I'll tell you flat out
It hurts so much to think of this
So from my thoughts I will exclude
The very thing that
I hate more than everything is
The way I'm powerless
To dictate my own moods

I've thrown away
So many things that could've been much more
And I just pray
My problems go away if they're ignored
But that's not the way it works
No that's not the way it works

When I go down
I go down hard
And I take everything I've learned
And teach myself some disregard
When I go down
It hurts to hit the bottom
And of the things that got me there
I think, if only I had fought them

If and when I can
Clear myself of this clouded mind
I'll watch myself settle down
Into a place where
Peace can search me out and find
That I'm so ready to be found

I've thrown away
The hope I had in friendships
I've thrown away
So many things that could have been much more
I've thrown away
The secret to find an end to this
And I just pray
My problems go away if they're ignored
But that's not the way it works
No that's not the way it works

Any control I thought I had just slips right through my hands
While my ever-present conscience shakes its head and reprimands me
Reprimands me
Then and there
I confess
I'll blame all this on my selfishness
Yet you love me
And that consumes me
And I'll stand up again
And do so willingly

You give me hope, and hope it gives me life
You touch my heavy heart, and when you do you make it light
As I exhale I hear your voice
And I answer you, though I hardly make a noise
And from my lips the words I choose to say
Seem pathetic, but it's fallen man's praise
Because I love you
Oh God, I love you
And life is now worth living
If only because of you
And when they say that I'm dead and gone
It won't be further from the truth

When I go down
I lift my eyes to you
I won't look very far
Cause you'll be there
With open arms
To lift me up again
To lift me up again


Lyrics submitted by jaycar2a

When I Go Down Lyrics as written by Matthew Thiessen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing

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When I Go Down song meanings
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    There's a word I'm trying to think of...I think it's "wow." This song just goes to prove how far Relient K and Matt Theissen's lyrics have gone in the last few years. Totally amazing. As far as the meaning goes, though, I think that this is a song about rising from the ashes of an emotionally burned out life. They've been living their life according to their own selfish desires and thing seem to be going smoothly, but soon they find that that life's taking them nowhere but down. Really down. Really quickly. So quickly, that before they even know it, they've hit rock bottom. It hurts, but the most painful thing is that they realize that they could have avoided all this if they had just followed God. They just want all this to be over, but "that's not the way it works." No, they've got to admit that they're wrong, and more importantly, to repent and submit to the will of God. And that's the beautiful part. Because even though they've gone and messed things up completely, and have hit the rock bottom, all they have to do is look up and there's Jesus, right next to them, "with open arms, to lift them up again." Just my two cents.

    wisewhizon January 10, 2005   Link

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