people wanna holler
My DJ's music gets people excited
Love is in the house and the house is packed
There is a lot of love and people in this place
So much so I left the back door cracked
I had to leave the door open to fit everyone in
Mama always said it's a matter of fact
My mother believed this to be true
That when love is in the house the house is packed
When there is love, it attracts many people
Daddy always said that I wish I was black
My father wished to be a part of the African American culture
'Cause when love is in the house the house is packed
Again, love is what brings people together
Packed like a baby nine months in the womb
A simile comparing the crowd to a pregnant woman
Man it was packed like the closet full of Nike's in my room
It was crowded like my shoe collection
Singin' Oh sweet Lord take me to the next level
Asking for spiritual guidance to reach new heights
Where the love's much thicker than the stares of my devils
Where love is stronger than hate
So whether or not this is a dream or reality
Regardless of whether this moment is real or not
Let me appeal to the graces of His majesty
Let me ask for God's favor
Amazing it will be when this tree bears life
It will be great when my efforts produce fruitful results
My roots run to the river and the Giver of Life
My foundation is based on God, who gives life
Corporate jets they flex with big dollars
Wealthy people flaunt their wealth with private jets
Two palm pilots and a room full of bawlers
People with wealth use technology and surround themselves with others of similar status
But amazing grace makes the people wanna holler
Despite wealth, the power of grace is appreciated
Woke up this morning, didn't know what to do
I didn't have a specific plan for the day
There was people all around me tellin' me to sing the blues
Others wanted me to be negative
Said they ain't seen no happy since 1992
They claim to have not experienced happiness in a long time
Then they turned to me thinking I'd agree and I offered, This humble view
They expected me to join them in negativity, but instead I shared a different perspective
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Toby McKeehan, Peter Stewart, Paul Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Andrew Holl
I forgot how AWESOME this Song is
Sylas Roy
One of the best classics :-)
Jill Alexander
Omgosh, I use to play this song over and over again, the was my jam‼️‼️‼️❤️❤️❤️❤️😍🙏🏿
signdigger
Love you Toby, thanks for 20 plus years of love ! We all love to love the King!!
Kirby SHIGGS
Absolutely the coolest song ever! It's totally underrated and underplayed!!
Knock & it shall open
The vibe is real ❤️
Can I be Frank
Love this classic. Underrated song.
Christopher Montello
Cool just heard this song for the first time! What a jam!!
kim baker
This song is great! Love is all this nation needs! This nation needs Jesus! You are my favorite Christian music artist( along with Bryan Duncan & Russ Taff) thank you for all you do for your fans! I Love You TobyMac ❤❤
Саша Шпак
Oh man... I love this song