Kari Jobe - Broken Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1: Lecrae
I'm just a broken instrument in the hands of the Greatest
So if the notes are off it's 'cause I ain't nothin' to play with
And you can fault me, but ain't we all off key
Majorin' in the minors like there ain't no errors behind us
Somehow he still makes these melodies with my felonies
I ain't buyin' nothin' they sellin' me what you tellin' me
Broken pieces actin' like we ain't cracked
Man we all messed up and cain't no one escape that
We some broken people
Came from broken homes
Broken hearts inside of a broken soul
Alcoholics, the addicts
English, African, Arabs
Ain't no riches to fix it
You still broke when you have it
If you ain't breakin' bad and you still chasin' the habit
It ain't no wonderland so we still chasing the rabbit
Ain't a soul on the planet
That's better than another
And we all need grace in the face of each other
Hook: Kari Jobe
All the pieces on the ground
I shattered all the dreams I thought I found
Can you put me back together?
I need your grace for my flaws
God I'm broken in this mess I've made
I need you to restore me
Verse 2: Lecrae
From Heaven we all small
Can't nobody buy tickets
You better have will call
That reaper he will call
They hurt just like me
Work just like me
Lust of the flesh the pride of life they flirt with like me
Regardless of our money we all broke together
And if we don't swallow our pride we gon choke together
Tryna hold onto our lives with these clumsy hands
Fell off the wall of purity
Doing that Humpty dance
Forget the king's horses
Forget the king's men
The King is coming to put us back together again
Been fighting since my daddy left
Fighting for approval
Think I don't know tryna get this world to love me is futile
We Tyler Durden won't be the burden of being less
Than what we were made to be like being what they suggest
We are outsiders, outliers
Out cry is loud, the meek inherit the earth
And God opposes the proud
Hook: Kari Jobe
Bridge: Kari Jobe
Your presence in me
Is all the strength that I need
Your presence in me
Is all the strength that I need
And I'll always be home
And I'll always be home
Hook: Kari Jobe
You never left me
You never ran off
You never gave up
(x3)
Video
Lecrae - Broken ft. Kari Jobe (Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on September 10, 2014, "Broken" by Kari Jobe featuring Lecrae is a profound exploration of human frailty and the redemptive power of God, delving into the universal experience of being shattered and the desperate plea for restoration. The song’s narrative opens with Lecrae’s honest self-assessment, painting a picture of a flawed individual, an "instrument in the hands of the Greatest," whose imperfections are laid bare. He acknowledges the collective brokenness that permeates humanity, recognizing that from broken homes to broken hearts, "we all need grace in the face of each other." This shared vulnerability is rooted in the biblical understanding that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, as Romans 3:23 clearly states. Lecrae's verses resonate with the truth that no earthly riches or worldly pursuits can mend what is truly broken within us; the song's lyrics powerfully mirror the Psalmist's cry in Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Kari Jobe’s chorus acts as the emotional core, a raw and vulnerable cry for help. The imagery of "pieces on the ground" and shattered dreams captures the devastation of realizing our own inadequacy and the desperate yearning for divine intervention. This isn't a casual request; it's a plea born from the depths of a mess we've made, a mess for which only God's grace can provide the restoration. This echoes the profound need for God’s intervention as expressed in Jeremiah 17:9, which warns, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" The song emphasizes that our flaws are not beyond God's ability to mend, as Jobe sings, "I need your grace for my flaws."
Lecrae returns to further elaborate on this universal brokenness, reminding us that our struggles with pride, lust, and the futile pursuit of worldly approval are shared experiences. He touches on the deep-seated need for affirmation and the emptiness that comes from seeking it in the wrong places. The powerful line, "Trying to hold onto our lives with these clumsy hands," speaks to our inherent inability to save ourselves. The song wisely points beyond human endeavors, even those of powerful figures ("the king's horses and the king's men"), to the ultimate healer. The promise of "The King is coming to put us back together again" is a clear allusion to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, who came to restore that which was lost, as foretold in Luke 19:10: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Lecrae's reference to "outsiders, outliers" finding solace and a home in God’s kingdom aligns with Jesus' teachings that he came not for the healthy but for the sick (Mark 2:17), and that the meek will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
The bridge, sung by Kari Jobe, shifts to a declaration of abiding faith. The assurance that "Your presence in me is all the strength that I need" speaks to the indwelling Holy Spirit, the divine power that equips believers to live a life of victory over their brokenness. This truth is foundational to the Christian walk, as Paul writes in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." The repetition of "And I'll always be home" signifies the security and belonging found in God’s unwavering love and presence. The song concludes with a powerful affirmation of God's faithfulness: "You never left me, You never ran off, You never gave up." This testament reflects the promise found in Hebrews 13:5, where God assures us, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," underscoring His steadfast love and commitment to His people, even in their most broken states. "Broken" is ultimately a song of profound hope, reminding listeners that in our deepest cracks and most profound failures, God's power to restore and make new is ever-present.