Hillsong Young And Free - Best Friends Lyrics

Best Friends (Live) | Hillsong Young & Free

Best Friends Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration

Hillsong Young & Free's song "Best Friends," released with a live video on February 21, 2020, captures a pervasive feeling among young people navigating the complexities of modern life. The opening verses immediately set a scene of discontent with superficiality, highlighting the struggle against the pull of constant phone use and the pressure to project an inauthentic image. This points to a yearning for something more substantial than fleeting online interactions or the demands of societal expectations, questioning the worth of living a life dictated by external validation.

The pre-chorus intensifies this sentiment, describing how the pursuit of fleeting pleasures and attention ("lights," "cheap thrills") ultimately proves empty and wasted time. It directly challenges the idea that societal plans or trends should define identity, articulating a clear search for a "higher way." This part of the song powerfully voices a shared frustration with the superficial layers of contemporary culture and the realization that chasing temporary highs leaves one feeling unfulfilled.

The core message resonates most strongly in the chorus, where the shift moves from individual struggle to collective experience. The declaration that "All of my best friends / Are sick of pretending" reveals a shared exhaustion with inauthenticity among peers. This group expresses a unified desire for "the truth" because "so much is missing." The identification of this sought-after "real thing" as "You" culminates the search, pointing towards a relationship with God as the ultimate source of truth and fulfillment, something substantial that contrasts with the emptiness previously described.

Further developing this theme, the second verse rejects conforming to stereotypes, recognizing that external labels fail to capture true identity. It expresses a weariness with chasing the "next hype," acknowledging that such pursuits never offer lasting satisfaction. The commitment to "go another way" signifies a deliberate turn away from these transient trends. The second pre-chorus reinforces the fading nature of previously sought "lights" and, referencing Bob Dylan, suggests a recognition that times are changing, indicating a shift away from old ways of thinking or living towards finding meaning outside of conventional societal paths.

The song's background as part of Hillsong Young & Free aligns with its focus on the issues and spiritual journey of young adults. It provides a soundtrack for those questioning the status quo and seeking deeper connection and purpose. The live video context further emphasizes the communal aspect of this search and discovery within a community of faith. The honest lyrics resonate with the experience of feeling disconnected and searching for authentic relationships and truth in a world often dominated by curated images and temporary fixes.

The themes explored throughout "Best Friends" find echoes in various scripture passages. The search for lasting truth and the rejection of the world's fleeting allure can be related to passages like John 14:6, where Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life," presenting Himself as the ultimate reality sought. The dissatisfaction with superficiality and the desire for something real are reflected in Jeremiah 2:13, describing the people who have "forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." The idea of finding fulfillment in God rather than worldly pursuits is central to texts like Psalm 16:11, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Furthermore, the call to not conform to worldly patterns but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2) aligns with the song's rejection of societal plans and stereotypes and the decision to go a "higher way." The collective desire for truth among "best friends" mirrors the biblical emphasis on community and seeking God together, as seen in Hebrews 10:24-25, encouraging believers to meet together and spur one another on.