I really wanted to find some way to incorporate a song into my research. After thinking long and hard about a song I actually wanted to do, “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe suddenly popped into my head. I googled it and found that the song and the video that went along with the song had a whole lot to do with afterlife.

Even throughout the first stanza one can tell that this group believes that there is a higher being that people will meet after death. Since the band states in their song “I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side,” one would conclude that they will walk by someone further on down the road and they do not know what it will necessarily be like (MercyMe). The chorus somewhat reiterates that fact when it states, “Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still?” By listening to this, one can tell that they believe that Jesus is this someone that does exist and that one day they will meet him and be in awe. Being in awe of someone usually signifies great honor. When reading this part of the chorus, I can tell that by capitalizing Your, they are representing that this is a higher being. After knowing that the second stanza says that “When that day comes and I find myself standing in the Son,” I can again tell that they believe that they will one day stand in the presence of the Son (MercyMe). Usually when someone says Son and Jesus in the same song they are just different names for the same person. Since they believe in this Son and they believe they will be in awe of him one day, this usually would mean that they believe in a separate place where this is all taking place i.e. Heaven. Again I believe this song is talking about being in Heaven when the second stanza states, “I can only imagine when all I will do is forever, forever worship You.” Usually when people believe that there is a Jesus and that they can only imagine what it will be like to worship him forever, they mean somewhere after death. Also throughout the video, people look up to the sky usually signifying a higher place beyond this world with someone higher residing there.

Even though they do not mention Heaven in the song, I personally think that it is implied. This song is not really my “type” of song or video, but I do think that it is very meaningful. As I’ve stated before, I think it is admirable to actually believe in something.

MercyMe. “I Can Only Imagine.” 11 November 2006. Online Music Video. 10 April 2009.