JOHNNYSWIM – Touching Heaven

JOHNNYSWIM is an American duo consisting of married couple Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano.  They typically sing folk, soul, blues, and pop songs.  Although their music would not be labeled as “Christian”, they acknowledge that Christianity is their faith.

Forming in 2005, they released 6 albums and 4 EP’s, including:

• Johnnyswim (EP, 2008)
• 5-8 (EP, 2010)
• Home, Vol. 1 (EP, 2012)
• Heart Beats (EP, 2013)
• Diamonds (2014)
• A Johnnyswim Christmas (2014)
• Georgica Pond (2016)
• Johnnyswim Live at Rockwood Music Hall (2016)
• Moonlight (2019)
• Johnnyswim (2022)

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Johnnyswim-touching-heaven-lyrics.

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1. What message does the song communicate?

Most of this song borrows from heavenly elements such as the angelic horde, streets paved in yellow bullion, and the Kingdom of God itself as metaphorical for the euphoric, overwhelming delight that is “you”.  They need not wait for God’s awesome displays of His power (described as chariots in the song) or Jesus’ triumphant return to experience part of heavenly joy on earth.  Yet, they sing hallelujah because of “you”.  Also, the word “hallelujah” makes it clear that JOHNNYSWIM references either the Judaism or Christian God, which are the same God.

Who is “you”?  The song’s ending is the dead giveaway, but not in the lyrics.  After the lyrics end, the track cuts to a couple interacting with their child.  The child’s name is stated as “Joaquin”, which happens to be the firstborn of Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano.  This tells us that a baby/toddler Juaquin is “you” in these lyrics.

My only issue with this song is in Verse 1, where it says “If touching love is touching God”.  We can view “is” as either “equal” or “attribute of”, neither of which work.  Love is not equal to God.  God is also not an attribute of love.  Therefore, touching love is not touching God.  Had this been written the other way around, that touching God is touching love, then it would be correct.  Namely, because love is an attribute of God.

Score: 9/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Almost all of it takes elements from Scripture to describe JOHNNYSWIM’s heavenly experience of spending time with their infant son, which is not unbiblical to do.  Bridge is directly Biblical, where JOHNNYSWIM praises God for their son.  However, Verse 1, line 4 is incorrect.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-5: JOHNNYSWIM describes heaven and some of its attributes, including the angels (Matthew 18:10, Hebrews 12:22, and Revelation 10:1-6) and streets of gold (Revelation 21:21), and part of the Kingdom of God, that is, that the Kingdom of heaven will be filled with joy (Romans 14:17), as a metaphor for their state of bliss.  Holding their son is, to put it succinctly, heavenly (Proverbs 23:25).

While some might balk at the idea that JOHNNYSWIM uses these elements for this purpose, we must not forget that our Master, Jesus, taught many parables about the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven to tell us various things about it.  For example, Matthew 13:44-46 tell us that there is great joy for those who possess it, much like a man who sells everything he has for a hidden treasure or a pearl of great price.

As for line 4, the word “is” in this context communicates equivalence.  That is, touching love is the same thing as touching God.  This isn’t true.  Yes, God is love (1 John 4:8), but this means that love is an attribute of God, not that experiencing love is the same thing as experiencing God.  They are related, but not equivalent.  Even if the word “is” was meant to communicate an attribute, God is not an attribute of love.  It’s the other way around.

Line 6: This compares the simplicity of a repeated refrain to the effortlessness of enjoying a moment with their son.

Lines 7 and 8: JOHNNYSWIM is unsure of the specific moment when they felt this deep, loving connection with their son.

[Chorus]

Lines 1-4: JOHNNYSWIM does not need to wait to see God’s power manifest in Psalm 68:17’s description of chariots or the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:43, Acts 1:9-11, 1 Corinthians 11:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 16:15, and Revelation 19:11-16) to experience heaven on earth.  See Verse 1, lines 1-5.  Also, JOHNNYSWIM calls out to Casper the friendly ghost.

Line 5: Essentially repeats line 4.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: JOHNNYSWIM wonders what their small child dreams about.

Lines 3 and 4: This uses cartographical terminology, stating that a treasure map is not required to find hidden treasure.  JOHNNYSWIM already found it, namely, their son.

[Bridge]

Line 1: The word ‘Hallelujah” is a compound Hebrew phrase, with “hallelu” meaning “a joyous praise in song” and “jah” or “yah”, which refers to the Tetragrammaton YHWH. Put together, we are singing “we joyfully praise God in song” when we use this word.  In this case, their son is JOHNNYSWIM’s joyful praise to God in song.

Lines 2-8: Repeats line 1, essentially repeats line 1, or contains “yes you are”, which is JOHNNYSWIM agreeing with line 1.

Line 9: Essentially repeats Chorus, line 4.

Lines 10-15: See commentary on lines 2-8 and line 9.

[Refrain]

Lines 1 and 2: Repeats Verse 1, lines 4 and 5.

[Outro]

Lines 1-9: Repeats/essentially repeats Bridge, lines 1-9.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

It is vitally important for unbelievers to hear the entire song all the way to the end to understand that “you” is JOHNNYSWIM’s young son.  When they realize this, they should easily interpret that this song is about JOHNNNYSWIM’s expression of happiness with their son using a few elements from the Bible.  They will also likely think that the word “hallelujah” is JOHNNYSWIM praising the Judaism/Christian God for their son.

I am concerned that they will think they can access God merely by loving.  That isn’t true.

Score: 7/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that JOHNNYSWIM praises Him in song because of their son.  However, it does not glorify Him when JOHNNYSWIM says that love = God, or that God is a property of love.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

JOHNNYSWIM’s Touching Heaven is decent.  It grabs elements from Scripture to describe JOHNNYSWIM’s experience with their son, that time with him is like heaven on earth.  They sing their praises to God on account of their song.  These glorify Him.  However, it is incorrect to say that “touching love is touching God”, an error that unbelievers can easily interpret as accessing God through mere love without Jesus.  Still, believers and outsiders alike can appreciate JOHNNYSWIM’s happiness.

This is not a praise song.  Therefore, I do not recommend it for corporate worship.

Final Score: 8.5/10

Artist Info

Track: Touching Heaven (listen to the song)

Artist: JOHNNYSWIM

Album: Georgica Pond

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2016

Duration: 4:59

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