TobyMac - Get Back Up Lyrics
Lyrics
You turned away when I looked you in the eye
And hesitated when I asked if you were alright
Seems like you're fighting for your life
But why, oh, why?
Wide awake in the middle of your nightmare
You saw it comin' but it hit you outta nowhere
And there's always scars
When you fall that far
We lose our way, we get back up again
It's never too late to get back up again
And one day you gonna shine again
You may be knocked down but not out forever
Lose our way, we get back up again
So get up, get up, you gonna shine again
It's never too late to get back up again
You may be knocked down but not out forever
(May be knocked down but not out forever)
You rolled out at the dawning of the day
Heart racin' as you make your little get-away
It feels like you've been runnin' all your life
But why, oh, why?
So you pulled away from the love that would've been there
And start believin' that your situation's unfair
But there's always scars
When you fall that far
We lose our way, we get back up again
It's never too late to get back up again
And one day you gonna shine again
You may be knocked down but not out forever
Lose our way, we get back up again
So get up, get up, you gonna shine again
It's never too late to get back up again
You may be knocked down but not out forever
(May be knocked down but not out forever)
This is love callin', love callin'
Out to the broken
This is love callin'
This is love callin', love callin'
Out to the broken
This is love callin'
This is love callin', love callin'
I am so broken
This is love callin', love callin'
We lose our way, we get back up again
It's never too late
You may be knocked down but not out forever
We lose our way, we get back up again
So get up, get up, you gonna shine again
It's never too late to get back up again
You may be knocked down but not out forever
This is love callin', love callin'
(Lose our way, we get back up again)
Out to the broken
This is love callin'
(It's never too late)
(You may be knocked down but not out forever)
This is love callin' love callin'
(Lose our way, we get back up again)
Out to the broken
This is love callin'
(It's never too late)
(You may be knocked down but not out forever)
This is love callin', love callin'
Out to the broken
This is love callin'
Video
Get Back Up
Meaning & Inspiration
TobyMac's "Get Back Up" is a powerful anthem centered on themes of resilience, hope, and recovery after facing significant hardship. The song opens by depicting someone in deep distress, described as fighting for their life, isolated, and caught in a nightmare even while awake. The initial verses paint a vivid picture of emotional or spiritual struggle, a sense of being overwhelmed by unforeseen challenges despite perhaps seeing trouble on the horizon. This falling is presented as inevitable in life, always leaving behind the lingering reminder of "scars."
The core message of the song is powerfully delivered in the recurring chorus. It acknowledges the universal experience of losing one's way but immediately counters it with the unwavering declaration, "we get back up again." The lyrics emphatically state that it is "never too late" for this recovery. This central promise is coupled with the assurance that despite being "knocked down," one is "not out forever" and will eventually "shine again." This provides a strong sense of hope and the possibility of restoration, no matter how dire the present circumstances seem.
Further into the narrative, the song explores the reaction to this struggle. The lyrics describe a person attempting a "get-away," driven by a racing heart, suggesting an impulse to flee the pain or situation. This running away is portrayed as a pattern, perhaps lasting a lifetime, leading to a detachment from supportive connections ("pulled away from the love that would've been there"). This isolation is compounded by a feeling that the situation is unfair, which can become a barrier to healing, yet the consequence of falling far and getting scars remains.
A crucial element of the song's message is found in the bridge and outro with the repeated phrase, "This is love callin', love callin' out to the broken." This serves as a persistent message of grace and acceptance reaching out to those who feel lost, hurt, or damaged. It suggests an external force of unconditional love actively seeking to connect with and restore those in despair. The vulnerability expressed in the line "I am so broken" within this section adds a layer of authenticity, potentially speaking from a place of shared experience or empathy, reinforcing the idea that even in profound brokenness, this calling love is present.
Overall, "Get Back Up" functions as an inspirational reminder that failure or falling down is not the end. Released on May 8, 2017, the song embodies TobyMac's signature blend of pop, rock, and hip-hop influences, serving as an anthem for perseverance often rooted in a message of faith and redemption. It resonates deeply with the idea that while we may stumble and feel lost, the possibility of getting back up, shining again, and being embraced by a persistent, calling love is always available, reinforcing the message that being knocked down is not a permanent state.