Strong Effort from TobyMac

Heaven on My Mind is TobyMac’s ninth studio album, following 2022’s Life After Death, my favorite album of that year. It is another solid effort featuring twelve new songs, five of which were released in advance of the full album on March 7. Toby co-wrote all of the songs and worked with a number of writers and producers. He was joined by guest artists Juan Winans and Terrian, and a choir providing backing vocals.
Heaven on My Mind features themes of loss and trusting God, and will certainly find its way onto my best albums of 2025. Here are a few comments about each song:
Heaven On My Mind – This song was written by TobyMac, Jordan Mohilowski, and Jess Cates, and produced by TobyMac and Mohilowski. This is an easygoing song with a good beat about looking forward to heaven. He has people waiting for him there, likely a reference to his son Truett, who died in 2020 and former band member Gabriel Patillo, who died in 2024.
Key lyric:
Life ain't bad down here, but I got Heaven on my mind, on my mind
Lord It Feels Good – This joyful song was written by TobyMac, Kyle Williams, and Benji Cowart, and produced by TobyMac, Williams and Micah Kuiper. The song is about being loved by God.
Key lyric:
I'm feelin' loved when the walls shake
Love when my heart breaks
In arms that are open wide (Wide, wide, wide)
I'm feelin' loved in the chaos
When I'm feelin' anxious
A river when my heart runs dry
Rearview – This song was written by TobyMac, Josiah Bell, Juan Winans, and Justin Gray (Christian), and produced by Bell and Winans. The song features Juan Winans. The song is about putting trouble in the rearview and features some excellent percussion.
Key lyric:
There's only One I can turn to
King of today and the King of my rearview
God Did It – This upbeat song was written by TobyMac, Jordan Mohilowski and Benji Cowart, and produced by TobyMac and Mohilowski. The song is about how God is working behind the scenes. We may not love His timing, but we still believe in the story He’s writing. The song features a joyful choir.
Key lyric:
Ain't nobody but God did it
There's no way around
Some things you can't explain away
Too good for me to doubt
a lil Church (nobody’s too lost) – This song was written by TobyMac, Benji Cowart and Kyle Williams, and produced by TobyMac and Williams. The song is about the fellowship of the local church. The song opens with a church organ and features a good beat and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
I could use a little church right now
Love to have a little family around
I've been feelin' so overwhelmed
I could use a little church right now.
Resist (Keep The Devil Away) – This hard driving song was written by TobyMac, Micah Kuiper, Bryan Fowler, and Terrian Woods, and features Terrian. The song features a choir and is inspired by James 4:7: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Key lyric:
Give me the feet to walk on water
Keep me from the deep (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Give me the faith to move that mountain
Give me the eyes to see (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Give me the lungs to shout Your praises
Give me a song to sing (Oh-oh-oh-oh)
Give me the feet to walk on water (Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
And keep the Devil away from me
Been Through It – This song was written by TobyMac, Jeff Pardo and Matthew West, and produced by TobyMac and Pardo. It is a prayer of thanksgiving. He has been through difficult times but somehow the Lord has been with him through it all.
Key lyric:
'Cause You've been through it
The blood, the Cross; Your life, You chose to lose it
A sacrifice that goes beyond the bruises and the scars
This old world can be so hard
Yeah, I've been through it
But I know You've with me through it all
Can't Stop Me – This song was written by TobyMac, Jordan Mohilowski and Benji Cowart, and produced by TobyMac, Mohilowski and Tommee Profitt. Doubts and fears can’t stop him from believing. Despite hardships, his faith remains strong. The song is hard hitting and features good backing vocals.
Key lyric:
The coldest of the seasons
That break my heart to pieces
Can't stop me from believin'
Nothin' Sweeter – This joyful song was written by TobyMac, Benji Cowart, and Jordan Mohilowski, and produced by TobyMac and Mohilowski. He has seen the view from the top of the world and the sorrow by the bitter graveside, but there isn’t anything sweeter than God’s love. The song features some excellent backing vocals.
Key lyric:
I've been uptown, I've been downtown
In the spotlight, I've been broken down
I've seen so much, might not know much
But there ain't nothin' sweeter than His love
Oh My Soul (Psalm 103) – This mid-tempo worship song was written by TobyMac, Bryan Fowler, Micah Kuiper and Shawn Newby and produced by TobyMac and Kuiper. The song features an excellent choir. Till his days are done he is going to bless the Lord’s name.
Key lyric:
Praise the Lord, my soul
And all that is within me
Bless His holy name
Campfire (That Very Love) – This song was written by TobyMac, Kyle Williams and Benji Cowart, and produced by TobyMac and Williams. This folk-oriented song is a plea for healing from cancer for his friend Gabriel Patillo.
Key lyric:
But even if that mountain doesn't move
God's already made a way for you.
Goodbye (For Gabe) – This song was written and produced by TobyMac and Jordan Mohilowski, and was written for Toby’s friend Gabriel Patillo, who he described as his “right-hand man on stage and in life.” The two of them had worked together and grown in their faith in God together for 25 years. Patillo died on April 12, 2024, after a battle with cancer.
Key lyric:
You said, "Save your words, don't say goodbye
Just say a prayer for me tonight
If this is the road, I'll walk it.
Favorite songs:
Heaven on My Mind
a lil Church (nobody’s too lost)
Resist (Keep The Devil Away)
Nothin’ Sweeter
Oh My Soul (Psalm 103)