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
Scars
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah I'm
Just beepin' right now
I gotta go
Hey
Had you on my mind
Had a little time
Turnin' back the pages
To our younger days, yeah
I can still imagine you
Boomin' like a thunder
Chasin' life with wonder
With fire that could light a room
Bottom kinda fell out
Waited for the rebound
But you never made a move
When life cuts so deep
Try and remember
You are not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
You are not alone
We've all been there (been there, been there, oh), oh
So lift your head, lift your head
Lift your head to where your help comes from
Yeah, you, you're not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
Life ain't got no sequel
We all broken people
The only road to found is lost
Oversimplifyin'
Ain't no shame in tryin'
Passion never counts the cost
Now you won't take my phone calls
You won't text me back at all
I just wanna see you
I can't stand to see you gone
Yesterday I missed you
Yesterday I played your song
I'm oversimplifyin', I'm oversimplifyin'
But try and remember
You are not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
You are not alone
We've all been there (been there, been there, oh), oh
So lift your head, lift your head
Lift your head to where your help comes from
Yeah, you, you're not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
(Scars come, scars come, oh, scars come
Oh, scars come with livin'
Scars come, scars come, oh, scars come
Oh, scars come with livin')
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
You, you're not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
You, you're not alone, you're not alone
So lift your head up
To where your help comes from
Lift your head up
Oh, scars come with livin'
Lift your head up
To where your help comes from
Lift your head up
Oh, scars come with livin', (lift your head up)
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
The song Scars by TobyMac talks about the scars that we all have in our lives due to the pain, suffering, and struggles that we encounter. The lyrics of the song vividly depict how it feels to go through tough and challenging times where life doesn't seem to go as planned. The singer reminiscences about the past and the moments he shared with someone who was close to him. However, life took a different turn, and everything changed. The person he once knew as full of life and energy was not the same anymore, and he could not reach them. The song tries to console the person, saying that scars come with living and you are not alone in your struggles.
Throughout the song, TobyMac emphasizes that life is not easy, and everyone has scars that they carry with them. He paints a message of hope, urging us to lift our heads up to where our help comes from, showing that we are not alone, and scars come with living. The lyrics encourage us to face our battles and even though it may be tough, it's important to hold on and allow the scars to be a reminder of our strength, resilience, and how far we have come in our journey.
In summary, Scars by TobyMac is a powerful song that connects with people who are going through tough times. It’s a reminder that we are not alone, and we should never allow our scars to define who we are. The song is a source of inspiration that no matter what we go through in life, we can always overcome it.
Line by Line Meaning
No, no
Acknowledging a failed attempt at communication
Yeah I'm
Responding to the communication failure
Just beepin' right now
Being busy or occupied
I gotta go
Ending the attempt at communication
Had you on my mind
Thinking about the person
Had a little time
Finding some spare time to think or talk
Know we kinda overdue
Feeling like it's been a while since talking or meeting
Turnin' back the pages
Reflecting on the past
To our younger days, yeah
Thinking about when we were young
I can still imagine you
Remembering the person as they were in the past
Boomin' like a thunder
Living life with energy and enthusiasm
Chasin' life with wonder
Living life with curiosity and excitement
With fire that could light a room
Having a passion that is contagious
Bottom kinda fell out
Encountering a sudden and unexpected disappointment
Waited for the rebound
Hoping for a positive change in fortunes
But you never made a move
Feeling stuck and defeated
When life cuts so deep
When life causes us great pain or hurt
Try and remember
A reminder to stay hopeful and positive
You are not alone
Assurance that others have also been through tough times
We've all been there
A shared experience of facing difficulties
Scars come with livin'
Life experiences often leave emotional scars
So lift your head, lift your head
