Finally Home

Album: All That Is Within Me (2007)
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Songfacts®:

  • "Finally Home," like previous MercyMe songs, such as their Billboard Hot 100 hit "I Can Only Imagine" and "Homesick," is about frontman Bart Millard's father who passed away. He explained to Christianity Today magazine the background to the song: "I've been wanting for a long time to write a song that was sort of a closure for 'Imagine,' but I didn't want it to be a sappy piano ballad. When we were in the studio, the guys started playing music that had this Train kind of vibe - it was the kind of thing my dad listened to. As soon as they started playing it, I started writing down the first lines, 'I'm gonna wrap my arms around my daddy's neck and tell him that I missed him.' Then I ran in to the studio and started singing it. That song was literally written within five minutes from beginning to end. We breezed through it.

    I remember singing the first two lines and just bawling. Then the guys were bawling. And Brown (producer Brown Bannister) was bawling because he had lost his dad about five years ago. At the time, I didn't think it should go on the record because I never wanted to be accused of aiming for the heart just to get a reaction. Brown was like, 'Are you kidding me? You made a grown man cry. This song is going on the record. I don't care what you think.' It's just one of those moments where the lyrics and the music seem to fit perfectly."
  • Bart Millard explained the meaning behind the album's title in the same interview: "This is probably the first time we really sat down as a band and started asking questions like, 'What is MercyMe good at? What is it we are called to do? Where is our place in the grand scheme of things?' We realized that for whatever reason, our call is to reach out to the hurting, to help people get through difficult times, and if possible, to be part of the healing process. We just decided this is who we are and what we are called to do. This is all of who we are and all of what we do. We want to give all of ourselves to God."

Comments: 2

  • Kathy from New Orleans, Launbelievably beautiful song! Can't listen without tearing up. Lyrics and music are so gorgeous.
  • Bissi from Springfield, IlLOVE this song! My dad died almost 7 years ago after a 2 year battle with cancer. I miss him SO much every day. The first time I heard this song, I smiled and cried at the same time. It is such a beautiful song. And just like the lyrics, there is SO much I want to tell him - about my life after he went to heaven.

    One of my friends lost her dad to a very sudden heartattack 3 years ago. I played it for her and she loves it too.

    My ringtone is this song.

    I LOVE IT!
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