While leading worship at a Christian youth camp, the father of one of the children videotaped Watson's performance and sent it to a Nashville industry rep. His debut LP, Workin' in the Final Hour, followed in 1980. A series of albums like 1982's New Lives for Old, 1984's Man in the Middle and 1985's Giants in the Land followed before his breakthrough record, the Grammy-nominated Watercolor Ponies, appeared in 1987.
Watson also notched well over a dozen Dove Award nominations, and launched a number of CCM chart-toppers including "The Class of '95," "Be in Her Eyes," "A Beautiful Place." "Walk in the Dark," "More of You," "It's Time," "Home Free" and "Almighty."
In 1995 he signed to Warner/Alliance to issue Field of Souls; The Way Home followed three years later. Appropriately, his song "For Such a Time as This" was used as the theme for the 1999 season premiere of CBS's popular series Touched by an Angel, reflecting Watson's own growing popularity in the secular music arena. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
If Not For Love
Wayne Watson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but time alone would just reveal
the measure of my best intent
how vainly it would all be spent
empty boxes
if not for love
My prayer never would be heard
appeal denied without a word
closed fast to keep me out
no admission
if not for love
If not for love the godless would reign
if not for love any light would be shadowed
but love was strong - revealed a plan
man's perfect god, god's perfect man
A cross would stand alone refused
a son blessed and not accused
a savior never sent
blind to the world's lament
no forgiveness
if not for love
The lyrics of Wayne Watson's song 'If Not For Love' explore the concept of love as the driving force behind redemption and salvation. Watson speaks about how old wounds can heal with time, but without love, there would be no point to the healing. He mentions that his best intentions would all be spent in vain, which highlights the importance of love as the ultimate goal of life. The tone of the song is desperate as Watson highlights how he would be denied an appeal without a word and how the throne room of his father's house would be closed off to him if not for love.
Watson goes on to state that if not for love, godlessness would still reign, and any form of light would be shadowed. He also outlines how love revealed a plan for man's redemption through Jesus Christ, and how the cross would have stood alone, a symbol of despair, were it not for love. The lyrics strongly suggest that forgiveness would be nonexistent if not for love. Ultimately, if not for love, the world's lamentations would have remained unheeded.
Line by Line Meaning
In time they say old wounds will heal
They say that old wounds will ultimately heal over time
but time alone would just reveal
However, the passage of time only serves to expose the true extent of the wound and the pain it causes.
the measure of my best intent
Here, the singer is referring to his own actions, motives, and efforts.
how vainly it would all be spent
Even if he were to put in his full effort, it would all be in vain.
empty boxes
This phrase is most likely referring to the artist's attempts at love, which would be in vain from his own perspective.
if not for love
The singer is drawing a connection between the pain of old wounds and the redeeming power of love.
My prayer never would be heard
Without the power of love, the singer believes that his prayers would never be heard.
appeal denied without a word
God may not respond to his requests if they were not made with love in his heart.
the throne room of my father's house
This is a reference to heaven, which is portrayed as the father's house.
closed fast to keep me out
Here, the artist is either referring to his own unworthiness or the idea that he cannot enter heaven without love.
no admission
The ultimate result is that he would not be allowed into heaven.
if not for love
Again, the central importance of love is emphasized in this line.
If not for love the godless would reign
Here, the singer is referencing the redeeming power of love for humanity as a whole, stating that without it, the godless and cruel would essentially rule the world.
if not for love any light would be shadowed
Love serves as a light that shines on the darkness and the pain of the world.
but love was strong - revealed a plan
However, the strength of love was able to reveal a plan for salvation.
man's perfect god, god's perfect man
The plan of salvation is revealed to be Jesus Christ, representing God and man as a sinless entity.
A cross would stand alone refused
The singer is referencing Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross.
a son blessed and not accused
Christ was able to take on humanity's sins in his sacrifice, without being guilty of sin himself.
a savior never sent
Without this sacrifice, there could be no redemption or salvation for humanity.
blind to the world's lament
To be blind to the world's lament is to be unable to see the depth of pain felt by people in the world, as it is felt through the love of God for humanity.
no forgiveness
Without the love of God through Christ's sacrifice, there could be no forgiveness of sins.
Contributed by Daniel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.