Preview – Take you back (Jeremy Camp) –[Multimedia-English videos]

The reason why I stand
The answer lies in you
You hung to make me strong
Though my praise was few
When I fall and bring your name down

But I have found in you
A heart that bleeds forgiveness
Replacing all these thoughts
Of painful memories
But I know
That your response will always be:

I'll take you back always
And even when your fight is over now
Even when your fight is over now
I'll take you back always
And even when the pain is coming through
Even when the pain is coming through
I'll take you back

You satisfy this cry
Of what I'm looking for
And I take all I can
And lay it down
Before the throne of endless grace, now
That radiates what's true

I'm in the only place
That erases all these faults
That have overtaken me
But I know
That your response will always be:

I'll take you back always
And even when your fight is over now
Even when your fight is over now
I'll take you back always
And even when the pain is coming through
Even when the pain is coming through
I'll take you back

I can only speak
With a grateful heart
As I'm pierced by this gift
Of your love

I will always bring an offering
I can never thank you enough

You'll take me back always
And even when my fight is over now
Even when my fight is over now
You'll take me back always
And even when my pain is coming through
Even when my pain is coming through
You'll take me back always

Even when my fight is over now
Even when my fight is over now

You'll take me back always
Even when my pain is coming through
Even when my pain is coming through
You'll take me back

If you are not familiar with Christian theology it may be difficult to understand this song, but we'll try to explain it a bit. First read the meaning of this story under the Meaning tab. The video shows the story of the father and the son who leaves home and then comes back, but the lyrics talk not about the story, but about the real meaning behind the story: we are God's children and if do wrong but want to go back to him, he will always forgive us and "take us back".

I STAND= To stand is to be up, on your feet. Figuratively, to stand is to resist, to keep fighting, and to fall is to surrender or to be defeated, to stop fighting, to stop trying. The first 2 lines are in fact one single idea but split in two half sentences: "The reason why I stand lies in you" (= You are the reason why I stand) or "Why do I stand? The answer is you". So the grammar is not correct, but the meaning is very clear.

HUNG= (hang - hung - hung) In this context it refers to Jesus hanging on the cross (crucified), so "you hung" means "you died (for me)". Christians believe that Jesus' death saved us, that's why the singer says "You hung to make me strong". Christian theology says that God is only one, but has three different natures ("persons" in theological language): Jesus (the Son), the Father and the Holy Spirit. Since all three natures are just one same God, we can see God under all three different lights and still we are talking always about the same one single God. That's why Jeremy Camp is singing about God-Father but in this line he talks about God-Son (Jesus) on the cross. Mixing these things is correct for Christians.

MY PRAISE WAS FEW= A praise is a verbal act of worship (to worship is to show love, admiration, devotion and/or adoration to God). But in archaic English it also meant "merit", which is probably the correct meaning in this context. Since praise is singular (or uncountable), the phrase "my praise was few" is not grammatically correct. It should be "my praise was little". Yeah, natives don't always speak good English ;)

I FALL= In the first line we saw "I stand" meaning "I resist, I fight", and "I fall" is "I give up, I stop trying". But it also has another meaning that mixes here. In Christianity, "to fall" is a synonym of "to sin" (to do something morally bad).

BRING YOUR NAME DOWN= Dishonour you, spoil your reputation. A Christian (or Muslim, etc) must honour God with his good actions. If he sins, if he does bad things, he is "bringing God's name down" because it is difficult to believe in a good God when his followers are not a good example.

BLEEDS= Emanates. The heart is the place where emotions reside, so if a heart "bleeds" forgiveness, it is like a river, lots of forgiveness flowing from it and pouring out down to you. (to bleed is when blood comes out / blood is the red liquid inside our body).

RESPONSE= Answer, reply.

I'LL TAKE YOU BACK= I'll accept you again, I'll welcome you back home again.

IS OVER= Has finished.

PAIN= Suffering.

COMING THROUGH= (esp. of bad feelings) Shows.
- When the lion appeared into view, his fear came through.

CRY= A shout. In this case, this "cry" is a cry for help.

BEFORE THE THRONE= (figuratively) God is shown here as a king, sitting on his throne. If you "lay something down" before the king's throne, you are offering him those presents because you want to show your gratitude or you want to ask for a favour.

ENDLESS GRACE= A grace which never ends (the ending "-less" means "without"). God's "grace" is his mercy, generosity and good will.

RADIATES= To radiate is to irradiate, to send out, to spread around, to emit.

ERASES= (esp. AmE) Eliminates. Here he is talking about his sins, so if God eliminates his faults (his sins), God is forgiving him.

OVERTAKEN= If something overtakes you, it has a strong power over you and takes control of your life.

GRATEFUL= Full of thanks.

PIERCED= To pierce is to cut through something with a sharp instrument (a "piercing" is a ring you put through your nose, lips, etc.). Figuratively, if you are pierced by something, you feel a strong emotion about it (it "pierces" your heart).

GIFT (this gift of your love)= a gift is a present.

AN OFFERING= A present, something you offer.