When He Was On the Cross
John Starnes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴I'm not on an ego trip
I'm nothing on my own
I make mistakes, often slip
Just common flesh and bones

But I'll prove someday just what I say
I'm of a special kind
When He was on the cross

I was on His mind

A look of love was on His face
The thorns on His head
The blood was on that scarlet robe
And stained a crimson red

Though His eyes were on the crowd that day
He looked ahead in time
'Cause when He was on the cross
I was on His mind

He knew me, yet He loved me
He whose glory makes the Heaven shine
So unworthy of such mercy
Yet when He was on the cross
I was on His mind

Yet when He was on the cross
I was on His mind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Starnes's song "When He Was On the Cross" provide a powerful message of spiritual redemption, and the personal connection that individuals can feel to their higher power. From the first verse, the song asserts the singer's profound humility and recognition of human fallibility, establishing a tone of reverence and gratitude. Starnes's vocals are a mix of yearning and raw emotion, conveying how deeply personal the song is to him, and how much it means to believers everywhere.

As the song progresses, the themes of love, sacrifice, and forgiveness come to the forefront, as the singer describes the agony and brutality of Christ's crucifixion. The blood on his robe and the thorns on his head paint a vivid picture of the physical pain He endured, while the intense emotions of the crowds that watched Him reflect the collective suffering of humanity. Yet in the midst of such horrors, Christ's thoughts are turned to the individual, to the ones who He loves and who must find their own way in the world. The line "He knew me, yet He loved me" establishes the profound faith that Starnes and his listeners feel, and the feeling of connection to a larger spiritual force that can sustain them through trials and challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm not on an ego trip
I am not boasting about myself

I'm nothing on my own
Without God, I am nothing

I make mistakes, often slip
I am a human and prone to errors

Just common flesh and bones
I am a mortal, made of flesh and bones

But I'll prove someday just what I say
I will show my words are true

I'm of a special kind
I am unique in God's eyes

When He was on the cross
During His crucifixion

I was on His mind
God was thinking of me

A look of love was on His face
Jesus gazed at me with love

The thorns on His head
Jesus wore a crown of thorns

The blood was on that scarlet robe
His blood stained His robe red

And stained a crimson red
His blood was bright red

Though His eyes were on the crowd that day
Jesus saw the multitude before Him

He looked ahead in time
He knew what was going to happen in the future

'Cause when He was on the cross
During the time of His crucifixion,

I was on His mind
God was thinking of me

He knew me, yet He loved me
God knew me, still had love for me

He whose glory makes the Heaven shine
His light makes Heaven shine bright

So unworthy of such mercy
I do not deserve such grace

Yet when He was on the cross
During His crucifixion,

I was on His mind
God was thinking of me

Yet when He was on the cross
During His crucifixion

I was on His mind
God was thinking of me

Contributed by Dominic E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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