TobyMac has released the video for his powerful new single, “Cornerstone,” featuring Zach Williams. The song is from the gospel singer’s latest studio album, Life After Death, and was inspired after the tragic loss of his 21-year-old son Truett, due to an accidental drug overdose in 2019.
“This song was birthed at my firstborn’s funeral service,” TobyMac tells People. “A broken man, I looked my family in the eyes and said, ‘We have to rebuild. Our hearts have been shattered into a thousand pieces.'” We cannot build on the promises of this world. They will let us down every time. We have to build on the promises of God. We have to build our lives on the solid rock, the cornerstone.”
The “Cornerstone” video follows the story of four different people: a man in prison, a woman battling thoughts of self-harm, a man dealing with a football injury and a man battling alcoholism. it was a way for the 58-year-old to bring the message of the song to life.
“Everyone has to build their life on something,” TobyMac reflects. “Seasons change and so can we, as we walk through this confusing world. It can uproot us at times from the very thing we’re committed to, our absolutes. Occasionally I find the need to draw a line in the sand, and write a milestone sort of song so I can remember what matters most to me at 1:00 AM, tossed by the waves of this world.”
The Virginia native’s life was forever changed with the loss of his son. It’s a loss he continues to speak about, as a testament to his strong Christian faith.
“We’re not scared to talk about it. It’s not a taboo subject. It’s something beautiful,” he said. “[We have] the faith to believe, is Truett laughing at this right now? Is he saying, ‘Come on Dad, give him a break’ when I’m hard on his little brother? All that has been really good for us.
“He’s part of an ongoing conversation,” TobyMac continued. “We meet every year at the park across the street where we had his service, and we tell stories about him — things he had done or said or made us laugh or when he was a bad boy or when he was so kindhearted. We remember him all the time.”
Find “Cornerstone” and all of TobyMac’s music and tour dates at TobyMac.com.