Jars of Clay - Liquid Lyrics
Lyrics
Arms nailed down,
are You telling me something?
Eyes turned out,
are You looking for someone?
This is the one thing, (the one thing)
The one thing that I know.
Blood-stained brow,
are you dying for nothing?
Flesh and blood
is it so elemental?
And this is the one thing, (the one thing)
The one thing that I know.
(This is the one thing) This is the one thing,
The one thing that I know.
Blood-stained brow,
He wasn't broken for nothing.
Arms nailed down,
He didn't die for nothing.
He didn't die for nothing.
This is the one thing, (the one thing)
The one thing that I know.
(This is the one thing) This is the one thing,
The one thing that I know.
(This is the one thing) This is the one thing,
The one thing that I know.
(This is the one thing) This is the one thing,
The one thing that I know.
One thing.
Video
Jars Of Clay - Liquid
Meaning & Inspiration
Jars of Clay’s self-titled debut album, released in 1995, gifted us with a deeply resonant track that continues to stir the soul: "Liquid." This song isn't just a collection of words and melodies; it’s a profound meditation on sacrifice and the singular truth that anchors our faith. The opening lines, "Arms nailed down, are You telling me something? Eyes turned out, are You looking for someone?" immediately conjure images of profound suffering, not in despair, but as communication. The repetition of "This is the one thing, the one thing that I know" acts as a powerful, unwavering declaration, a bedrock truth amidst the confusion of pain. The imagery of a "blood-stained brow" and "flesh and blood" directly points to the humanity of suffering, yet the subsequent lines, "He wasn't broken for nothing. Arms nailed down, He didn't die for nothing," transform this suffering into purpose. This is the essence of the Christian message: that Christ's sacrifice was not in vain.
The song’s power lies in its stark, almost visceral, portrayal of the crucifixion. It bypasses sentimentalism and confronts the raw reality of Christ's suffering, asking probing questions that echo the bewilderment of onlookers and disciples alike. Yet, the answer, the "one thing" that the songwriter holds onto, is the redemptive power of that sacrifice. This echoes passages like Isaiah 53:5, which speaks of Christ being wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace falling upon Him. The certainty found in "the one thing that I know" resonates with the Apostle Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians 2:2, where he resolved to know nothing among believers except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The lyrics' emphasis on the "one thing" serves as a reminder to keep our focus on the central tenet of our faith, especially when confronted with life's inevitable hardships. The song encourages a steadfast adherence to this core truth, a conviction that can sustain us through trials, much like the steadfastness attributed to Jesus Himself, as Hebrews 12:2 highlights, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. "Liquid" ultimately serves as an anthem of unwavering belief, urging listeners to cling to the life-giving sacrifice of Christ, the singular, irrefutable truth that underpins everything.