This Side of Heaven

Song Meaning

Phil Keaggy's "This Side of Heaven" isn't just a song; it's a yearning. It's a spiritual exile's lament, wrapped in Keaggy's signature guitar work, for a home that transcends the earthly. The track immediately establishes a sense of resolute anticipation. The opening lines, "I've made up my mind, it's been a long time / I've got a dream of my own," hint at a decision, a conscious turning away from the immediate and imperfect towards an idealized future. That future isn't simply a personal ambition; it's explicitly linked to a higher power, a divine promise. The repeated plea, "Please, don't keep us waiting too long," carries the weight of generations who have felt similarly adrift. It's a prayer for resolution, an end to the waiting. The brilliance of "This Side of Heaven" lies in its refusal to shy away from the harsh realities of the present. Keaggy acknowledges the naysayers, the voices that claim "your dream will fade away." But this acknowledgment only strengthens his resolve. The contrast between the "bright side of day" and the "dark side of night" highlights a conscious choice to embrace hope, even amidst despair. It's not naive optimism, but a hard-won faith forged in the crucible of experience. The repeated line, "We've no lasting city this side of Heaven," underscores the temporary nature of our existence, suggesting that true fulfillment lies beyond the material world. Ultimately, the song meaning of “This Side of Heaven” resides in its tension. It’s the space between the beautiful, broken present and the promised, perfect future. Keaggy doesn’t offer easy answers or saccharine platitudes. Instead, he gives us a raw, honest expression of longing, a musical embodiment of the human spirit’s persistent search for meaning and belonging. The repetition of the phrase, "'Cause things aren't looking too pretty this side of Heaven," isn’t a complaint, but a catalyst – a reminder of why the waiting, and the faith, are necessary.