The ascension of TobyMacโs 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 recordsโheโs been known to relentlessly tweak and massage every little thing in an inexorable effort to make it sound betterโToby is the first to admit that he has to work really hard to make great music. โThatโs what drives me,โ he says. โI feel like I have to work harder than other people to get there. Sometimes I feel like Iโm 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.โ
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 andโperhaps most relevant of allโthe power of music, which he insists is still what keeps him going.
โItโs the truth,โ he says. โI still believe that a song can penetrate a heart. I believe God can use a song to open someoneโs mind and heart. Other songs can just drop what I call, 'the joy bomb' on somebody. I fight really hard to remain unjaundicedโto keep believing that you can actually walk into a studio and write a song that breathes life. Thatโs the hardest fight for a guy whoโs been doing this for a while; itโs easy to fall into the trap of just making it your job. But I still believe that songs matter.โ
The songs on TONIGHT certainly matterโeverything from the prayerful first single โCity On Our Kneesโ to the testimonial โChanged Forever,โ from the worshipful โCapturedโ to the confessional โStart Somewhere,โ and even down to the put-on-your-party-hat grooves of โFunky Jesus Musicโ and โShowStopper.โ One theme that runs loud and clear throughout is the idea that we all need God, and we need him nowโthis morning, this afternoon, tonight.
โRight here, right now / Under the stars / I promise You my heart / โCause it starts tonight,โ Toby sings on the chorus of the title track. โIf you gotta start somewhere why not here? If you gotta start sometime why not now?โ he asks on โCity on Our Knees.โ And โI wanna straighten this before the sun goes down tonight,โ he proclaims on โStart Somewhere.โ
โThereโs definitely a sense of urgency on this record,โ says co-producer Chris Stephens, who has worked on TobyMacโs last three CDs. โAnd itโs an album that speaks of unity, of coming together and finding common ground to worship God.โ
Toby has long had a passion for racial reconciliation and unity, a recurrent theme in his music. TONIGHT includes songs of reconciliation of another kindโbetween 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 โHold On,โ he sings, โIf you move just a little bit closer / You can put your head on my shoulder . . . / Wipe away those tears / This oneโs for you.โ And on โStart Somewhere,โ heโs downright confessional: โI said some things that I regret / And if I could, Iโd take โem back / But here I am, and there you are / The space between us is not so far / Iโm reaching out my hand in love.โ
โโHold Onโ is very personal,โ Toby says. โMany lines are there to encourage my wife, but I know those lines could encourage anybody in a relationship. As for โStart Somewhere,โ any time youโre in love with somebody, youโre going to bang heads from time to time. I donโt know how many times Iโve 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. Thatโs one of my favorite songs on the record; itโs a personal perspective on confrontation and reconciliation.โ
And then thereโs โWonderinโ,โ in which Toby reminisces about the past with Kevin Max and Michael Tait in dcTalk, one of Christian musicโs biggest acts in the 1990s. โWe was ridinโ in style, clockinโ them miles / With the songs that He put down deep in our hearts . . . / Iโm wonderinโ โbout the way I spend my days / Wonderinโ if itโs even worth the chase / Wonderinโ if theyโre stealinโ me from you.โ
โItโs just a warm look back at dc Talk,โ says Toby, almost wistfully. โItโs 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? Iโve got these dreams Iโm 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.โ
Sonically, TONIGHT is typical TobyMac in many waysโan eclectic mix of rap, rock, pop and funk, all laden with catchy hooks and melodies just itching for airplay and audience singalongs. Thereโs even a healthy dose of reggae on the album closer โBreak Open the Sky,โ where Toby flexes his Jamaican family ties while Israel Houghton provides guest vocals. Other visiting vocalists include Skilletโs John Cooper on โTonightโ and Relient Kโs Matthew Thiessen on โWonderinโ.โ
Of course most of the vocals belong to the artist himself. Stephens says Toby โhas stretched himself as a vocalist, he writes about things he is passionate about and his vocals reflect that urgency''. Toby agrees: โI do more singing on this record than ever before. Iโm learning to use my vocal instrument in different ways, and Iโm getting more comfortable with it everyday''.
It all adds up to a project that reflects one manโs desire to push himself beyond โvery good,โ to dig deep in the quest for that other country where greatness resides. He certainly reached for it. Hard.
โIโve worked very hard not to fall into the trap of making this just a gig,โ he says. โIf it is a labor, itโs a labor of love. I know music canโt 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
This Is Not A Test
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hit the ground runnin'
The future is tonight
They'll never see us comin'
Taken by this urgency, won't let this moment pass
The Kingdom is alive, we're steppin' on the gas
We're checkin' in, so check it out
We've only got one shot, gonna to take it now
Goin' all in, gonna make it count
Won't look back, gonna set my eyes
'Cause there ain't no practice runs in life
This is not a, this is not a test (this is the real thing)
This is not a, this is not a test (this is the real thing)
We gonna go till we got nothin' left (this is the real thing)
This is not a, this is not a, this is not a test
This is not a test
This is not a test
We're checkin' in, so check it out
We're droppin' in, there ain't no stopping us now
We're breathin' in, we're breathin' out
We're droppin' in, there ain't no stoppin', stoppin' us now
We've only got one shot, gonna to take it now
Goin' all in, gonna make it count
Won't look back, gonna set my eyes
'Cause there ain't no practice runs in life
This is life
This is life
This is life
This is life, this is life, this is life, this is life
This is life, life, life, life, life, life (so don't get left behind!)
