I Can Only Imagine
Wynonna Judd Lyrics


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I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me
I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine, I can only imagine

I can only imagine when that day comes
And I find myself standing in the sun
I can only imagine when all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine, yeah, I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine, yes, I can only imagine

Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine, I can only imagine

I can only imagine, yes, I can only imagine
I can only imagine, yes, I can only imagine

I can only imagine when all I can do




Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine

Overall Meaning

The song "I Can Only Imagine" by Wynonna Judd speaks to the awe-inspiring feeling of being in the presence of God. The first verse talks about the singer's anticipation of walking beside God and seeing His face for the first time - a moment of unimaginable joy and wonder that leaves her speechless. The chorus asks the question of how her heart will react in the presence of God's glory - whether she will be moved to dance or fall to her knees in worship.


The second verse continues this theme of awe and wonder, and the singer ponders whether she will even be able to speak in God's presence. The bridge repeats the chorus, emphasizing the singer's awe at the possibility of standing before God's glory. The final verse expresses the singer's longing for the moment when all she can do is worship God forever.


Line by Line Meaning

I can only imagine what it will be like
I'm unable to comprehend or fully grasp what it will be like


When I walk by your side
When I'm in your presence, experiencing all that you offer


I can only imagine what my eyes will see
I can't even imagine what my eyes will be capable of seeing in your presence


When your face is before me
When I'm face-to-face with you


I can only imagine
I'm completely in awe and unable to fully comprehend the greatness of the experience


Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel
Being encompassed by your immense greatness, what will the depths of my heart experience


Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of you be still
Will my joy overflow into dance or will my reverence be so great that I remain still in your presence


Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I be able to stand up to the greatness of your presence or will I be humbled to my knees


Will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
Will I be able to express my gratitude with words, or will I be so overwhelmed that singing Hallelujah is the only way to convey my emotions


I can only imagine, I can only imagine
I still can't fully comprehend the depth and breadth of my emotions in your presence


I can only imagine when that day comes
I can only imagine when that great day arrives


And I find myself standing in the sun
When I'm fully exposed and basking in your divine light


I can only imagine when all I will do
I can only imagine that all I will be capable of doing


Is forever, forever worship you
Is worshiping you for all eternity, forever and always


Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel
In your radiant glory, what will be the depth and range of emotions I will feel in my heart


Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of you be still
Will my soul exult in dancing for you, or will I be so overtaken by your majesty that I'm motionless in your presence


Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I be able to remain standing in front of your divine presence, or will I be overcome with humility and fall to my knees


Will I sing Hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
Will I be able to utter Hallelujah, or will my emotions be so profound that words fall short


I can only imagine, yes, I can only imagine
Reiterating that I'm still very much in a state of wonder and repeatedly trying to envision this experience


I can only imagine when all I can do
Again emphasizing that the only thing I can do in the face of your greatness is worship you


Is forever, forever worship you
My sole focus will be on worshiping you for all of time




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bart Marshall Millard

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Mun’gomry

I thought the same…but it’s such a personal and emotional song to get through…I wanted to recite it at my Mom’s funeral in ‘11, but just couldn’t.

When my first born was 10 (19 years ago in 2003) he recited this song at his (other) grandmother’s funeral down in PCB. We sang it all the way down from Bham, just to make sure he had the words- even though they were already embedded within us.

It was a precious and Spirit filled moment to see God was able to use him with a beautiful, simple, and powerful song.
It’s words paint the perfect picture of peace for our loved ones...

After the funeral many of the guests complemented and asked “little Evans” about the “special poem” he wrote. He told them he didn’t write it, but that it was a new song by a band called Mercy Me (they loved that!). He also told them that we had gone to see them perform the song at Gardendale’s First Baptist Church in 2001, and that it had become his favorite song.
He said he wanted to share it for his grandmother who he knew was already in Heaven with Jesus. Someone got a napkin for him to write down the words to have and share.
The Holy Spirit was moving…All Glory to God!

Thankful for a song that paints the perfect backdrop of a Heavenly peace, joy, and mystery that is waiting for our loved ones at that most precious moment, and also reminds us of the day we will celebrate the same and be reunited with loved ones, both family and family in Christ, who’ve gone on ahead of us.
What a glorious day that will be!!



Magda Brown

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes would see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine
Yeah

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?

I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine
I can only imagine, yeah-yeah
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine



Lisa Hill

I lost my twin sister on January 6, 2023
Our birthday is January 29
This will be the first Birthday I will have without my sweet twin sister 💕 Suzy
I can only imagine...
My belief in the Lord gives 🙏 me comfort and peace.
I feel such a space where she was connected to my side 😌 ✨️ 💛
I close my eyes and see her. When I open up my eyes I miss her 😢
I know I will be with her in the blink of my eye.
I can only, imagine...



All comments from YouTube:

Halls Juju

One of the greatest songs ever written and she does it justice.

ohwhatelse

yes, & this song's writer has not to wonder any longer what it's like to meet our Savior or walk with the God who created us. PTL!

Acquired Taste

@ohwhatelse PTL!!! SSo cool to read that!! One of my faves...PTL!!

linross246

@ohwhatelse what are you talking about? Bart Millard is very much alive.

Iris Clemons

❤️

Pendragon

​@ohwhatelse I think you're thinking of Naomi Judd, of whom did not write this song.

6 More Replies...

nlahunter

Everyone should listen to this testimony! So powerful and speaks to every one of us. So powerful!

Debby Patterson

Amen! God bless you and yours!

Audrey L

May she RIP 🙏 😭😭😭

Yoshida Nino

She’s so Powerful. Wonderful and Super-Woman.

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