‘Why would You give and then take him away’

TobyMac, former member of DC Talk and an influential Hip Hop artist with seven solo albums, has written a song about the experience of losing a son.

“‘21 years’ is a song I wrote about the recent passing of my firstborn son, Truett Foster McKeehan. I loved him with all my heart. Until something in life hits you this hard, you never know how you will handle it”, the artist said on his Instagram account.

He said he was thankful for all those who have surrounded his family with “love, starting with God’s”.

He and his wife Amanda have four other children.

“GOD PROMISED HE WOULD NEVER LEAVE US”

TobyMac expressed the feelings he has gone through. “Writing this song felt like an honest confession of the questions, pain, anger, doubt, mercy and promise that describes the journey I’m probably only beginning”.

And added: “One thing I know is that I am not alone. God didn’t promise us a life of no pain or even tragic death, but He did promise He would never leave us or forsake us. And I’m holding dearly to that promise for my son as well as myself”.

LYRICS

Read the full lyrics of the song:

Woke up cuz the light poured in

Day 2 let the flood begin

Day 1 left me in my bed

I can barely remember it

Heart shattered in a thousand ways

They tell me pain gonna come in waves

They tell me I'm gonna be okay

I'm still waiting for the first to break

Why would You give and then take him away

Suddenly end could You not let it fade

What I would give for a couple of days

A couple of days

Is it just across the Jordan

Or a city in the stars

Are you singing with the angels

Are you happy where you are

Well until this show is over

And you run into my arms

God has you in heaven

But I have you in my heart

I just can't make sense of this

Everything is so dissonant

Somebody said he was meant for this

But I'm just straight missing him

I wanna wake up to your laugh at 2

Catch you when you steal my shoes

Say good morning, afternoon

Talk you through those "Alex blues"

Listen to your latest beats

Talk about what the lyrics mean

Venmo you another loan

See you do your second show

You said you'd turn, you would turn it around

Thought that you had time to straighten it out

Told me that you were my prodigal son

But this isn't home

Did he see You from a long way off

Running to him with a Father's heart

Did You wrap him up inside Your arms

And let him know, that he's home

21 years makes a man full-grown

21 years, what a beautiful loan

21 years, I loved everyone

Thank you, Lord, for my beautiful son