The City Harmonic - I Am Lyrics
Lyrics
I am a man who built his house on sand
I am a thief upon a cross
I'm just like Judas, that sorry fool ‐ who can't be glad for what he's got
That's why I'm hanging on to the cross on which I've flung my hopes and dreams
It's by the grace of God I hang my head and sing
My God
You are good,
You are great,
You are love ‐
I Am . . .
I am a man who has been bought by love.
I am a man who sold his soul.
I'm like the man, who when he found his pearl:
He gave up everything he owned.
That's why I'm hanging on to the cross on which I've flung my hopes and dreams
It's by the grace of God I lift my hands and sing ? sing!
My God,
You are good.
You are great,
You are love, You are love, You are love, You are love
And I am loved.
Video
The City Harmonic - I Am
Meaning & Inspiration
The City Harmonic’s track "I Am," found on their 2017 album *Benediction*, offers a profound and raw exploration of human frailty contrasted with divine redemption. This song dives headfirst into the often uncomfortable truths of our own shortcomings, acknowledging our tendency towards building on unstable foundations, much like the man in Jesus’ parable who built his house on sand, only for it to be washed away by the storm (Matthew 7:24-27). The lyrics unflinchingly confess to a nature prone to thievery, not necessarily of material possessions, but perhaps of God’s gifts, of trust, or even of peace. The imagery of Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, is a stark and potent confession of how easily one can reject what has been freely given, driven by an inability to appreciate one's blessings, echoing the sentiment found in verses like 1 Timothy 6:6 which speaks of contentment being great gain. Yet, amidst this confession of sin and failure, a powerful pivot occurs. The declaration that the singer is "hanging on to the cross on which I've flung my hopes and dreams" signifies a deliberate choice to anchor oneself not in self-sufficiency, but in the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. This act of clinging to the cross, even while acknowledging the weight of one's transgressions, is presented as an act of faith, yielding a song of praise born "by the grace of God." The repetition of "My God, You are good, You are great, You are love" isn't just a descriptor; it's an assertion of immutable truth that stands in defiance of the singer's confessed unworthiness. The song then expands on this redemptive truth, stating, "I am a man who has been bought by love," a clear allusion to the immense price paid for our salvation (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Even the admission of having "sold his soul" is juxtaposed with the profound act of finding the "pearl of great price" (Matthew 13:45-46), indicating that true wealth is found in surrendering everything for the sake of the Gospel. The recurring refrain of hanging on to the cross underscores the continuous reliance on God's grace, not as a one-time event, but as the sustaining power of Christian life. The song culminates in the declaration, "And I am loved," a simple yet earth-shattering truth that redefines identity. This isn't a love earned or deserved, but a love freely given, transforming the flawed individual into someone whose very being is now defined by that divine affection, a concept powerfully articulated in scripture such as Romans 8:38-39, where nothing can separate us from the love of God. The City Harmonic’s "I Am" is a testament to the transformative power of acknowledging our desperate need for grace and choosing to rest in the all-encompassing love of God, a message that resonates deeply for anyone seeking true identity and lasting hope.