Even though the world doesn't know each other, we walk in the same direction
Like those lemmings that march off a cliff into the ocean for no apparent reason and no objection
You know that direction, I call it the direction of "me"?
My goals, my stuff, how do I get first place, and could somebody up there cut me a break so I can win the lottery
Then all of a sudden somebody shows up who's totally set apart from the rest.
Well he's heading in the other direction for one and there's a peace in His eyes and a rhythm to His step.
It's as if he has found the answer to life, and come to find out the answer's not me, myself or I.
I think I'm sticking with that guy.
My heart will beat as one
To the beat of a different drum
The rhythm of Your love
My heart is dancing now
In time with what I've found
The rhythm of Your love
As if I didn't say enough in the first verse, there's something else that's bugging me
How can I have just one heart that beats for so many things at the same time continually?
It just doesn't make since. I mean technically I've only got one heartbeat in there
But I dance with so many things, do so many jigs you'd think I was Fred Astaire
Bridge
I'm no rocket scientist, but it seems that every time you give a piece of your heart away
It can not be healthy? nor can it be as strong as well let's say
When the whole heart is beating as one for one thing one rhythm in unison
Now that my friend is good advice for anyone
MercyMe - Hurry Up and Wait (Official Music Video)
The Rhythm Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
MercyMe's song "The Rhythm" opens with a compelling image contrasting the world's direction with a self-focused path. The lyrics describe humanity often moving collectively, yet individually driven by personal goals, possessions, and the desire for worldly success, likened perhaps cynically to lemmings marching blindly. This initial picture paints a common human condition centered on "me," striving for first place and hoping for external breaks like winning the lottery.
The narrative then introduces a pivotal figure, someone distinctly different, moving against the prevailing current. This individual is characterized by profound peace and a unique "rhythm" in their step. The lyrics suggest this person has discovered the fundamental answer to life, which, importantly, is found *not* in self ("me, myself or I"). Witnessing this different way of being leads the observer to a decision: to follow this individual, implying a turning away from the self-centered path.
The powerful chorus encapsulates this shift in allegiance and focus. The singer declares their heart will now beat "as one" to "the beat of a different drum," specifically identifying it as "The rhythm of Your love." This signifies a commitment to align one's life and innermost desires with a divine love, moving in step with God's purposes rather than personal ambition or the world's pace. The feeling is one of joyful liberation, as the heart is described as "dancing now" in time with this newfound truth.
Following the chorus, the song delves deeper into the internal conflict of a heart divided. The lyrics question the possibility of a single heart genuinely beating for "so many things at the same time continually." This highlights the fragmented nature of a life pulled in multiple directions by competing desires and priorities, contrasting with the unified rhythm described in the chorus. The vivid metaphor of dancing "so many jigs" like Fred Astaire emphasizes the frenetic, perhaps scattered, energy expended when the heart lacks a single, central focus.
The bridge offers a profound insight, presented with disarming simplicity ("I'm no rocket scientist"). It posits that giving away pieces of one's heart to various pursuits or allegiances weakens it. The true strength and health of the heart, the lyrics suggest, come from it "beating as one for one thing one rhythm in unison." This serves as powerful advice, reinforcing the song's central theme that a life centered on the "rhythm of Your love" is one of unified purpose, strength, and peace, standing in stark contrast to the scattered, self-seeking existence initially depicted. The message resonates with biblical principles emphasizing single-hearted devotion to God, such as seeking His kingdom first or loving the Lord with all one's heart, soul, and mind, suggesting that a divided heart struggles to find stability and true fulfillment compared to one wholly aligned with God's rhythm. This song's message is associated with a music video titled MercyMe - Hurry Up and Wait (Official Music Video) which was released on May 8, 2020.
