Tori Kelly - Psalm 42 - As The Deer Pants For The Water Lyrics
Lyrics
There's a quiet place
That gives me peace when I'm alone with You
There's a hiding place
Your Spirit's always there when I'm confused
Only You can purify
All this world won't ever satisfy
My heart, it cries
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul, need You Lord
When thirsty God, You're the living water
And my soul, need You Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
I'm a stranger here
Thirsty 'cause I know it's not my home
Like a desert here
I need Your living Word for these dry bones
Jesus fill us up again
With Your presence flowing deep within
Now life begins
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul, need You Lord
Thirsty God, You're the living water
And my soul, need You Lord
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul, I need You Lord
Thirsty God, You're the living water
And my soul, need You Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
Quench our hearts and fill this space
With Heaven like a flood
Holy One reign down on us
with Your consuming love
Quench our hearts and fill this space
with Heaven like a flood
Holy One reign down on us
with Your consuming love
As the deer pants for the water
So my soul, I need You Lord
Thirsty God, You're the living water
And my soul, Jesus, it needs You Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
I need, I need, I need you Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
I need You Lord
Video
Tori Kelly - Psalm 42 (Live)
Meaning & Inspiration
Tori Kelly’s "Psalm 42 - As The Deer Pants For The Water," released on September 7, 2018, arrives as a poignant and deeply worshipful expression of spiritual yearning. This song is a direct musical interpretation of the ancient Hebrew scripture, primarily drawing inspiration from Psalm 42, which opens with the iconic verses: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" Kelly’s rendition transforms this timeless plea into a contemporary anthem of dependence, giving voice to a universal spiritual hunger that transcends generations. It speaks to the human condition’s inherent search for purpose and peace, ultimately pointing to God as the sole provider.
The song immediately establishes an atmosphere of intimacy and sanctuary. The opening lines about a "quiet place" and a "hiding place" where peace and clarity are found in God's presence resonate deeply with the concept of personal devotion and seeking refuge in the divine. This echoes numerous biblical themes where God is portrayed as a fortress and a deliverer in times of trouble, a haven for the weary soul (Psalm 46:1, Psalm 91:1-2). The acknowledgment that "Your Spirit’s always there when I’m confused" highlights the guiding and comforting role of the Holy Spirit, a promise reiterated by Jesus in John 14:26 and John 16:13. Crucially, the verse culminates in the profound truth that "Only You can purify / All this world won't ever satisfy," a powerful declaration reflecting the wisdom of Ecclesiastes and the New Testament’s call to seek heavenly treasures over earthly ones (Matthew 6:19-21). This sets the stage for the intense longing expressed in the chorus, where the world's emptiness drives the soul to its true source of fulfillment.
The recurring chorus, "As the deer pants for the water / So my soul, need You Lord / Thirsty God, You're the living water," is the beating heart of the song. It vividly captures the desperation of a parched deer seeking life-giving water, a potent metaphor for the soul’s profound thirst for God. This isn't a casual desire but an essential, life-sustaining need. The phrase "living water" carries immense biblical significance, most notably in Jesus's encounters, such as with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:10-14), where He promised that those who drink the water He gives will never thirst again, and in His invitation during the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:37-38) for all who are thirsty to come to Him and drink. Kelly’s repetition of "I need You Lord" throughout reinforces the depth of this reliance, moving beyond intellectual assent to an urgent, visceral cry for divine presence.
The second verse extends this theme of spiritual alienation and the need for God's life-giving essence. To declare, "I'm a stranger here / Thirsty 'cause I know it's not my home," speaks to the Christian understanding of believers as sojourners or exiles in a fallen world, whose true citizenship is in heaven (1 Peter 2:11, Philippians 3:20). The imagery of the earth as "Like a desert here" powerfully conveys spiritual barrenness and the urgent requirement for God's intervention. The plea "I need Your living Word for these dry bones" draws a direct and impactful parallel to Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37), where God breathes life into lifelessness through His Spirit and His Word. This highlights Scripture as a source of rejuvenation and Christ himself as the Living Word (John 1:1). The song then transitions into a corporate prayer, "Jesus fill us up again / With Your presence flowing deep within / Now life begins," signifying that true, abundant life, promised in John 10:10, commences only when God’s Spirit indwells and empowers.
The bridge serves as a fervent invocation for divine outpouring: "Quench our hearts and fill this space / With Heaven like a flood / Holy One reign down on us / With Your consuming love." The metaphor of "Heaven like a flood" suggests an overwhelming, purifying, and saturating presence of God, a deluge of His goodness and grace that transforms the arid landscape of the human heart. It is a surrender, inviting God's power and holiness to permeate every aspect of being. The reference to "consuming love" beautifully marries God’s fierce holiness with His passionate affection for humanity, a love that both purifies and deeply satisfies. It is a longing for revival, both personal and collective, that seeks nothing less than the full, unreserved presence of the Almighty to reign supreme within hearts and lives. Tori Kelly’s "Psalm 42" is more than just a song; it's a profound act of worship, an honest confession of human inadequacy, and a resounding testament to the soul-quenching, life-giving power of God, providing encouragement and a pathway to deeper intimacy with the divine for all who genuinely seek Him.