Tenth Avenue North - Control Lyrics
Lyrics
God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life and the way it should go
Oh, God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me
To open my hands up and give You control
I give You control
I've had plans, shattered and broken
Things I have hoped in, fall through my hands
You have plans to redeem and restore me
You're behind and before me
Oh, help me believe
God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life and the way it should go
Oh, God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me
To open my hands up and give You control
You want me, somehow You want me
The King of Heaven wants me
So this world has lost its grip on me(Repeat)
God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life and the way it should go
Oh, God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me, somehow that frees me
To open my hands up and give You control
I give You control
You want me, somehow You want me
The King of Heaven wants me
So this world has lost its grip on me
Video
Tenth Avenue North - Control (Official Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Tenth Avenue North’s “Control,” released in 2020 as part of their *Unplugged for the People (The Acoustic Greatest Hits)* album, offers a profound meditation on surrender and divine invitation. At its core, the song grapples with the liberating paradox of God’s sovereignty and His personal affection for humanity. The opening lines immediately establish this tension: "God, You don't need me, but somehow You want me." This sentiment echoes the truth that God’s power and existence are in no way dependent on humanity, yet His boundless love actively seeks a relationship with us. This is powerfully illustrated in Isaiah 43:1, which declares, "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'" The song suggests that recognizing God’s self-sufficiency and His overwhelming desire for us is the very catalyst for relinquishing our own anxieties about life’s direction, as sung in the repeated plea, "To open my hands up and give You control."
The second verse delves into the personal experience of life’s inevitable disappointments. The lyrical admission, "I've had plans, shattered and broken. Things I have hoped in, fall through my hands," resonates with the universal struggle against unforeseen circumstances and dashed expectations. This vulnerability finds its spiritual counterpart in Jeremiah 29:11, where God assures His people, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." The song's hopeful turn, stating, "You have plans to redeem and restore me. You're behind and before me," speaks to a faith that trusts in God’s redemptive purpose even amidst present hardship. This conviction is rooted in passages like Psalm 139:5, which states, "You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me," signifying God’s ever-present and protective hand over our lives.
The repeated affirmation, "You want me, somehow You want me. The King of Heaven wants me," is a powerful declaration against feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness. It directly confronts the world’s often conditional acceptance, highlighting that divine love is unconditional. This message is a direct echo of the Apostle Paul’s encouragement in Romans 5:8, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The song’s conclusion, "So this world has lost its grip on me," signifies the profound freedom found in surrendering control to a God who not only needs nothing from us but deeply desires us. This ultimate liberation is the essence of true discipleship, as Jesus Himself said in John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." "Control" serves as an anthem for those seeking to exchange the burden of self-reliance for the liberating peace of divine trust, reminding listeners that in God’s wanting us, we find our greatest freedom.