This is not a, this is not a test (this is the real thing)
This is not a, this is not a test (this is the real thing)
We gonna go till we got nothin' left (this is the real thing)
This is not a, this is not a, this is not a test
(This is not a test) we gonna move
Live every second, make it count for you (make it count, make it count)
We gonna move
Live every second, make it count for you (make it count, make it count) (this is not a test)
We gonna move
Live every second, make it count for you
In TobyMac's "This is Not a Test," the artist explores the urgency of living life to the fullest and seizing every moment. The song opens with the metaphorical image of falling out of the sky and hitting the ground running, conveying a sense of momentum and determination. TobyMac sings about the need to take advantage of the present moment, emphasizing that there are no practice runs in life. This sentiment is reinforced in the chorus with the repeated refrain "This is not a test," emphasizing that this is the real thing and the only opportunity we have.
Throughout the song, TobyMac encourages listeners to take risks and live without hesitation or reservation. He proclaims that there is no stopping us now and that we should go all in and make every moment count. The lyrics are both motivational and affirming, reminding us that life is precious and should be lived with purpose and passion.
Overall, "This is Not a Test" is a powerful anthem about living in the moment and seizing every opportunity. The song is a call to action, urging listeners to embrace life with courage and determination and without fear of failure.
Line by Line Meaning
Fell out of the sky
We've been given an opportunity that seems to have come out of nowhere.
Hit the ground runnin'
We're wasting no time in getting started on this opportunity.
The future is tonight
Our future is happening right now and we need to take action in the present.
They'll never see us comin'
We're going to surprise everyone with the amount of effort and dedication we're putting into this.
Taken by this urgency, won't let this moment pass
We feel a sense of urgency and we won't let this opportunity slip away.
The Kingdom is alive, we're steppin' on the gas
We believe that the work we're doing is important and we're putting all of our energy into it.
We're checkin' in, so check it out
We're letting everyone know that we're here and we're ready to make an impact.
We're droppin' in, there ain't no stopping us now
We're going full force and nothing can get in our way.
We've only got one shot, gonna to take it now
We recognize that this opportunity may only come once and we're not going to waste it.
Goin' all in, gonna make it count
We're fully committed to this opportunity and we're determined to make the most of it.
Won't look back, gonna set my eyes
We're not going to let the past hold us back, we're focused on moving forward.
'Cause there ain't no practice runs in life
We only have one shot at life, so we're going to make it count.
This is not a, this is not a test (this is the real thing)
This opportunity is not a drill, it's the real deal and we need to take it seriously.
We gonna go till we got nothin' left (this is the real thing)
We're going to give our all until we've exhausted every opportunity within this situation.
We're breathin' in, we're breathin' out
We're taking a moment to regroup and focus on our goals.
This is life
We're reminded that this is our one chance at life and we need to make the most of it.
So don't get left behind!
We're encouraging others to join us and not miss out on this opportunity.
(This is not a test) we gonna move
We're taking action and making progress towards our goals.
Live every second, make it count for you (make it count, make it count)
We believe in living life to the fullest and making every moment count towards our personal growth and happiness.
We gonna move
We're not going to stay stagnant, we're going to keep pushing forward.
Live every second, make it count for you (make it count, make it count) (this is not a test)
We're not going to wait for another opportunity to come around, we're going to make the most of this one now.
Lyrics ยฉ Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Cole Edward Walowac, Jonathan Dean White, Mike Woods, Toby McKeehan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LanceCowhutCPTS
"Christian music is so boring, all they do is quote verses over some music."
TobyMac: Observe
@kingcactus5251
So true
@andrewwrong1094
I have friends that say that. And then I show them some TobyMac or Skillet song and they love it!
@ultimateotaku4159
Absolutely
@TheCrimsonRiversSociety
Legit tho. Try Matthew West or For King and Country, or DC Talk or any number of them... There are so many cool Christian artists. Heck, even The Dead South is Christian! And a few of their songs show it, like Skillet, but they're bluegrass and they don't show much of Christianity through music. They all are openly Christian however. So it is not a sin to listen to their music, despite how often they say "hell" in their music. They all believe in Christ and thus, maybe not showing it (like Skillet or Thousand Foot Krutch), they are still Christian.
@zandrasalvador5441
โ@@TheCrimsonRiversSociety including NF, Jordan Feliz, HillSong Young & Free
@miae0007
Jesus is so real somebody I know do not believe in him
@sarahcard4639
This is the coolest Christian song I have ever heard! Toby Mac is so awesome!
@TyDerReX
nice
@jeffreycox180
It's a very good song! Tobymac and the DC Talk people are very talented people.