Jonny Diaz - One Thing Lyrics
Lyrics
I bought my ticket and I paid in cash
I thought that this time the ride would last
And lead me to what I am looking for
I see the world as it rushes by
But nothing new is grabbing my eye
Just everything that I have tried before
Maybe I've been looking in the wrong place
Maybe I've been thinking that the world will
Fill me up full enough but it never works that way
There is just one thing that fills me up
One thing that's true
There is just one thing that satisfies
That one thing is You
Show me everything I did not see
While I was searching the world
For what was right in front of me
So much wasted wasting time
I see that I've been headed down the wrong track
Now I don't wanna ever go back
To the way it was all because
You're all I'll ever need
There is just one thing that fills me up
One thing that's true
There is just one thing that satisfies
That one thing is You
I'm tired of settling for this world
And its bitter dreams
There's nothing here that satisfies like You
There is just one thing that fills me up
One thing that's true
There is just one thing that satisfies
There is just one thing that fills me up
One thing that's true
There is just one thing that satisfies
That one thing is You, one thing is You
Video
One Thing
Meaning & Inspiration
Jonny Diaz’s "One Thing," released on May 1, 2009, as part of his album *More Beautiful You*, is a powerful anthem of spiritual rediscovery and divine satisfaction. From its opening lines, the song narrates a deeply relatable human journey, one marked by the restless pursuit of fulfillment in a world that consistently falls short. It paints a vivid picture of a soul traversing life's landscape, "buying tickets" and embarking on experiences, always hoping that "this time the ride would last," yet repeatedly finding itself back at square one, seeing "nothing new" that truly grasps the heart or offers lasting peace. This initial striving mirrors the human condition described in Ecclesiastes, where the Preacher recounts his exhaustive search for meaning in pleasure, wisdom, and labor, only to conclude that all is "vanity and a chasing after wind" when pursued apart from God. The universal experience of feeling a void, despite constant engagement with the world's offerings, resonates deeply, setting the stage for the song's transformative message.
The turning point in "One Thing" arrives with a moment of profound introspection: the realization that perhaps the search itself has been misdirected. The lyrics articulate a dawning awareness that one has been "looking in the wrong place," believing the world could "fill me up full enough," only to discover that "it never works that way." This profound shift in perspective is a beautiful echo of biblical wisdom, particularly Jeremiah 2:13, where God laments that His people have "forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." The song’s narrative perfectly captures the disillusionment that comes from repeatedly drawing from these "broken cisterns" of worldly ambition and transient pleasures, which promise much but deliver little more than fleeting satisfaction. This honest confession of spiritual weariness prepares the heart for the liberating truth that follows.
The core message of "One Thing" resounds with unwavering clarity: "There is just one thing that fills me up / One thing that's true / There is just one thing that satisfies / That one thing is You." This declaration is the song's spiritual anchor, unequivocally pointing to God as the sole source of true contentment. It’s a direct affirmation of passages like Psalm 16:11, which proclaims, "You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." The "You" in the chorus transcends mere affection, identifying the divine presence that alone can quench the soul's deepest thirst, much as Jesus declared in John 6:35, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in Me shall never thirst." The repeated emphasis on "one thing" is not merely catchy but profoundly significant, suggesting singularity, exclusivity, and ultimate importance, aligning with Christ's teaching in Luke 10:42 about choosing the "one thing" that is truly needful.
As the song progresses, the transformation in perspective leads to a radical shift in desire and direction. The journey from aimless wandering culminates in a fierce resolve: "Now I don't wanna ever go back / To the way it was all because / You're all I'll ever need." This expresses the profound freedom found in realizing that God's sufficiency negates the need for anything else. This renewed commitment aligns with 2 Corinthians 5:17, which teaches, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The recognition that everything truly needed is found in Him frees one from the relentless striving that previously characterized life. The song beautifully articulates a reorientation from earthly pursuits to heavenly ones, a sentiment championed in Colossians 3:1-2: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
Ultimately, "One Thing" serves as a poignant reminder that the longing embedded in every human heart for meaning, purpose, and contentment can only be truly met by the divine. The lyrics capture the weariness of "settling for this world / And its bitter dreams," and the ultimate revelation that "there's nothing here that satisfies like You." This resonates with the timeless truth that our hearts are indeed restless until they find their rest in God. Jonny Diaz has crafted more than just a song; he has delivered a spiritual invitation, urging all who hear it to cease their frantic search in superficial places and turn their gaze toward the "One Thing" that promises and delivers true, enduring satisfaction. It's a call to embrace the liberating truth of Christ's all-sufficiency, offering hope and peace to every soul yearning for genuine fulfillment beyond the fleeting promises of this world.