Chris Tomlin - Come To The Water Lyrics
Lyrics
There's a war going on just across the street
There's a rage that's burning to an angry beat
I can feel the thirst but there's no relief
We need a river
There's a sound in the distance like a thunder cloud
Waiting for the rain while the sun beats down
Can you feel it rising from the underground?
We need a river
Pre-Chorus
Oh, let justice roll like rivers
Oh, let mercy flow with love, love
Chorus
Come to the water, come to the water of life
It will never run dry
Come to the water, run to the water of life
It will never run dry
Verse 2
There's a cry from a child in the factory
There's a prayer for the prisoners of poverty
Save us from the greed and the apathy
We need a river
There's a hope like a flood running down our street
We're an army of peacemakers on our feet
Take us to the place where love and mercy meet
There is a river
Bridge
Oh, let justice roll like rivers
Oh, let mercy flow with love, love
Return to Chorus
Spoken
Father forgive us for the preaching the gospel
That we don't always show
While millions all over this planet are dying of spiritual thirst
We're greedy and selfish in our ways
But Father I heard You say that if my people
Who are called by Your name
Will humble themselves and pray
You will hear our prayers and give us water that will satisfy, sing
Chorus (2x)
Video
Come To The Water
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on September 1, 2012, Chris Tomlin’s "Come To The Water" arrives as a profound spiritual anthem, serving as both a lament over the world’s brokenness and a powerful invitation to divine solace. The song emerges from a deep well of biblical truth, painting a vivid picture of human desperation in the face of widespread social and spiritual drought, then offering the unyielding promise of God's provision. It’s a contemporary expression of ancient yearning, echoing through the ages to reach a thirsty generation.
The narrative of "Come To The Water" begins by unflinchingly acknowledging the strife and spiritual desolation pervading society. The opening imagery evokes a world grappling with conflict and an almost tangible anger, where an overwhelming thirst for something more remains unquenched. This initial portrait quickly expands to capture a sense of anticipation, a longing for spiritual rain amidst a parched landscape, reflecting a widespread societal longing for genuine relief. These verses beautifully set the stage for the recurring plea, "We need a river," a cry that intuitively points to a source of life far beyond human capability. This primal need for a river resonates deeply with scriptural themes of living water, reminiscent of Jeremiah 2:13, where God laments His people forsaking Him, the spring of living water, for broken cisterns that can hold no water.
The song then pivots dramatically with a pre-chorus that acts as a direct scriptural invocation, calling for justice to "roll like rivers" and mercy to "flow with love." This powerful imagery is a direct and unmistakable echo of the prophet Amos 5:24, where God declares, "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream." By inserting this prophetic declaration, Tomlin elevates the song from mere observation to a divine mandate, setting the stage for the chorus's transformative invitation. The chorus itself, "Come to the water, come to the water of life, it will never run dry," becomes the heart of the message, a timeless summons rooted in the New Testament. It evokes Jesus's declaration in John 7:37-38, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." This water of life is not just for individual salvation but for sustaining a renewed commitment to justice and mercy, a river that constantly replenishes and never ceases to flow, reflecting Revelation 22:17's universal invitation to "take the free gift of the water of life."
As the song progresses, it grounds these spiritual truths in the harsh realities of human suffering, moving beyond abstract conflict to tangible injustices. It speaks to the plight of the vulnerable, the child exploited in factories, and those imprisoned by poverty, implicitly calling out the societal failings of greed and apathy. This is a stark reminder of the church's biblical responsibility, as articulated in James 1:27, to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Yet, the narrative swiftly shifts from despair to empowerment, envisioning a hopeful transformation where a "flood" of hope courses through communities. It describes an "army of peacemakers," individuals actively seeking the convergence of love and mercy, implying that the spiritual "river" not only satisfies personal thirst but also energizes collective action for good in the world, reminiscent of Matthew 25:35-40, where Christ identifies Himself with the hungry, thirsty, and imprisoned.
The bridge reinforces the prophetic call for justice and mercy, underscoring its central role in the song's spiritual framework. However, the true climax arrives in the powerful spoken word section, a moment of profound vulnerability and conviction. Here, the song transcends a simple worship anthem to become a corporate confession and intercession. Tomlin vocalizes a genuine lament over the disconnect between preached gospel and lived reality, acknowledging the widespread spiritual thirst while confessing the church’s own "greedy and selfish ways." This raw honesty immediately leads into a powerful prayer, directly invoking the promise found in 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." This spoken prayer frames the entire song as an act of corporate repentance and a plea for divine intervention, asserting that humility and prayer are the pathways to receiving the satisfying "water" God promises. Ultimately, "Come To The Water" is far more than a melodic composition; it is a profound theological statement, a heartfelt confession, and an urgent summons for both individual spiritual renewal and collective engagement in bringing God's justice and mercy to a world desperately in need. It inspires genuine reflection and motivates a responsive, Spirit-empowered life that continually draws from the never-ending wellspring of God's grace.