Sanctus Real - I Love You Lyrics

Sanctus Real - Jesus Loves You (Official Music Video)

I Love You Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration

Sanctus Real's song "I Love You," featured on their album "Changed," presents a thoughtful exploration of expressing devotion to God. It confronts the challenge of articulating sincere love when the words feel common or overused. The lyrics open with introspective questions, pondering the possibility of seeing beyond the routine, finding fresh appreciation, and praising authentically even with familiar language. This sets a tone of humble questioning, acknowledging the human tendency to seek novel expressions while perhaps overlooking the depth within simple truths.

The core of the song resonates in the declaration "I love you nothing new." This phrase carries a dual weight. On one hand, it acknowledges the simplicity and perhaps repetition of the words themselves. On the other hand, it profoundly speaks to the unchanging nature of the love being expressed, both the singer's enduring love for the Divine and, by extension, the unchanging nature of the Divine's love in return. The verses continue this theme, asking if one can accept that the Divine is not impressed by novelty in a world obsessed with change, and if one can set aside pride to align their heartfelt expression with the timeless language of faith shared by others.

The song's meaning centers on the sincerity and humility required in a relationship with the Divine. It suggests that true devotion is not about crafting complex or unique phrases, but about offering genuine love from the heart, even when the words are as fundamental as "I love you." It underscores that the power lies not in the originality of the expression, but in the truth and humility behind it. This perspective offers freedom from the pressure to perform or impress, highlighting that a simple, heartfelt declaration holds immense value.

The official music video released on July 12, 2019, titled "Jesus Loves You," uses the audio of the song "I Love You." This choice provides a complementary visual narrative that deepens the song's message. The video features diverse individuals holding signs declaring "Jesus Loves You" in various languages. While the song is sung from the perspective of expressing love *to* the Divine, the video shifts or expands this to also emphasize the reciprocal and foundational truth that "Jesus Loves You." This visual element reinforces the idea that human love for God is often a response to the prior, constant, and universal love that God has for humanity, making the expression "I love you" not just a personal statement but also an affirmation of a divine reality that is indeed "nothing new," yet infinitely profound.

Scripture offers many echoes to the themes found in "I Love You." Psalm 18:1 declares, "I love you, O Lord, my strength," a simple, direct expression of love. Deuteronomy 6:5 commands, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might," emphasizing the totality of love rather than the complexity of its expression. 1 John 4:19 reminds us, "We love because he first loved us," aligning with the video's perspective that divine love is the foundation. Micah 6:8 speaks of walking humbly with God, reflecting the song's call to put pride aside, while Matthew 6:7-8 encourages sincerity in prayer over empty phrases, supporting the idea that simple, genuine devotion is valued.

The song ultimately inspires listeners to embrace authentic and humble expressions of love towards the Divine. It gently challenges the notion that devotion must always be innovative or elaborate. By focusing on the powerful, enduring truth contained within a simple "I love you," the song encourages a sincere connection that is grounded not in performance, but in genuine feeling and the enduring reality of love that is constant and ever-present, truly "nothing new" in its foundational truth and power.