Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - Forgiven Again Lyrics
Lyrics
I left my family, the love that I had known.
I couldn't believe how calloused I'd grown.
Then I woke up one morning, in cold freezing rain,
And said I'll go back where I'd caused so much pain.
Oohh, just insight of the place where the lane meets the road,
The Father was waiting to carry my load,
His big arms were open
To draw me to Him,
Forgiven, forgiven, forgiven again.
If you've broken the trust
And betrayed your best friend,
If you're lost and confused
Wondering where it will end.
There's a way you can know that
Wherever you've been,
You can make your way home
And be forgiven again.
Just insight of the place where the lane meets the road
The Father is waiting to carry your load.
His big arms are longing to draw you to Him,
Forgiven, forgiven, forgiven again.
His big arms are longing to draw you to Him,
I'm forgiven, I'm forgiven,
Forgiven again...
Just insight of the place where the lane meets the road
The Father is waiting to carry your load.
His big arms are longing to draw you to Him...
Forgiven, I'm forgiven,
Forgiven, I'm forgiven...
Forgiven again.
Video
Forgiven Again [Live]
Meaning & Inspiration
"Forgiven Again" by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, released on January 1, 2005, as part of their album *Ernie Haase and Signature Sound*, offers a profound and comforting exploration of divine grace. This song immediately immerses the audience in a narrative of wandering and homecoming, drawing deeply from one of the most beloved parables in Christian tradition.
The song’s narrative unfolds through the eyes of someone who has strayed far from what they once knew. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of a deliberate departure, a hardening of the heart over time, and the eventual painful realization of personal brokenness. "I left my family, the love that I had known. I couldn't believe how calloused I'd grown," articulates a spiritual journey marked by rebellion and the subsequent spiritual desolation, much like the prodigal son who journeyed to a distant country and squandered his inheritance (Luke 15:13). The awakening, described as "woke up one morning, in cold freezing rain," symbolizes a moment of acute despair and clarity, a turning point where the weight of choices becomes unbearable, prompting a desperate desire for reconciliation and acknowledging the pain caused (Luke 15:17-18). This moment of self-awareness is crucial, aligning with the biblical call to repentance, which begins with acknowledging one's transgressions (Psalm 51:3-4).
The heart of the song, resonating through its powerful chorus, captures the essence of God's unwavering love and readiness to forgive. "Just insight of the place where the lane meets the road, The Father was waiting to carry my load, His big arms were open to draw me to Him," directly mirrors the breathtaking scene in Luke 15:20, where the father sees his son "while he was still a long way off" and runs to him, embracing him. This imagery beautifully conveys God's proactive, unconditional love – He is not waiting for us to fully earn our way back, but eagerly watching for even the slightest hint of return. The "big arms" symbolize a comforting, secure embrace, an immediate acceptance that lifts the burden of guilt and shame, reflecting promises like casting anxieties upon Him (1 Peter 5:7) and finding rest for weary souls (Matthew 11:28). The repeated declaration, "Forgiven, forgiven, forgiven again," is more than a simple statement; it is an affirmation of complete restoration, an echoing of God's promise to remember sins no more (Hebrews 8:12) and remove transgressions as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).
The song then broadens its scope, inviting all who identify with the feelings of broken trust, betrayal, loss, and confusion to find solace. "If you've broken the trust and betrayed your best friend, If you're lost and confused wondering where it will end," speaks to the universal human experience of making mistakes and feeling isolated by them. It transcends specific religious contexts to touch on common struggles of guilt and despair, offering a profound message of hope that applies to anyone seeking redemption. The assurance that "wherever you've been, you can make your way home and be forgiven again" underscores the accessibility of divine grace, emphasizing that no past deed or distant journey is too great for God's mercy to overcome. This aligns with Isaiah 1:18, where the Lord invites, "Come now, let us reason together...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."
The powerful reiteration of the chorus in the later parts of the song serves to solidify this message, making it clear that the Father's longing arms are eternally open, ready to embrace all who turn back to Him. It's a testament to God's steadfast love and mercy that does not diminish or tire (Lamentations 3:22-23). Ernie Haase & Signature Sound effectively deliver a potent reminder that our repentance, however imperfect, is met with an immediate, overwhelming embrace of forgiveness. The song encourages a deep reflection on God’s character as a loving Father who actively pursues His children, celebrating their return with unbounded joy, just as Jesus described the rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7, 10). "Forgiven Again" stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that no matter how far we’ve wandered or how deep our regret, the path back to reconciliation and complete forgiveness is always open, paved by the Father's enduring love.