Young man on the side of the road
Lost and beat up with no where to go
Smells like a hangover from days ago
He does what he can to survive
Single mom with a dead end job
Ninety hour week just to keep what she's got
With the bills that add up and now she's caught
She does what she can to survive
Well, let me say
That love won't take away the pain
But don't be afraid
'Cause it will never walk away
If you're scared that you don't matter
If you're lost and need to be found
If you're looking for a Savior
All you gotta do is turn around
Some turn to a bottle
Some turn to a drug
Some turn to another's arms
But it seems like it's never enough
Well I won't say
That you will ever fail again
But there is grace
To wash away your every sin
If you're scared that you don't matter
If you're lost and need to be found
If you're looking for a Savior
All you gotta do is turn around
No one listens to you anymore
And your heart has broken down, you don't need to move
Love has come to you, all you gotta do is turn around
All you gotta do is turn around, turn around
You don't have to
Take the broken road
You can turn around
And come back home
You don't have to
Take the broken road
You can turn around
And come back home
You don't have to
Take the broken road
You can turn around
And come back home
If you're scared that you don't matter
If you're lost and need to be found
If you're looking for a Savior
All you gotta do is turn around
No one listens to you anymore
And your heart has broken down, you don't need to move
Love has come to you, all you gotta do is turn around
All you gotta do is turn around, turn around
"Turn Around" by Matt Maher is a powerful song that speaks to the struggles and brokenness we experience in life, and the hope and redemption that can be found when we turn to God. The lyrics tell the stories of a young man on the side of the road and a single mom working tirelessly to make ends meet. These characters symbolize the various struggles and hardships that people face on a daily basis.
The song begins by describing the young man on the side of the road, lost and beat up with nowhere to go. He's carrying the weight of his past, evident in the line "smells like a hangover from days ago." Despite his circumstances, he does what he can to survive. This paints a picture of someone who is desperate and in need of a Savior.
Similarly, the song introduces a single mom who is working a dead-end job, putting in ninety-hour weeks just to keep what she's got. She's caught in a cycle of bills and responsibilities, struggling to make ends meet. But like the young man, she does what she can to survive.
In the chorus, Maher reminds us that love won't take away the pain, but it will never walk away. This is a powerful message of God's unconditional love for us. He doesn't promise to take away all our struggles, but He promises to be with us in the midst of them. He won't abandon us.
The song continues by acknowledging the different ways people try to cope with their pain. Some turn to a bottle or drugs, while others seek comfort in the arms of another. But Maher emphasizes that these things are never enough. They may provide temporary relief, but ultimately, they leave us empty and searching for something more.
Maher offers a message of hope and redemption by proclaiming that there is grace to wash away our every sin. He encourages those who feel lost and insignificant to turn around and seek a Savior. This turning around signifies repentance and a willingness to let go of our own ways and surrender to God's love and guidance.
The bridge of the song beautifully captures the heart of the message. Maher sings, "You don't have to take the broken road, you can turn around and come back home." This imagery of a broken road represents the paths we often choose in our search for fulfillment and purpose. But Maher reminds us that we don't have to continue down these broken roads. We can turn around and find our way back to God, who is waiting with open arms.
In terms of scripture verses that relate to the theme of the song, one that comes to mind is Isaiah 61:1, which says, "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." This verse speaks of God's heart for the broken and the captive, offering hope and freedom through His Son Jesus Christ.
Overall, "Turn Around" by Matt Maher is a poignant and uplifting song that speaks to the struggles and brokenness we face in life. It reminds us that no matter how lost or insignificant we may feel, there is always hope and redemption when we turn to God. His love and grace are waiting for us, ready to wash away our sins and guide us on a new path. So let us turn around and come back home to Him.
