Week 7 - I Can Only Imagine

I Can Only Imagine

by MercyMe

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

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in honour 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
When 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 [x2]

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine

** This song is one of my favorites. Everytime I listen to it gets me thinking. It is definitely targeted towards a religious audience, and uses many different tools and appeals to make it effective. The one appeal I think it focuses most on, though, is pathos, and it creates this emotional effect by the use of repetition.
The chorus is especially effective when it starts out with "surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel," and then continues to run through all the emotions that one might feel when the time finally comes to stand before God. I know it definitely gets me thinking of how I will react, and what I will be feeling in that moment. The repeated phrase "I can only Imagine," then leaves it up to the listener to use his or her own imagination to determine what it will be like in the presence of God. These two techniques combined make for a very effective, and emotionally stiring, song.
I still feel the same way about this song even after analyzing it. I love it! Every time I hear it I am left wanting to do better, and to be better.