Nichole Nordeman - Why (Live) Lyrics

Album: This Mystery
Released: 26 May 2000
iTunes Amazon Music

Lyrics

We rode into town the other day,
just me and my daddy.
he said I'd finally reached that age,
and I could ride next to him on a horse
that of course, was not quite as wild.

We heard a crowd of people shouting,
and so we stopped to find out why.
There was that man that my dad said he loved,
but today there was fear in his eyes.

So I said, 'Daddy, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe?
I bet that crown hurts Him more than He shows.
Daddy please, can't you do something?
He looks as though He's gonna cry.
You said He was stronger than all of those guys;
Daddy, please tell me why.
Why does everyone want Him to die?'

Later that day, the sky grew cloudy,
and Daddy said I should go inside.
Somehow he knew things would get stormy.
Boy was he right, but I could not keep from wondering
if there was something he had to hide.

So after he left, I had to find out.
I was not afraid of getting lost.
So I followed the crowds to a hill
where I knew men had been killed,
and I heard a voice come from the cross.

And it said, 'Father, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for my robe?
This crown of thorns hurts me more than it shows.
Father please, can't you do something?
I know that You must hear my cry.
I thought I could handle a cross of this size.
Father, remind me why.
Why does everyone want me to die?
Oh, when will I understand why?'

My precious son, I hear them screaming.
I'm watching the face of the enemy beaming.
But soon I will clothe you in robes of my own.
Jesus, this hurts me much more than you know,
but this dark hour, I must do nothing,
though I've heard your unbearable cry.
The power in your blood destroys all of the lies;
soon you'll see past their unmerciful eyes.
Look, there below, see the child
trembling by her father's side.
Now I can tell you why...
she is why you must die.

Video

Nichole Nordeman - Legacy (Acoustic)

Thumbnail for Why (Live) video

Meaning & Inspiration

Nichole Nordeman's "Why (Live)," featured on her 2000 album *This Mystery*, is a profound exploration of faith, sacrifice, and the divine purpose behind suffering, delivered with a raw vulnerability that resonates deeply. This live rendition amplifies the emotional weight of the song, transforming a simple narrative into a powerful theological reflection. The story unfolds through the eyes of a child accompanying her father into town, witnessing a scene of public outcry and fear surrounding a man dressed in purple. The child's innocent, yet piercing, questions—"Daddy, why are they screaming? Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe? I bet that crown hurts Him more than He shows"—capture the bewilderment and distress of witnessing injustice and pain without understanding its context.

The lyrical narrative masterfully pivots from the child's perspective to the poignant dialogue between the Father and the Son on the cross. Here, the questions echo, but now imbued with the agony of divine suffering. Jesus asks, "Father, why are they screaming?... Father please, can't you do something?... Father, remind me why." This moment lays bare the unimaginable weight of the cross and the temptation to circumvent the pain. The Father's response is the heart of the song's message, a revelation that transcends the immediate suffering: "Look, there below, see the child trembling by her father's side. Now I can tell you why... she is why you must die." This is a direct allusion to humanity's fallen state and the need for a sacrificial atonement.

The "child" represents all of humanity, the object of God's immeasurable love that compelled the sacrifice of His Son. This act of love, though shrouded in apparent abandonment and suffering on the cross, is the ultimate expression of God’s redemptive plan. The lyrics beautifully intertwine the human experience of confusion and pain with the divine perspective of ultimate purpose. The Father’s words, "The power in your blood destroys all of the lies; soon you'll see past their unmerciful eyes," speak to the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice, the victory over sin and death that would ultimately be revealed. This resonates with scriptural truths found in passages like John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," and Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The song, therefore, is not merely a retelling of a historical event but a profound invitation to contemplate the depth of God’s love and the staggering cost of our salvation, encouraging listeners to find hope and understanding in the midst of life’s inexplicable trials by recognizing that even in moments of deepest agony, a divine purpose of love is at work.

Loading...
In Queue
View Lyrics