“Goodbye (For Gabe)” by TobyMac is a heartfelt tribute and emotional farewell to his late son, Truett Foster McKeehan, also known as Gabe. The song carries a weight of raw grief, love, and deep reflection, offering listeners a window into a father’s sorrow and faith in the midst of tragedy. With gentle melodies and honest lyrics, TobyMac expresses the pain of loss while clinging to hope in eternity and God’s comforting presence.
TobyMac, born Kevin Michael McKeehan, is a pioneering figure in Christian music from the United States, originally rising to fame as part of the trio DC Talk. Born on October 22, 1964, he later built a successful solo career with hits that blend gospel, hip hop, pop, and rock. The sudden passing of his son in 2019 profoundly influenced his recent music, including deeply personal tracks like “21 Years” and now “Goodbye (For Gabe).”
In “Goodbye (For Gabe),” TobyMac doesn’t shy away from his pain but instead turns it into a tender conversation with God and his son. It’s a song that resonates with anyone who has experienced loss, reminding us that even in goodbye, God is near, and love—especially a father’s love—endures beyond this
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Lyrics: Goodbye (For Gabe) – TobyMac
They say the larger they live
The harder they fall
So when your knees hit that ground
This whole world must have paused
When you walk through that door
You made our problems yours
And if love feels like rain
Brother, you made it pour
And even though I know I’ll see you on the other side
I wish I could have said
(Goodbye)
To all the late night talkin’
The long bus rides
And the downtown walkin’
(Goodbye)
To all the truth you spittin’
The rock you were when my head was trippin’
(Goodbye)
To all the dreams we chased and the ones we caught by the good Lord’s grace
(Goodbye)
I wish I could’ve said goodbye
I wish I could’ve said goodbye
Well, I can still hear your laugh
And it still makes me smile
It’s like time used to fly
Now I feel every mile
Any room that you walk in
We just end up by you
And our lives will never be the same it’s true
Man, I wish I could’ve said
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”
“Save your words
Don’t say goodbye
Just say a prayer for me tonight
If this is the sea, He’ll part it”
If He wants to part it
(Um it’s Gabe. Holler at me.)
(Goodbye)
To all the late night talkin’
The long bus rides
And the downtown walkin’
(Goodbye)
To all the truth you spittin’
The friend you were I will always miss ya
(Goodbye)
To all the dreams we chased and the ones we caught by the good Lord’s grace
(Goodbye)
I wish I could’ve said
I wish I could’ve said goodbye
I wish I could’ve said goodbye
