Lyrics
Verse 1
I've been living in this house here
Since the day that I was born
These walls have seen me happy
But most of all they've seen me torn
They have heard the screaming matches
That made a family fall apart
They've had a front row seat to the breaking of my heart
Chorus
Seven times seventy times
I'll do what it takes to make it right
I thought the pain was here to stay
But forgiveness made a way
Seven times seventy times
There's healing in the air tonight
I'm reaching up to pull it down
Gonna wrap it all around
Verse 2
I remember running down the hallway playing hide and seek
I didn't know that I was searching for someone to notice me
I felt alone and undiscovered
And old enough to understand
Just when I'm supposed to be learning to love
You let me down again
(Repeat Chorus)
Bridge
I lost count of the ways you let me down
But no matter how many times you weren't around
I'm alright now
God picked up my heart and helped me through
And shined light on the one thing left to do
And that's forgive you, I forgive you
Seven times seventy times if that’s the cost I'll pay the price
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Seven Times Seventy is a song about forgiving a parent who caused deep hurt. The first verse describes living in a house since birth, walls that have seen both happiness and torn feelings, shouting matches that broke a family and a heart that has had a front row seat to the breaking. The chorus responds with the pledge to forgive seven times seventy times, doing whatever it takes to make things right, because forgiveness made a way for pain that seemed here to stay.
The second verse recalls a child running down the hall in hide and seek, searching for someone to notice, feeling alone and let down again. The bridge says that the singer lost count of the ways of being let down, but that God picked up the heart and shined light on forgiving. The title comes from Matthew 18:21-22, and the song also reflects Ephesians 4:32 on forgiving as God forgave and Colossians 3:13. The honest story and rising chorus give the song a tender, hopeful tone.
Related Scripture
- Matthew 18:21-22 Jesus tells Peter to forgive not seven times but seventy-seven times.
- Ephesians 4:32 Believers are to forgive one another as God in Christ forgave them.
- Colossians 3:13 Believers are to bear with one another and forgive as the Lord forgave them.