The Afters – Well Done

The Afters began their career in 1999, originally known as Blisse.  They changed their name in 2001 because another band existed under that name.

Between Blisse and The Afters, they released two EP’s and seven albums:

• [Untitled EP] (2000, as Blisse)
• When the World Is Wonderful (2001), as Blisse)
• I Wish We All Could Win (2005)
• Never Going Back to OK – EP (2008)
• Never Going Back to OK (2008)
• Light Up the Sky (2010)
• Life Is Beautiful (2013)
• Live on Forever (2016)
• Fear No More (2019)

The Afters received three Dove awards for their work, including New Artist of the Year (2006), Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year (Never Going Back to OK, 2009), and Short Form Video of the Year (Live On Forever, 2016).

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1. What message does the song communicate?

The Afters examines life after physical death.  The only world they’ve known intermixes joy with sadness, pleasure with pain, war with peace, and corruption with justice.  They long for the day that they enter into God’s Kingdom, as His adopted children who inherit the Kingdom of God.  In this Kingdom, there is no hurt, tears, fighting, or dishonesty.  They will see Christ face to face.  They will observe the angels who sing say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty”!  They’ve waited their entire lives to hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.  This experience is indescribable.

This song’s structure follows basic order with an added Pre-Chorus 1 and 2 before Chorus’ first and second iterations, respectively.  It also adds a short Outro.

Score: 9/10

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

Almost all of it is supported by Scripture except part of Bridge.  Though a minor nitpick, the angels don’t sing “holy, holy, holy”.  They say it.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

What will it be like when my pain is gone
And all the worries of this world just fade away?
What will it be like when You call my name
And that moment when I see You face to face?

The Afters contemplate experiencing eternal life without death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4), and that moment when Christ calls their names (2 Chronicles 7:14), seeing His human face (2 Corinthians 4:6 and Revelation 22:3-4).

[Pre-Chorus 1]

I’m waiting my whole life to hear You say

The Afters live their lives awaiting that moment when God says…

[Chorus]

Well done, well done
My good and faithful one

Essentially quotes from Matthew 25:21 and Matthew 25:23.

Welcome to the place where you belong
Well done, well done
My beloved child

Not that we deserve eternal life (Proverbs 21:16, Luke 15:11-24, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:1-2, Colossians 2:13, and 1 Timothy 5:6), but because we, as God’s adopted children (John 1:12-13, John 14:18, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:11-22, Hebrews 9:15, and 1 John 3:1-3), are heirs of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 25:34, Acts 20:32, Romans 8:17, Galatians 3:29, Titus 3:7, James 2:5, and 1 Peter 1:4).

You have run the race and now you’re home

We have run the race of following Jesus until the end and will not be denied our rightful place in God’s Kingdom (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Hebrews 12:1-3).

Welcome to the place where you belong

Repeats line 3.

[Verse 2]

What will it be like when tears are washed away
And every broken thing will finally be made whole?
What will it be like when I come into Your glory
Standing in the presence of a love so beautiful?

See commentary on Verse 1.  The Afters add “no more tears” (Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 7:17, and Revelation 21:4) and beholding God’s glory (Isaiah 49:3, Habakkuk 2:14, John 1:14, Hebrews 1:3) to the list of things they look forward to in God’s Kingdom.

[Pre-Chorus 2]

I’m waiting my whole life for that day
I will live my life to hear You say

The Afters intend to live a life worthy of God’s calling (Romans 12:1-2, Ephesians 4:1, Philippians 1:27, Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, and 2 Timothy 1:9).

[Bridge]

What will it be like when I hear that sound?
All of heaven’s angels crying out:
Singing holy, holy, holy are You, Lord

It will be glorious!  It will be grandeour!  Except, the Scriptures don’t say they were singing.  They were crying out, yes, but check out Isaiah 6:2-13 and Revelation 4:8.  They are saying, not singing.

Singing holy, holy, holy are You, Lord
Singing holy, holy, holy are You, Lord

Repeats line 3.

Waiting my whole life for that day
Until then I’ll live to hear You say

Repeats Pre-Chorus 2.

[Outro]

Well done

Repeats half of Chorus, line 1.

Score: 9/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Though there is no explicit mention of God, except the word “Lord”, the Chorus’ and Verse 2’s opening lines will likely be familiar with unbelievers as something that “comes from the Bible”.  The Afters’ description of heaven will not be lost on those who do not yet follow Jesus.  In fact, I can’t think of a single jot or tittle that unbelievers will likely misinterpret.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that His Childen look forward to eternity with Him, only slightly veiled through The Afters’ slight error that the angels sang.

Score: 9/10

Closing Comments

The Afters’ Well Done is a good song.  It guides us to imagine a life with God, where there are no more tears, suffering, or pain.  We will see Christ face to face.  We will inherit the Kingdom of God.  We will see angels worshipping God, though Scripture doesn’t support that they will sing.  Yet, it will be glorious and overwhelming.  Unbelievers should not have much trouble interpreting this song.

Though inspirational, I cannot recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Well Done (listen to the song)

Artist: The Afters

Album: Fear No More

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2018 (released on their compilation album The Beginning & Everything After)

Duration: 4:29

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