Encouragement to stay optimistic and focused on moving forward
To where your help comes from
Finding comfort in faith or spirituality
Life ain't got no sequel
Life is unpredictable and there are no do-overs
We all broken people
All humans have flaws and struggles
The only road to found is lost
Sometimes only by getting lost and struggling can we find our way
Oversimplifyin'
Reducing complex issues to simple explanations
Ain't no shame in tryin'
It's important to make an effort to improve or overcome challenges
Passion never counts the cost
Having passion and pursuing what we love is worth the sacrifices
Now you won't take my phone calls
Feeling ignored and rejected by the person
You won't text me back at all
Further evidence of the person's rejection
I just wanna see you
Craving personal connection with the person
I can't stand to see you gone
Feeling a strong emotional attachment to the person
Yesterday I missed you
Regretting not having the person in their life anymore
Yesterday I played your song
Listening to something that reminds them of the person
But try and remember
Still encouraging the listener to stay hopeful
This world gon' leave some battle scars
Life challenges will leave their marks on everyone
You, you're not alone
Repeating the reassurance that the person is not alone
So lift your head up
Encouragement to stay positive and stay focused on the future
Oh, scars come with livin'
Repeating the theme that life experiences leave emotional scars
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Toby McKeehan, Bryan Fowler, Cole Walowac
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eldynnvertilus9442
@@samuelmendoza1002 Hi guys here are the lyrics if you were wondering:
No, no
Yeah I'm
Just beepin' right now
I gotta go
Hey
Had you on my mind
Had a little time
Know we kinda overdue
Turnin' back the pages
To our younger days, yeah
I can still imagine you
Boomin' like a thunder
Chasin' life with wonder
With fire that could light a room
Bottom kinda fell out
Waited for the rebound
But you never made a move
When life cuts so deep
Try and remember
You are not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
You are not alone
We've all been there (been there, been there, oh), oh
So lift your head, lift your head
Lift your head to where your help comes from
Yeah, you, you're not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
Life ain't got no sequel
We all broken people
The only road to found is lost
Oversimplifyin'
Ain't no shame in tryin'
Passion never counts the cost
Now you won't take my phone calls
You won't text me back at all
I just wanna see you
I can't stand to see you gone
Yesterday I missed you
Yesterday I played your song
I'm oversimplifyin', I'm oversimplifyin'
But try and remember
You are not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
You are not alone
We've all been there (been there, been there, oh), oh
So lift your head, lift your head
Lift your head to where your help comes from
Yeah, you, you're not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
(Scars come, scars come, oh, scars come
Oh, scars come with livin'
Scars come, scars come, oh, scars come
Oh, scars come with livin')
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
You, you're not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
You, you're not alone, you're not alone
So lift your head up
To where your help comes from
Lift your head up
Oh, scars come with livin'
Lift your head up
To where your help comes from
Lift your head up
Oh, scars come with livin', (lift your head up)
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
@backofthehouse
i'm here on thursday Oct 24 2019.
i may have skipped over this song till i read the news today and that this song was sorta written with your son in mind.
i love every single song i have ever heard you sing and i'm not a religious type of person. the music is just great. loving, and inspirational.
many of your songs have driven me to tears because the lyrics are so powerful.
but this one hits hard.
i wish i knew what to say although nothing anyone can say will ease the pain of today.
even though we've never met and you have no idea who i am, i love you and hope you can find some way to make it thru the day and the days to follow.
@DadsBoyz
Brethren,
Life can get very busy. Kingdom work can too.
Ministry at it’s core starts in the home.
Always make plenty of time for your children.
It’s the most valuable thing you can give someone next to the Gospel.
Let your light shine to those in your own house.
Shine bright for Jesus!
God bless you Toby Mac and family.
I pray this will bring you into a closer walk with God, to hear Him more clearly than ever before. And that you will know and feel that God is near.
