Forgiven

Album: Awake (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Frontman and bassist John Cooper told StereoTruth: "I am really excited about this song, which is probably the most overtly Christian song on the album. I think 'Forgiven' is a very hopeful song, and even though it's not the first time a song has been written on the subject, it strikes a balance between being very worship oriented and honest as well. This is a song about letting yourself or someone else down, but finding the power to not beat yourself up over it and to find closure with the person you hurt."
  • Cooper discussed this song in a 2010 radio interview with Power FM in Dallas, Texas: "I thought, about five years ago, that someday I want to write a song called 'Forgiven.' I just gotta wait for the right story. So then this time around I started working on the song and it was about running to other things before you run to God with your problems. When God says not to have any gods before Him, and we think, Okay, well what exactly does that mean? That means when you're having a bad day and you're running to all these other people or to all these other things in your life to meet fulfillment – that you have gods before the one God."
  • The concept of forgiveness has always been important to Cooper. He even has a large tattoo of the word 'Forgiven' on his left forearm.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

dUg Pinnick of King's X

dUg Pinnick of King's XSongwriter Interviews

dUg dIgs into his King's X metal classics and his many side projects, including the one with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Steven Tyler of Aerosmith

Steven Tyler of AerosmithSongwriter Interviews

Tyler talks about his true love: songwriting. How he identifies the beauty in a melody and turns sorrow into art.