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
Yours
TobyMac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm 'bout to take a shot to the skully with a bat
I'm out of control, need you to fill my soul up
And could you shed a little light on the skeletons holed up
My past is taking me to task
And I can't guarantee how much longer I'll last
Without You I'm a hopeless wreck
So I cry out Your name as I drop to the deck
Don't get me started, don't even get me started
Don't get me started, don't even get me started
Don't get me started, don't even get me started
I'm Yours
Take me as I am
I'm Yours
So take this space between us and fill it up again
I'm Yours
Take me as I am
I'm Yours
So won't you take this space between us and fill it up again
Simple minded little punk
Thought I was the junk
Nobody ever told me that my doo-doo stunk
What was I out of my mind
Or was I just trippin' on an ego
But You filled up the space and You never let me go
Bullseye to the center of my soul
One shot but it rocked like a fatal blow
This love was Your gun, mercy Your shells
Now I'm a dead man walkin' down a skinny trail
I'm gonna shout it from the rooftops
Give it all I got
Shout it from the rooftops
So you can take your best shot
I'm gonna shout it from the rooftops
Give it all I got
Shout it from the rooftops
Like it or not
I'm a dead man walkin'
I'm a dead man walkin' down the boulevard
The song "Yours" by TobyMac is a plea of surrender to God. TobyMac admits his struggles with sin and the complications that come with it, such as fear and insecurity. He acknowledges that without God, he is lost and hopeless. The phrase "Don't get me started" is repeated several times throughout the song as if to say that if he started to list all of his shortcomings, it would never end. The call-and-response style of the chorus reinforces the idea of surrendering to God’s will: "I'm Yours / Take me as I am".
This song also speaks about the transformative power of God’s grace. The lyrics state that TobyMac was “a simple-minded little punk” who thought too much of himself. Lacking humility, he stumbled through life clinging to his ego. But once he surrendered, he discovered that God could fill the emptiness in his heart and soul. The metaphor of being a "dead man walking" refers to the profound change that comes when one dies to their old self and is reborn in Christ.
Overall, "Yours" captures the essence of what it means to be a Christian: acknowledging one's fallen nature, surrendering to God’s will, and experiencing the transformative power of His grace.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I turn my back I get the feeling that
I have a sense of fear and insecurity about what might happen when I'm not looking.
I'm 'bout to take a shot to the skully with a bat
I feel vulnerable and unsafe, like someone is about to hit me from behind.
I'm out of control, need you to fill my soul up
I feel like I'm losing my grip on life and need to be spiritually rejuvenated.
And could you shed a little light on the skeletons holed up
Can you shine some light on the secrets and hidden regrets that are tormenting me?
My past is taking me to task
My past mistakes and regrets are constantly weighing on me and causing me problems.
And I can't guarantee how much longer I'll last
I'm not sure how much longer I can keep going without some kind of help or intervention.
Without You I'm a hopeless wreck
I can't do this on my own; without your guidance and support, I'm incapable of moving forward.
So I cry out Your name as I drop to the deck
In my desperation and vulnerability, I call out to you for help and salvation.
Don't get me started, don't even get me started
Please don't even touch on the subject, it's too painful or dangerous for me to deal with.
I'm Yours
I belong to you and am under your care and protection.
Take me as I am
Accept me for who I am, flaws and all.
So take this space between us and fill it up again
Let's bridge the gap that's been created between us and restore our connection.
Simple minded little punk
I was foolish and naive, lacking in wisdom or insight.
Thought I was the junk
I had an inflated sense of my own worth and importance.
Nobody ever told me that my doo-doo stunk
I was ignorant of my own faults and failures, and nobody ever confronted or corrected me.
What was I out of my mind
How could I have been so foolish or blind?
Or was I just trippin' on an ego
Maybe my pride and self-importance were clouding my judgment and perception.
But You filled up the space and You never let me go
You came into my life and filled the void, never abandoning or forsaking me.
Bullseye to the center of my soul
You hit me right where it hurts, pinpointing the deepest needs and desires of my inner self.
One shot but it rocked like a fatal blow
Your love transformed my life in an instant, like a sudden and devastating blow.
This love was Your gun, mercy Your shells
Your love and compassion were the weapons that you used to save me from myself.
Now I'm a dead man walkin' down a skinny trail
I have passed from death into life and am now walking a narrow path illuminated by your grace and guidance.
I'm gonna shout it from the rooftops
I'm going to proclaim my love and devotion for you publicly and without shame.
Give it all I got
I will hold nothing back in declaring and demonstrating my love for you.
Like it or not
Whether people accept or reject me, I will stand firm in my faith and devotion to you.
I'm a dead man walkin'
I have died to my old self and am now living a new life in you.
down the boulevard
Along the path that you have set before me, I will walk confidently and joyfully, secure in your love and grace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Samuel Harris, Mariah Carey, Terry Steven Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Sturby
Man I remember when I bought this album way back when I was a teenager when it came out, it was so great. it would be so cool to see a new album made in the same type of theme and style as this one!!
Tony Zone
Def a different Toby mac
Eric Allan dos Santos
One of my favorites back then. Still great after all the years!
Kevin Richards
Need more of this type of music 🎶 Hopefully for a New Next Album 😁
Zazuzi M
You’re awesome TobyMac! 😎🎉
RanDog S
Duh
Micah Philson
Definitely my favorite TobyMac song!
On top of it being one of my favorite by sound the lyrics are also really impactful. Don't know why he's reuploading the Momentum lyric videos now, but I'm not complaining at all! One of my favorite albums of all time!
Russell Kelly Jr
This remains my favorite, all-time prayer song. Thank you, Toby, for being so open to listening to the Spirit! Much love, brother
Jose Castillo
As a teenager I never realized how nu metal this song really was until now, definitely hearing a lot of linkin park and limp bizkit vibes 😮 I wished the album went more in that direction
RoyalMasterpiece
I would love another rock album.