Gaither Vocal Band - Do You Wanna Be Well Lyrics

Album: Pure and Simple
Released: 01 Jan 2012

iTunes Amazon Music

Lyrics

Waiting there for thirty eight years
Cried so long, he ran out of tears.
Just a worn out man
Looking for a healing hand.

Then one day, his chance came along.
A healing man who can make him strong,
And he caught his eyes,
But his question took him by surprise.

Do you wanna be well, really wanna be well?
Are you willing to take up your mat and help yourself?
Do you wanna be free, really wanna be free?
If you wanna be healed and whole, you gotta wanna be well.

Ever tried to fix yourself,
And every time you got up you fell,
And you wallowed there,
Drowning in your own despair?

Have you gotten used to the chains?
Are you so attached to the pain,

You're afraid to part?
Then ask the man for a brand new heart.

There's a better life waiting just for you.
There's endless open spaces in the sun.

But you gotta wanna be well, really wanna be well.
Are you willing to take up your mat and help yourself?
Do you wanna be free, really wanna be free?
If you wanna be healed and whole, you gotta wanna be well.

If you wanna be healed and whole...
You gotta wanna be well.

Video

Gaither Vocal Band - Do You Wanna Be Well (Lyric Video/Live In Columbia, TN/2012)

Meaning & Inspiration

The Gaither Vocal Band's "Do You Wanna Be Well," released in 2012 on the album *Pure and Simple*, offers a profound and deeply encouraging exploration of spiritual and personal transformation, rooted firmly in biblical truth. The song immediately draws listeners into a narrative of long-standing suffering, depicting a figure waiting for thirty-eight years, worn out and devoid of tears, symbolizing a profound and prolonged state of despair. This imagery resonates powerfully with the story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda, who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, waiting for healing (John 5:1-9). The core of the song lies in the simple yet challenging question posed by the "healing man": "Do you wanna be well, really wanna be well?" This isn't just a query about physical health; it's a direct challenge to the individual's willingness to embrace wholeness and freedom.

The lyrics delve into the human tendency to become comfortable in suffering, to become "used to the chains" and "attached to the pain," suggesting a subtle but pervasive fear of change or the unknown. This is a familiar struggle, reflecting the spiritual inertia that can grip us, preventing us from reaching for the healing that is offered. The songwriter expertly guides us through the internal conflict of wanting change but being hesitant to take the necessary steps. The invitation to "take up your mat and help yourself" is a pivotal moment, highlighting that while divine intervention is essential, personal agency and a genuine desire for transformation are equally crucial. This echoes Jesus's instruction to the man at the pool, "Get up, take your mat and walk" (John 5:8).

The message of "Do You Wanna Be Well" is a call to a conscious decision to embrace God's restorative power. It asserts that true healing and wholeness are contingent upon a profound internal "wanting" – a willingness to be well. The song's wisdom extends beyond the miraculous healing narrative, speaking to anyone grappling with personal struggles, addiction, or spiritual stagnation. The assurance that "There's a better life waiting just for you. There's endless open spaces in the sun" paints a vivid picture of the freedom and abundance that Christ offers, as He Himself said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Ultimately, "Do You Wanna Be Well" is a powerful anthem of hope, reminding us that the first and most vital step toward lasting change is to truly, deeply desire it, and to partner with God in the process of becoming healed and whole. The Gaither Vocal Band delivers this message with clarity and conviction, making it a resonant and inspiring piece for anyone seeking to move from a place of brokenness to a state of complete well-being.