MercyMe - Lifer Lyrics
Lyrics
And now, ladies and gentlemen
It ain't like
I can just walk away
Like choosing when to breathe
You know it don't work that way
It's hardwired
Living inside of me
No matter where I go
I know you're gonna be with me
I just can't seem to shake ya
Even if I could, yeah
I would not change a thing, yeah
Would not, would not change a thing, yeah
If it's pushing you away, yeah
Or running to ya
You still love me the same, yeah
Hallelujah
And as long as my heart is beating
And my lungs are breathing
I'll keep on singing for you
(Woo hoo hoo)
Even right through the moment
(Right through the moment)
When you call me home, yeah
(You call me home)
I'll still be singing for you
'Cause that's what lifers do
'Cause that's what lifers do
'Cause that's what lifers do
'Cause that's what lifers do
No, I'm not gonna stop
Whatever might come my way
No matter the high or low
You know it don't change a thing
'Cause it ain't what happens to me
Yeah, that don't define me
It's what I got inside me
What I, what I got inside me
And before I was created
(Before I was created)
You already knew, yeah
Ain't nothing gonna separate us
Hallelujah
And as long as my heart is beating
And my lungs are breathing
I'll keep on singing for you
(Woo hoo hoo)
Even right through the moment
(Right through the moment)
When you call me home, yeah
(You call me home)
I'll still be singin' for you
'Cause that's what lifers do
'Cause that's what lifers do
'Cause that's what lifers do
'Cause that's what lifers do
Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right
I'm a lifer for life
Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right
Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right
I'm a lifer for life
Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right
I'm a lifer
Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right
I'm a lifer for life
Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right
Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right
I'm a lifer for life
Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right
I'm a lifer
As long as my heart is beating
(My heart is beating)
And my lungs are breathing
(My lungs are breathing)
I'll keep on singing for you
(I'm gonna keep on singing for you)
(Woo hoo hoo)
Even right through the moment
(Right through the moment)
When you call me home, yeah
Not gonna stop, I'll still be singing for you
'Cause that's what lifers do
(Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right)
(I'm a lifer for life)
'Cause that's what lifers do
(Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right)
'Cause that's what lifers do
(Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right)
(I'm a lifer for life)
'Cause that's what lifers do
(Yeah, that's right, yeah, that's right)
I'm a lifer
Video
Lifer
Meaning & Inspiration
MercyMe's resonant track, "Lifer," emerged on February 17, 2017, as the title song from their album of the same name, immediately setting a tone of unwavering spiritual commitment. The song is a powerful declaration, articulating the profound and indelible nature of a believer's relationship with God. It speaks to a faith that isn't a fleeting choice or a temporary phase, but rather a deeply ingrained identity – a "lifer" in the truest sense, someone whose allegiance is not merely intellectual assent but an intrinsic part of their very being, a devotion that defines their existence from beginning to end and beyond. This core message of permanent fidelity and eternal connection forms the narrative heartbeat of the entire piece.
The opening lines, "It ain't like I can just walk away / Like choosing when to breathe / You know it don't work that way / It's hardwired Living inside of me," beautifully capture the inseparability of the believer from their Creator. This isn't a casual affiliation; it's an interwoven reality, echoing Jeremiah 31:3 where God declares His love with "an everlasting love," drawing us with "kindness." The song portrays this divine connection as an inherent part of one's spiritual DNA, an anchor that ensures, "No matter where I go / I know you're gonna be with me." This sentiment aligns perfectly with Psalm 139:7-10, which speaks of God's omnipresence, reminding us there is no escape from His Spirit or presence, a comforting assurance for those who recognize Him as their constant companion. The declaration, "I just can't seem to shake ya / Even if I could, yeah / I would not change a thing," transcends mere resignation, transforming into a joyful acceptance and embrace of this eternal bond, celebrating a relationship so secure that it doesn't waver, regardless of our own fluctuations.
The heart of "Lifer" beats strongest in its chorus, a steadfast promise of worship and enduring devotion: "As long as my heart is beating / And my lungs are breathing / I'll keep on singing for you / Even right through the moment / When you call me home, yeah / I'll still be singing for you / 'Cause that's what lifers do." This commitment extends beyond earthly life, envisioning an eternity of praise. It reflects the dedication described in Psalm 104:33, "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being," and paints a picture of the heavenly chorus, where all of creation continually offers worship, as depicted in Revelation 7:9-12. The phrase "right through the moment / When you call me home" is a profound acknowledgment of mortality, yet it reframes death not as an end, but as a transition to an even deeper, uninterrupted state of worship and communion, reinforcing the eternal nature of the "lifer's" journey.
Further cementing this resolve, the second verse asserts, "No, I'm not gonna stop / Whatever might come my way / No matter the high or low / You know it don't change a thing." This unwavering persistence is rooted not in self-reliance, but in the divine indwelling. The lyrics clarify, "'Cause it ain't what happens to me / Yeah, that don't define me / It's what I got inside me," pointing directly to the transformative power of Christ living within, as declared in Galatians 2:20: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." This inner strength, coupled with the knowledge of God's foreknowledge and pre-creation love – "Before I was created / You already knew, yeah" – provides an unshakeable foundation. Psalm 139:16 testifies to God's intimate knowledge of us even before birth, and Ephesians 1:4 reminds us that He "chose us in him before the foundation of the world." This deep, preordained connection culminates in the triumphant cry, "Ain't nothing gonna separate us / Hallelujah," a direct and powerful echo of Romans 8:38-39, assuring us that neither life nor death, angels nor demons, nor any created thing "will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." "Lifer" is not just a song; it's an anthem for every soul that has embraced this profound, eternal bond, a reminder of the steadfastness of divine love and the enduring commitment it inspires.