They Shall Be Mine

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of divine pronouncements and an impending spiritual reckoning. A powerful, authoritative voice, identified as "the Lord God almighty" and "heaven," repeatedly declares, "They shall be mine." This assertion is framed within a context of religious expectation, referencing "the message that he would send" and the anticipated arrival of Jesus. The dominant tone is one of certainty and possession, suggesting a cosmic plan where souls are ultimately claimed by a higher power. The repeated phrase "When He comes, together rejoice" hints at a celebratory reunion or judgment, but the core message remains the Lord's ultimate ownership. The central tension lies in the contrast between human anticipation and divine decree. While the intro speaks of kneeling to God and internalizing a message, the verses are dominated by the Lord's declarative statements. The lyrics pose a question, "Will you see what they share? Oh," which introduces a layer of mystery about the nature of this shared experience or destiny. The repeated "When He comes" builds anticipation, but the unwavering "They shall be mine" underscores a predetermined outcome, leaving little room for human agency in the final acquisition. A striking element is the catalog of names in Verse 5, ranging from biblical figures like Moses and Joshua to figures like Hezekiah and even "Sister Mary and Martha." This extensive list, culminating in "all of God's children," emphasizes the universal scope of the Lord's claim. The inclusion of specific names, alongside broader categories, grounds the abstract divine pronouncement in a more personal, albeit still vast, sense of belonging. The lyrics also draw a stark line "Between the wicked and the righteous man," reinforcing the idea of a final division and accounting. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their declarative, almost chant-like repetition and the stark imagery of divine ownership. The unwavering pronouncement "They shall be mine," coupled with the anticipation of "When He comes," creates a powerful sense of inevitability. The broad inclusion of various figures and groups suggests a grand, all-encompassing plan, leaving the listener with a profound sense of the divine's ultimate authority and the predetermined fate of all souls.