Jon Foreman - Again Lyrics
Lyrics
Oh Lord, God of our fathers
This day let it be known
That you Lord, are God of the present tense
Oh Lord, Father of history
This day, let it be known
That you Lord, are present in our human events
Answer me oh Lord
Let your people know
That you're turning the hearts back to you
Turning the hearts back to you
You are turning the hearts back to you
Again
Again
Holy, Holy
You alone are true
Holy, Holy
You alone are true
Turn us back towards you
Answer me oh God
Let your people know
That you're turning the hearts back to you
Turning the hearts back to you
You are turning the hearts back to you
Again
Video
Jon Foreman - "Again"
Meaning & Inspiration
Jon Foreman's "Again," released as part of his 2008 *Summer - EP*, is a profound invocation, a desperate yet hopeful plea that grounds itself in the unchanging nature of God amidst the swirling currents of human experience. This isn't just a song; it’s a prayer set to music, echoing the ancient cries of a people yearning for divine presence and redirection. The core of "Again" is its powerful declaration of God's immanence, moving beyond a God of historical narrative to one who actively engages in the present tense of our lives. Foreman addresses God not just as "Lord" but as "God of our fathers," immediately establishing a lineage of faith, but then pivots to a revelation: that this same God is "God of the present tense." This is a crucial distinction, suggesting that the divine faithfulness witnessed in generations past is not relegated to dusty annals but is a living, breathing reality in this very moment.
The song then unfolds as a direct petition for a tangible demonstration of God's intervention. The repeated call to "Answer me oh Lord" and "Let your people know" speaks to a collective need for assurance. The central request is for hearts to be turned back to God, a theme deeply resonant within Scripture. This is not a mere suggestion but a divine action described: "You're turning the hearts back to you." The insistence on "Again" underscores the cyclical nature of human faith – the constant need for renewal and recalibration towards the divine. This echoes the pleas found in passages like Psalm 51:10, where David prays, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Similarly, Jeremiah 31:18 laments, "Have you not heard that I have decreed it long ago? I have planned it from ancient times; now I have brought it to pass… I will turn their hearts back." Foreman’s lyrics capture this yearning for a repeat of God's salvific work, a fresh outpouring of grace that reorients the soul.
The declaration of "Holy, Holy," a direct reference to the seraphim's praise in Isaiah 6:3, reinforces the absolute truth and holiness of God. It’s a recognition of God's supreme otherness, the very source of purity and righteousness. This acknowledgment of God’s intrinsic nature fuels the plea for transformation. The desire to be "turned back towards you" is not born from a sense of duty alone, but from the profound understanding that God’s holiness is the ultimate standard and the ultimate source of life. This resonates with the concept of sanctification, the process by which believers are made holy through the Spirit's work, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:3: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification." "Again" serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual life is not a static state but a continuous journey, a constant turning back, a perpetual embracing of God's presence and purpose in our ever-unfolding human events.