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
Thankful for You
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two turned tables uh and a microphone
I was flipping over 33's
Working on rhymes and melodies
Searching for some more review (can't hear the less of me)
It's never been my dream
To see my face in magazines
Hoping God would use it to set some people free
But I can say without a doubt
I never had it figured out
Lord you open every door I've stepped through yea?
And I try to keep my head about it
I'm thankful for the friends around me
I'm thankful for You yea yea yea
I'm thankful for You
I've been on this road
But you come to my shows
Sometimes just to feel what y'all
(But at times we're closed)
But you've been right there to rock with us
We come together, we lift him up
Seeing You there inspires me, put Your fire in me
It's never been my dream
To read my name in magazines
It's always been about the music
Praying God would use it to set some people free
But I can say without a doubt
I never had it figured out
Lord you open every door I've stepped through yea?
And I try to keep my head about it
So thankful for the friends around me
I'm thankful for You yea yea yea
Yea yea yea
Yea yea yea
I'm thankful for You yea yea yea
Yea yea yea
Yea yea yea
I'm thankful for You
It's such a free feeling that You got me feeling
We're all good all good all good
I love this free feeling that You got me feeling
We're all good all good all good
Said I love that free feeling that You got me feeling
We're all good all good all good
Yea they say you become who you hang out with
Well I can tell you for sure
You made me a better man
And I can say without a doubt
I never had it figured out
Lord you open every door I've stepped through yea?
And I try to keep my head about it
So thankful for the friends around me
I'm thankful for You yea yea yea
Yea yea yea
Yea yea yea
I'm thankful for You yea yea yea
Yea yea yea
Yea yea yea
I'm thankful for You
Thankful for You
Thankful for You
That's it
In "Thankful for You," TobyMac reflects on his journey as a musician and offers thanks to those who have supported him along the way. The song starts with a description of his early days of creating music in his spare bedroom with just two turntables and a microphone. He was constantly working on perfecting his craft, hoping to get noticed by someone who could help him take his music to the next level.
However, he clarifies that fame and recognition were never his main goals. Instead, his focus was always on making music that would inspire and uplift his listeners. He gives credit to God for opening all the doors that have led him to where he is today and recognizes that he never had it all figured out. Despite the ups and downs of the music industry, TobyMac remains grounded and grateful for the support of his friends and fans.
The chorus expresses gratitude for the people who have been there for him during his journey. He acknowledges that his fans have given him the motivation to keep going, and he is thankful for the sense of community and connection that comes with performing. Ultimately, he concludes that he is "thankful for you," meaning all the people who have supported him throughout his career.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it started out in the spare bedroom
The artist began his music career in a small room with minimum equipment.
Two turned tables uh and a microphone
The artist had only two turntables and a microphone to work with.
I was flipping over 33’s
The artist was listening to vinyl records with a speed of 33 RPM.
Working on rhymes and melodies
The artist was busy creating verses and tunes for his music.
Searching for some more review (can’t hear the less of me)
The artist was looking for more feedback and recognition for his work.
It’s never been my dream
The artist never aspired to fame and recognition.
To see my face in magazines
The artist was not interested in being featured in magazines.
It’s always been about the music
The artist's primary focus has always been on creating music.
Hoping God would use it to set some people free
The artist wished for his music to inspire and liberate people.
But I can say without a doubt
The artist is sure of what he wants to convey.
I never had it figured out
The artist never had a clear plan for how his music career would unfold.
Lord you open every door I’ve stepped through yea?
The artist believes in a higher power that has helped him at every step of his journey.
And I try to keep my head about it
The artist tries to stay grounded and level-headed despite his success.
I’m thankful for the friends around me
The artist is grateful for the support and companionship of his friends.
I’ve been on this road
The artist has been on a journey to create and perform music.
But you come to my shows
The fans have been supportive and have attended the artist's live shows.
Sometimes just to feel what y’all
The fans come to feel the energy and emotion of the artist's music.
But you’ve been right there to rock with us
The fans have been a part of the artist's journey and have supported him through thick and thin.
We come together, we lift him up
The artist and his fans come together to create an uplifting and inspiring music experience.
Seeing You there inspires me, put Your fire in me
The artist gets inspired and energized by the presence of his fans, and he feels the spirit of God in their presence.
It’s such a free feeling that You got me feeling
The artist feels liberated and free when he creates and performs music.
We’re all good all good all good
The artist and his fans are all united in their love for music and God.
Said I love that free feeling that You got me feeling
The artist is grateful for the sense of freedom and liberation he experiences through music.
Yea they say you become who you hang out with
The artist believes in the influence of one's company on one's character.
Well I can tell you for sure
The artist is certain that his association with his fans and friends has made him a better person.
Thankful for You
The artist is grateful to God and his fans for supporting him throughout his music career.
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Chris Stevens, David Garcia, Toby McKeehan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
maniacbobcat -Minecraft
I'm 13 almost 14, and you are by far, my favorite artist. My day is made better when listening to your music, and may god bless you greatly! God has changed my through your music, and it has changed so many more people. Please continue making quality music!
J S
maniacbobcat -Minecraft Stay on the course! Your life is just beginning, follow God every single day and don’t fall for the lies the devil will bring your way. Jesus overcomes everything, in the end! But you have to follow Him. If something doesn’t seem right, it’s likely not. Stay the course, praying for you!
Projector
Hallelujah! Amen and amen!
JustA GirlTrying
Commenting here to remind you how awesome this was (and still is!)
KingSteffler
Man I love TobyMac's stuff. Just when you think it doesn't get better, he comes out with a new album.
Raisa Hurtado
Does anyone else feel like they've heard a song exactly like this before?? I love it, it's just so familiar... Omg, love you TobyMac!
chrisinedison
God's definitely using your music and setting people free. Thank you for sharing the gospel Toby!!!
Michael Edwards
Awesome song! God bless all those who hear this
Zamaykira Rodriguez
ELLOS SON LOS MAXIMOS EN SUS KANCIONES ME ENCANTAN💓💗💗💓💗
ChristianOtaku
All of TobyMac's songs are amazing and inspirational! God bless you!