Michael W. Smith - I've Got News for You Lyrics
Lyrics
Everybody's going to the movies
Everybody's leaving for the show
Seems as if we've lost the nerves 'for 'feelin'
And no one's 'in the mood to want to 'know
I got news for you
This is not a game
I got news for you
Are you listening?
I got news for you
We are all the same
And when that is understood
We can start to live again
Can you look inside and tell me
That your emptiness is just a state of mind
And you'll feel better if you just keep busy
If you leave your feelings all behind?
Oh
I got news for you
This is not a game
I got news for you
Are you listening?
I got news for you
We are all to blame
And when that is understood
We can start to live again
Oh, yes, when that is understood
We can start to live again
Oh, start to live again
People, people, tell me, where have we been?
Ever feel as if your heart is whispering
Like a special voice you never heard before?
And something deep inside your soul is ticking
As if someone was pounding on the door
I got news for you
This is not a game
I got news for you
Are you listening?
I got news for you
We are all the same
I got news for you
This is not a game
I got news for you
We are all to blame
And when that is understood
We can start to live again
Yes, when that is understood
We can start to live again
(He loves you, baby, baby, ooh, la, la)
(He loves you, baby, baby, ooh, la, la)
(He loves you, baby, baby, ooh, la, la)
(He loves you, baby, baby, ooh, la, la)
(He loves you, baby, baby, ooh, la, la)
Yes, when that is understood
We can start to live, start to live again
Video
I've Got News for You
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on April 7, 2022, Michael W. Smith’s "I've Got News for You" arrives as a potent declaration, urging listeners beyond superficial distractions towards a profound truth. The song’s genesis appears rooted in an observation of societal escapism, a tendency to seek solace in transient pleasures like "going to the movies" or "leaving for the show," while neglecting deeper emotional and spiritual realities. Smith posits that this avoidance stems from a reluctance to confront emptiness and a misplaced belief that busyness can mend a troubled spirit, a sentiment echoed in the verse questioning if personal lack is merely a "state of mind."
The core of the message, however, lies in the insistent refrain, "I've got news for you." This news is not one of mere information, but of fundamental realization: "This is not a game." The gravity of our shared human condition is underscored by the repeated assertion that "We are all the same" and, more critically, "We are all to blame." This isn't an accusation designed to condemn, but an invitation to honest introspection. The Bible frequently speaks to our shared sinfulness and the universal need for redemption. Romans 3:23 powerfully states, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and Ephesians 4:22-24 urges us to "put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." The song’s emphasis on collective responsibility resonates with passages like 1 John 1:8, which warns, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."
The pivotal turning point in the song arrives with the realization that "when that is understood / We can start to live again." This phrase is the song's gospel declaration. It points to a life transformed not by external amusements, but by internal acknowledgment and acceptance of truth. The lyrics touch upon an inner stirring, a "heart whispering," a "special voice you never heard before," and something "deep inside your soul is ticking." This is a compelling depiction of the Holy Spirit’s gentle, persistent work in drawing us towards God, akin to Jesus’ teaching in John 14:26: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." The message is clear: true life, vibrant and purposeful, is only accessed when we cease to run from our inherent brokenness and embrace the divine solution. The song culminates in a powerful, almost ecstatic reiteration of this freedom, implying that this profound understanding is the catalyst for genuine spiritual revival, allowing us to "start to live again."