Switchfoot – Innocence Again

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Do you remember when
You were way back then
You held the world inside your hands
When you told me love was the strongest stuff
Your strength was innocence

But, oh man
The signs of the times are omens
You're starting the day in no man's land again

Who are you gonna be?
When you're on your knees, who do you believe?
Oh oh oh
Fear is a lonely man
You've been given innocence, you've been given innocence again

You should know by now
That the darkest hour
Is when your broken heart goes down
It's a bitter end when the sweet begins
Grace is sufficiency

But, oh dear, we'll never deserve it
No dear, we never could earn it
Now, here, the choice is yours

Who are you gonna be?
When you're on your knees, who do you believe?
Oh oh oh
Fear is a lonely man
You've been given innocence, you've been given innocence again

Grace is high and low
Grace is high and low
Grace is high and low
We'll never be the same

Who are you gonna be?
When you're on your knees, who do you believe?
Oh oh oh
Fear is a lonely man
You've been given innocence, you've been given innocence again


Lyrics submitted by natefrenzy

Innocence Again song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentMy interpertation of the lyrics are someone who is having trouble keeping with God. His mind is his own worst enemy, because what others have told him about what is truth is in his head, and he can't make up his mind. And the lyrics seem like the singer is telling the person to remember what Christ has given them, and to forget about what others say.
    TheHookon April 25, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General CommentIn my mind this song is talking about how sometimes it's hard for us to accept God's grace and forgiveness. We can believe the lie that we have to earn this grace or deserve it in order to be innocent again. But real grace is not grace if it is earned or deserved. It cannot be earned and it is not deserved. The lyrics tells of a choice -- do we choose to accept the grace that God gave us through Jesus Christ... the grace that covers ALL of our imperfections? Or do we go and try to earn it ourselves? We are innocent again in God's eyes when He sees us through the blood of Christ.

    I also love the lyric "Grace is high and low"
    To me that means that the grace God gives us is completely valid in all our situations and covers all our sins. His grace is there in our ups and in our downs. All the time, for anything.
    iwasdeadthenaliveon July 17, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General CommentEverybody makes mistakes.
    I think this song is about realizing that.
    And trying to change.
    And God giving you grace and forgiveness
    rajincajunfireon March 22, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment"Somehow, all the songs I write to others, I ended up singing to myself sooner or later. This is no different and I end up with the question, "who will it be?" This song is a sister of "I Dare You To Move." Both songs are really driving at the same point: if God's redemptive movement is at work around us, we are called to respond. Indeed, whether we act or not, we have made a response either way" -Jon Foreman

    'Grace is high AND low.' The simplicity of that truth always speaks to me. This is the nature of God's grace. This is found in the highs and the lows on the peaks and in the valleys. This truth is so difficult to accept in it's entirety: that fools like us have been given innocence again.' -Tim Foreman

    "Jon and I have talked before about how impossible it is to share the truth of God's grace in a three-minute pop song, to me this one comes close to capture the essence of it." -Chad Butler
    ThisSettingSunon August 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song is amazing...i don't exactly know how to interpret it yet, but i love this band so much. and i saw them live last summer. they rock
    stargazer00on March 13, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti love this song! switchfoot is an awesome band, with great influencial lyrics!
    bethaknee_bleachbumon July 06, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General CommentMaybe its were all born innocent, and this person tries to preserve their innocence, yet is constantly strugling with their weekness. They beg for forgiveness but then turn around and mess-up again.
    Rebbal Aceon September 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWhen you told me love was the strongest stuff
    Your strength was innocence

    love that
    Oh! Emilyon February 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis was the first song by Switchfoot that I really listened to. I could really relate to the lyrics (as I'm sure all humans can do. It's just a beautiful reminder of what God did for us so that we might be saved. Plus the bassline makes me smile :)
    TheMolton August 26, 2008   Link

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