Unknown
Y.O.C Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Livin' in the future, livin' in the past
I haven't always been in Christ
I know what you're goin' through, man
A couple of years ago I was just like you
Lookin' for answers, but lookin' to myself
Thinkin' that Christians just love Jesus for their health
I tried to be like God, but when I tried I failed
And every time I fail, and fail
I know I rail a nail straight into the cross of Jesus
Straight into the wrist of Jesus
And now it's 1996, a hard year to be a Godly man
It seems the more I speak The Word, the less they understand
You gotta know about Jesus
In Y.O.C's song "Unknown," the lyrics touch on themes of self-destruction, living in the past and future, struggling with spirituality, and ultimately finding redemption through Jesus Christ. The opening lines of "killin' ourselves faster than fast / livin' in the future, livin' in the past" highlight a desperate state of being, where self-destructive actions and a disconnected focus on past or future instead of present moment living are causing harm. The singer reveals that they have not always been in Christ, and empathizes with listeners who may be going through a similar phase of searching for answers but still looking to themselves for solutions.
The chorus of the song is where the focus shifts to the importance of Jesus, and the way that attempting to be like a god can lead to failure and the opposite of the intended outcome. The lyrics "And every time I fail, and fail / I know I rail a nail straight into the cross of Jesus / Straight into the wrist of Jesus" illustrate the pain and guilt of not being able to live up to expectations, and how that failure feels like it is causing harm to Jesus himself. The verse about the year 1996 being a tough time to be a Godly man speaks to the challenge of living a religiously-consistent lifestyle in a world that often feels opposed to those values. Overall, the song seems to be a message of hope that even in dark times and struggles with spirituality, there is a path to redemption and peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Killin' ourselves faster than fast
We are causing harm to ourselves at an alarming rate.
Livin' in the future, livin' in the past
We are not living in the present and instead focusing on the future and past.
I haven't always been in Christ
I did not always have a relationship with Christ.
I know what you're goin' through, man
I understand what you're experiencing and can relate to it.
A couple of years ago I was just like you
I was in the same situation as you just a few years ago.
Lookin' for answers, but lookin' to myself
I was searching for answers, but only looking within myself instead of seeking guidance from a higher power.
Thinkin' that Christians just love Jesus for their health
I used to believe that Christians only loved Jesus for the physical benefits it provided.
But, I didn't know about Jesus
At the time, I did not have a true understanding of Jesus and his teachings.
I tried to be like God, but when I tried I failed
I attempted to emulate God, but I was unsuccessful in doing so.
And every time I fail, and fail
Each time I failed in my attempt to be like God.
I know I rail a nail straight into the cross of Jesus
My actions were causing harm to Jesus and the message he stood for.
Straight into the wrist of Jesus
I was actively and knowingly causing harm to Jesus.
And now it's 1996, a hard year to be a Godly man
I am currently living in 1996, which is a challenging time to try to live a righteous life.
It seems the more I speak The Word, the less they understand
Despite trying to spread the word of God, it appears as though people are having a harder time grasping its message.
You gotta know about Jesus
It is essential to have a true understanding of Jesus and his teachings.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: THE BANSHEES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind