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All the lyrics, meaning and easter eggs for HARDY's ‘By God', track one from his new EP, Sides.
- Song By God
- LyricsBy God, by God
By God what a rock we get to breathe on
That highrise livin’ ain't closer to Heaven
Than feet in a river singing promise land songs
Good Lord, good Lord
Wouldn't catch me dead where the concrete lays... - Artist(s) HARDY
- Album Sides
- Released October 30, 2026
- Label Big Loud Records
- Songwriter(s) Michael Hardy, Zach Abend, Hunter Phelps
- Producer(s) HARDY, Zach Abend
The Background:
'By God' explores HARDY's soulful, gospel side. It's a love letter to his faith, reminding his listeners that God doesn't care for fame, wealth and arbitrary measures of success. Instead, you'll find Him closer to the things that He created.
HARDY's EP, Sides, follows his genre-blending, expansive, truly clever ‘Man In The Box’, which signified all of the pillars to HARDY's music. This new era has centered around how he himself does not fit into a box and has a multi-faceted approach to his music. He amalgamates sounds from four cornerstones of his repertoire and each of these are represented together in 'Man In The Box' and as individual tracks on Sides.
HARDY first performed 'By God' at 'Party With HARDY' with St. Jude early October 2026, before its release on October 30th, 2026.
The Sound:
The song immediately transports us to church. Fuelled by a choir backing and classic keys, HARDY's vocals sing loud and proud about the joy that is life. Stripped back for the final chorus, HARDY and his choir fill the space with their powerful, soulful voices.
The Meaning:
The concept of this song is that life is beautiful and materialistic tendencies can detract from that.
'Highrise livin' ain't closer to Heaven / Than feet in a river singing promise land songs', is HARDY saying that money and power don't make you better friends with God. HARDY isn't seeking His approval through fame and wealth, but finds His proximity deeper when he's closer to things that He created.
HARDY continues to reference the natural world around him, rejecting the corporate, white collar life. He's always been expressive about his country boy roots and this song doubles down on that. With beautiful imagery like "the sun in the sky and the stars / Are puttin’ up a fight", it becomes almost absurd to crave a life that is further from that. And in his opinion, the further from that life, the further from God.
The last verse is the most clever. He talks about the safety of the small town and that "there ain't nobody stealin'" but he goes on to say, "Only time you hear / Is when somethin's in season" and it's likely he's referencing stealing the life of an animal during hunting season. But there's no judgement because he's living the life that He intended.
The whole song focuses around HARDY finding himself closer to God by being closer to the things He created.
For the full lyrics so far to HARDY's ‘By God', see below:
"By God, by God
By God what a rock we get to breathe on
That highrise livin’ ain't closer to Heaven
Than feet in a river singing promise land songs
Good Lord, good Lord
Wouldn't catch me dead where the concrete lays
My soul ain't after me climbing no ladder
This country boy rather live somewhere made
By God
-
Got tomatoes in the garden
Nelly bell parked in the yard
I don't need no driveway
Shell cracker in the grease
Some cracker in a Z goin’
Down the highway
Who the hell needs a bar
When the sun in the sky and the stars
Are puttin’ up a fight
Condensation on a beer
Sittin’ here feels kinda like I’m sittin’ right
-
By God, by God
By God what a rock we get to breathe on
That highrise livin’ ain't closer to Heaven
Than feet in a river singing promise land songs
Good Lord, good Lord
Wouldn't catch me dead where the concrete lays
My soul ain't after me climbing no ladder
This country boy rather live somewhere made
By God
-
Only need a couple cops
Everybody keeps their shit unlocked
‘Cause there ain't nobody stealin’
Hell any time of year
Only time you hear
Is when somethin's in season
And I ain't one to judge
But a little dirt will make a big difference
‘Cause the rest of the world, they could all stand a lesson
From the people out here livin’ out the words that were written
-
By God, by God
By God what a rock we get to breathe on
That highrise livin’ ain't closer to Heaven
Than feet in a river singing promise land songs
Good Lord, good Lord
Wouldn't catch me dead where the concrete lays
My soul ain't after me climbing no ladder
This country boy rather live somewhere made
By God
-
By God, by God
By God what a rock we get to breathe on
That highrise livin’ ain't closer to Heaven
Than feet in a river singing promise land songs
Good Lord, good Lord
Wouldn't catch me dead where the concrete lays
My soul ain't after me climbing no ladder
This country boy rather live somewhere made
By God"
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