@geshasatish4815
Had you on my mind
I had a little time
know we kinda overdue
Turning back the pages
To our younger days
Yeah, I can still imagine you
Boomin’ like the thunder
Chasin’ life with wonder
With fire that could light a room
Bottom kinda fell out
Waited for the rebound
But you never made a move
When life cuts so deep
Try and remember
You, you’re not alone
We’ve all been there
Scars come with livin’
You, you’re not alone
We’ve all been there
So, lift your head, lift your head
Lift your head to where your help comes from
You, you’re are not alone
We’ve all been there
Scars come with livin’
Life ain’t got no sequel
We all broken people
The only road to found is lost
Oversimplifying
Ain’t no shame in trying
Passion never counts the cost
Now you won’t take my phone calls
You won’t text me back at all
I just wanna see you
I can’t stand to see you gone
Yesterday I missed you
Yesterday I played your song
I’m oversimplifying
I’m oversimplifying
It doesn’t matter who you are
This world gon’ leave some battle scars
@jonbyrom8288
God loves yall very much no matter what. He wants yall to lay down all your pain, fears, etc, at his feet and live in his freedom. Faith doesn't take away fear, but it teaches us how to fight it. I'm praying for yall. God bless. 😇🙏
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but live eternal life. - John 3:16
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
Do not fear I am with you. - Isaiah 41:13
For the Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. - Exodus 14:14
We must keep our eyes on Jesus. - Hebrews 12:2
@ChooseJoy.
As a sinner, just today I realized the love my father has for me can never be taken. So many times the enemy deceived me into believing his love and forgiveness is something to earn, however, his kingdom isn’t something we can earn its a gift just like forgiveness. We’ll never be good enough but his love is enough. So if you are a sinner like me, you’re not alone, it comes with living. God loves you and forgives you! 💕
@breannewilson2469
Amen sister ❤️
@lorihowell1032
Words I needed to hear, but struggle to believe.
@hodgedrake2553
Thank you for the encouragement!
@gogito6493
@@lorihowell1032 hope this helps: Romans 8:38-39 - And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
@maryjaneherb1478
Your war has already been won love. The demons will make you doubt and hurt again as you're learning to heal. But yes, your war has already been won. Hang in there and keep fighting for love & your happiness.💖✨😇
@Donnie377
Toby, I pray you never stop writing songs... It's obvious God has chosen you to spread his joy one last time.. Stay strong brother! You have a lot of family out here!
@samuelmendoza1002
Amen brother 😊
@eldynnvertilus9442
@@samuelmendoza1002 Hi guys here are the lyrics if you were wondering:
No, no
Yeah I'm
Just beepin' right now
I gotta go
Hey
Had you on my mind
Had a little time
Know we kinda overdue
Turnin' back the pages
To our younger days, yeah
I can still imagine you
Boomin' like a thunder
Chasin' life with wonder
With fire that could light a room
Bottom kinda fell out
Waited for the rebound
But you never made a move
When life cuts so deep
Try and remember
You are not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
You are not alone
We've all been there (been there, been there, oh), oh
So lift your head, lift your head
Lift your head to where your help comes from
Yeah, you, you're not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
Life ain't got no sequel
We all broken people
The only road to found is lost
Oversimplifyin'
Ain't no shame in tryin'
Passion never counts the cost
Now you won't take my phone calls
You won't text me back at all
I just wanna see you
I can't stand to see you gone
Yesterday I missed you
Yesterday I played your song
I'm oversimplifyin', I'm oversimplifyin'
But try and remember
You are not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
You are not alone
We've all been there (been there, been there, oh), oh
So lift your head, lift your head
Lift your head to where your help comes from
Yeah, you, you're not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
(Scars come, scars come, oh, scars come
Oh, scars come with livin'
Scars come, scars come, oh, scars come
Oh, scars come with livin')
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
You, you're not alone
We've all been there
Scars come with livin'
You, you're not alone, you're not alone
So lift your head up
To where your help comes from
Lift your head up
Oh, scars come with livin'
Lift your head up
To where your help comes from
Lift your head up
Oh, scars come with livin', (lift your head up)
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
It doesn't matter who you are
This world gon' leave some battle scars
@Moon_CharmEAI-SunahuneSJI
Amen