Lecrae - Desperate Lyrics
Lyrics
spoken intro
"Our father, forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us"
1
Woke up this morning, too depressed and shamed to leave my bed
Can't stand to see my own reflection, so I hang my head
Feel like a disappointment, like the scum of the earth
I'm so hurt, I know you see I can't cover my dirt
My soul's dying, heart's weak, I can't even cry
I'm supposed to run to you but why I'm such an evil guy
The sun's shinin', but for me it's the darkest of days
Try to pretend it never happened, but the guilt remains
I leave the house, it feels like everybody knows I did it
Feel like they readin' my mind and know the sin I committed
Through Your blood I'm acquitted, but my heart doesn't get it
Oh God I'm desperate for help 'cause I'm grieving Your spirit
I couldn't sing in Sunday service, Lord it felt fake
And when they started Communion, I just made an escape
I'm in need of Your grace feels like You hid Your face
Lord lead me back to the cross and show me my sin's erased
Chorus
I'm so desperate
Can't believe I sinned against You
Create in me a clean heart (I'm so sorry)
Your mercy is what I need
2
I'm waist deep in my pity, is Satan trying to trick me , and tell me You won't forgive me?
'Cause it's startin' to get me
Jesus help me quickly, I hate the wrong I done
I know we all fall but I feel like the only one
Feels like I should be shunned, should I punish myself?
I know it's dumb, 'cause by Your death all my sin has been dealt
But my sin has been felt - I didn't want to do it
But what I want to do I don't, I swear I'm goin' through it
I'm tryin' to open up my Bible, need to read Your pages
Need You Lord but my guilt has got me feelin' so faithless
Help me see where grace is take me to the basics
Help me find my joy in You and not people and places
My sin is ever before me, I turned my back on You
Oh Father break and restore me and bring me back to You
My sin is ever before me, I turned my back on You
God break and restore me and bring me back to You
((chorus))
3
Have mercy on me God according to Your steady love
Wipe away my transgressions and wash me in Your blood
Create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit
Don't hide Your face from me God Your presence, keep me near it
I'm waiting patient on You, Lord I know You hear my cry
Restore Your joy in me for You alone I live and die
It's You I glorify 'cause You don't want my sacrifice
You want me broken and contrite and trusting in the Christ
I confess to You my sin and You show me mercy
I turn away from it demonstrating that You are worthy
Over lust, over pride, over all sin
is my affection for Jesus who died for all them
I was lost now I'm found, I was tossed to the ground
My sin weighed on me heavy but I'm no longer bound
As sure as Christ wear the crown I know that grace will abound
And even when I feel lost, I know in You I am found
((chorus))
Video
Lecrae - Desperate ft. Cam
Meaning & Inspiration
Lecrae's "Desperate," released on September 30, 2008, as part of his album *Rebel*, is a stark and profoundly honest exploration of a soul wrestling with the crushing weight of sin and the desperate need for divine grace. The song bypasses superficiality, immediately drawing the listener into an intimate prayer of repentance that begins with a direct reference to the Lord's Prayer, asking for forgiveness and acknowledging our own trespasses. This spoken invocation sets a somber, vulnerable tone, preparing us for a journey through the darkest valleys of spiritual struggle.
The narrative unfolds with the artist painting a vivid picture of overwhelming guilt and shame. We hear of mornings too heavy to leave the bed, a self-reflection too painful to confront, and the pervasive feeling of being a "disappointment" and "scum of the earth." This profound self-condemnation is not merely emotional but spiritual, as he describes his soul as "dying" and heart "weak," unable even to cry. The internal conflict is palpable: knowing he should "run to You" yet feeling too "evil" to approach, an experience shared by many who grapple with their fallen nature. Even as the sun shines, his world remains in "the darkest of days" as "guilt remains," illustrating the insidious way sin can permeate every aspect of life. He describes a paranoid sense that "everybody knows I did it," feeling exposed, and despite the intellectual understanding that "through Your blood I'm acquitted," his heart stubbornly refuses to accept this truth, leading to the painful admission of "grieving Your spirit," a poignant reference to Ephesians 4:30. This deep inner turmoil prevents him from participating in corporate worship, causing him to flee from Communion, a powerful symbol of grace, revealing how shame can alienate us from the very source of healing. His plea is earnest: "Lord lead me back to the cross and show me my sin's erased," echoing the longing for assurance found in Psalm 27:8-9. The chorus, a raw cry of "I'm so desperate," is punctuated by the direct plea from Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart," solidifying the song’s foundation in sincere biblical repentance.
As the song progresses, the spiritual battle intensifies. The artist describes himself as "waist deep in my pity," questioning if Satan is "trying to trick me" into believing God won't forgive him, a tactic of the enemy to condemn rather than convict, contrary to Romans 8:1. He grapples with the pervasive feeling of being uniquely flawed, saying, "I know we all fall but I feel like the only one," a common experience of isolation in sin that the adversary exploits. The internal struggle articulated here is a direct parallel to Romans 7:15, where Paul laments, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." This makes the act of opening his Bible or connecting with God feel impossible, as "my guilt has got me feelin' so faithless." His prayer shifts to a foundational request: "Help me see where grace is take me to the basics," underscoring the need to return to fundamental truths of faith and redirect his affections from "people and places" back to God, finding joy in Him as promised in Psalm 16:11. The recurring line, "My sin is ever before me, I turned my back on You. Oh Father break and restore me and bring me back to You," mirrors David's confession in Psalm 51:3, a heartfelt petition for spiritual renewal.
The final verse marks a profound turning point, transitioning from despair to fervent hope and restoration. Here, the artist fully embraces the language of repentance and trust, drawing heavily from Psalm 51. He cries, "Have mercy on me God according to Your steady love," directly quoting the opening of David’s plea. He asks God to "Wipe away my transgressions and wash me in Your blood," acknowledging the atoning power of Christ's sacrifice as found in Hebrews 9:22 and Revelation 1:5. The prayer to "Create in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit. Don't hide Your face from me God Your presence, keep me near it," reflects Psalm 51:10-11, signifying a deep longing for intimacy with God. He affirms his patience and trust, knowing God hears his cry (Psalm 40:1), and prays for the restoration of joy, declaring his life and death are for God alone (Psalm 51:12). A powerful theological statement emerges: God does not desire mere "sacrifice," but a "broken and contrite" spirit "trusting in the Christ," echoing Psalm 51:16-17. This understanding leads to true confession and turning away from sin, demonstrating God's worthiness and the reordering of affections, placing Jesus "over lust, over pride, over all sin." The song culminates in a triumphant declaration of redemption: "I was lost now I'm found, I was tossed to the ground. My sin weighed on me heavy but I'm no longer bound." This powerful image of liberation and the assurance that "as sure as Christ wear the crown I know that grace will abound" (Romans 5:20) provides a profound sense of peace and security. Even when "I feel lost, I know in You I am found," encapsulates the enduring promise of God’s faithfulness.
"Desperate" serves as a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever wrestled with the deep spiritual pain of their own failures. Lecrae's raw vulnerability is not just relatable; it's a testament to the transformative power of divine grace. The song meticulously walks through the process of conviction, confession, and the eventual, liberating embrace of forgiveness, grounded deeply in Scriptural truth. It's a reminder that true repentance leads not to condemnation, but to a profound restoration and renewed affection for Jesus. For those struggling under the weight of guilt, "Desperate" offers a roadmap out of despair, affirming that God's mercy is always available, and His steadfast love will always lead us back to Him.