I Can Only Imagine
"I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine, when that day comes, and I find myself standing in the Son!
I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!! Only imagine!!!
I can only imagine.
I can only imagine, when all I do is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine."
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Copyright: ©1999 MercyMe
Download the music
I_Can_Only_Imagine_by_MercyMe.mp3 about 6 megabytes
Compact Disk Stereo Quality
More links to I can Only Imagine
http://www.inotof.com/home/mm_story.html
http://www.inorecords.com/home/imagine_radio.mp3 original link sound file
The Story Behind MercyMe’s “ I Can Only Imagine”
by songwriter Bart Millard
When my father died of cancer in 1991, he left me with the assurance that he was
headed to a better place. He used to always tell me that I was getting the raw
end of the deal because I had to stick around here. For several years following
his death, I would find myself writing the phrase, I can only imagine, on
anything I could find. That simple phrase would give me a peace and a hope
thinking about what my dad was finally experiencing.
Years later, in 1999, MercyMe was writing songs for an independent project. I
remember coming home from a show and being wide awake on our bus at 2 o'clock in
the morning. I was trying to write lyrics in an old notebook of mine, when all
of a sudden, I stumbled across that phrase. About ten minutes later, the song
was written. Some people say it's amazing that it was written in ten minutes,
when really it had been on my heart for almost ten years.
I Can Only Imagine
Words and Music By Bart Millard (MercyMe)
c 2001 Simpleville Music/ASCAP
I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me
I can only imagine
Chorus
Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for your Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
I can only imagine when that day comes
And I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
Chorus
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you
I can only imagine
MercyMe Bio
It's been quite a year for MercyMe. Their INO Records debut, Almost There,
rocketed up the charts within weeks of its August 2001 release, propelled by the
success of their mega-hit single, "I Can Only Imagine." The record-breaking disc
was certified Gold in less than a year, is nearly platinum now, and was the
best-selling debut of 2001 in the Christian industry. MercyMe was also honored
by the industry with three Doves Awards (for Song of the Year, Pop Recorded Song
of the Year and Songwriter of the Year for MercyMe frontman and "Imagine" scribe
Bart Millard). Then there was that cover of their hit song included on Amy
Grant's recent Legacy project. And even as they prepared for the October 2002
release of their much-anticipated follow-up, Spoken For, you could still find
Almost There on the Billboard Top 200. In fact, both albums are in the Billboard
Top 200 now, and they're currently nominated for 5 more Dove Awards, including
Song of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, Group of the Year, and Artist of the
Year.
Not bad for a bunch of guys who were just hoping their album would allow them to
continue while supporting their growing families. 1.5 million records later,
they're looking back and can't believe how far they've come.
It's true. When asked about recent milestones, lead singer Millard doesn't talk
about Gold records or singing with Amy Grant or seeing their song played on the
video loop at Target and Wal-Mart stores nationwide. Instead, he mentions his
new son, Sam, as well as bandmate Nathan Cochran's new baby boy William, the
importance of family and the responsibility to remain real. Not that the success
of Almost There didn't translate into some college funds for the kids, but the
band is much more excited about their expanding ministry.
"The shows, the opportunities to play, and the crowds have gotten bigger,"
Millard admits. "It's been amazing…It's kept us grounded because we've been
given such a blessing and we don't want to mess it up."
After eight years as a band, they've learned how each member plays an important
role in who MercyMe really is. Guitar player Mike Scheuchzer met Millard when he
was in the Florida youth group Millard worked with. After graduation he pulled
him on stage and they've been playing together ever since. Then there's Robby
Shaffer, drummer and financial wizard. He's in charge of the band's finances and
is known as "the responsible one." Bassist and new dad Nathan Cochran is the
quiet one of the bunch so when he does have something to say it's usually worth
listening to. Then there's Jim Bryson, a keyboard player whose technical
expertise has been called on frequently in the past to repair the band's bus. He
also has a huge heart for kids.
It's that genuineness and the band's obvious affection for each other that
audiences respond to. And they're responding to the new music as well. The band
had been performing "Spoken For" for a year before the album's release, and
students were always asking when the song would be available on disc. That kind
of response was a real confidence builder as the band headed back into the
studio with returning producer Pete Kipley, feeling a little pressure at the
thought of following up their previous success. Not that they needed to worry.
While Almost There was a compilation of songs written over a seven year span,
Spoken For has allowed the band to deliver a timely message that reflects where
they are at right now.So while the popularity of "I Can Only Imagine" may have
put the pressure on, it's only pushed the band to be their best. And looking
back, Millard has only good feelings about the song, written for his father who
died of cancer while Bart was in his late teens.
"I couldn't pick another song I'd rather have be with me the rest of my life
because of what it meant to me," Millard says, adding "Imagine will always be a
part of us and we'll play it every night."
But MercyMe is also looking with excitement toward the future.
"It's a new season and I shake with anticipation at letting people know where
we're at and what we have for them now."