Bebo Norman - World Gone Dark Lyrics + Chords
Lyrics
Fall like fire from the sky
As I walk the wire of a borrowed life
Out in a world gone dark, in a world gone dark
I wanna feel a spark
I'm gonna lay my laboring open wide
Take this bird of burden, set it free and let it fly
Cause in a world gone dark, in a world gone dark
I'm gonna feel a spark
I've been reaching for something
I keep reaching for something for my heart
For my heart
And That keeps bringing me nothing
It's all been bringing me nothing from the start
Oh my heart
The beauty of an empty soul
There's nothing left but letting go
Fall like fire from the sky
It's gonna fill the empty full of brilliant light
Out in a world gone dark, in a world gone dark
You let me feel a spark
Out in a world gone dark, in a world gone dark
You let me feel a spark
The beauty of an empty soul
There's nothing left but letting go
Video
World Gone Dark
Meaning & Inspiration
Bebo Norman's "World Gone Dark," released on January 1, 2012, as part of his album *Lights of Distant Cities*, emerges as a poignant and deeply resonant exploration of spiritual despair and the profound hope found in divine surrender. The song bypasses superficiality, immediately immersing the listener in a stark landscape where a soul grapples with its own frailty and the perceived absence of light. It speaks to that universal human condition of feeling adrift, acknowledging a "borrowed life" lived precariously, much like walking a wire. This imagery powerfully conveys our transient existence and inherent dependence, a truth echoed in James 4:14 which reminds us that life is "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Within this desolation, a singular yearning ignites: "I wanna feel a spark," a cry for illumination in the encroaching gloom, echoing the spiritual hunger for God's presence in a world often shrouded in sin and sorrow, as described in Isaiah 9:2.
The song then pivots, revealing the futility of human effort in alleviating this spiritual darkness. The declaration, "I'm gonna lay my laboring open wide," speaks to a raw, honest relinquishment of control. It suggests a weariness with carrying burdens, symbolized by the "bird of burden," and a profound desire to set it free. This resonates with the biblical invitation in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Norman’s words highlight the common human experience of "reaching for something" that ultimately "keeps bringing me nothing from the start." This journey of self-reliance leading to emptiness is a foundational Christian truth, reminding us that apart from Christ, our striving is often vain, as referenced in Jeremiah 2:13, where God laments His people forsaking Him, "the spring of living water," for broken cisterns that can hold no water.
A truly profound moment in the song arrives with the line, "The beauty of an empty soul, there's nothing left but letting go." This isn't an endorsement of nihilism, but rather a profound theological insight. It recognizes that true spiritual fullness often begins with acknowledging our own spiritual bankruptcy, our desperate need for God. An "empty soul" is one stripped of pride, self-sufficiency, and worldly attachments, leaving it open and ready to be filled by the divine. This echoes the Beatitude in Matthew 5:3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," implying that humility and the recognition of our spiritual need are prerequisites for receiving God's grace. It's in this complete surrender, this "letting go," that transformation becomes possible, much like pouring new wine into new wineskins.
The song's resolution beautifully illustrates the divine intervention. The initial longing, "I wanna feel a spark," transforms into the powerful affirmation, "You let me feel a spark." This shift from human aspiration to divine action is critical. It underscores that spiritual light and life are not earned or conjured, but graciously given by God. The imagery of light falling "like fire from the sky" to "fill the empty full of brilliant light" is evocative of the Holy Spirit's descent and the illuminating power of God's presence. Just as John 8:12 proclaims, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life," Norman’s lyrics point to Christ as the ultimate source of that brilliant light. In a world that often feels "gone dark," the song serves as a powerful reminder that God not only hears our cries for light but actively intervenes to fill our emptiness with His radiant hope, transforming desolation into divine illumination and allowing us to truly feel His spark.