21 Years

Album: Life After Death (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • On October 23, 2019, TobyMac's oldest child, Truett McKeehan, passed away from a cardiac arrest following an accidental drug overdose in the family home in Tennessee. During this poignant track, the Christian rapper opens up about his loss, questioning God as to why his son had to go so soon. He also addresses Truett directly, asking him about Heaven and looking forward to reuniting with him there.
  • TobyMac said in a social media post that penning "21 Years" has helped him process the hardest time he's ever faced.

    "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. 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."

    The rapper added it was a song that he never wanted to write but hoped "it's for someone out there, or maybe it's just for me."
  • Aspiring rapper Truett McKeehan made his full song debut aged 10 on his father's track "LoudNClear." He had just started his solo career as Truett Foster when he passed away.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.