‘out of breath’ by Josiah Queen - Lyrics & Meaning

Kicking off Josiah Queen's 2026 studio album, Damascus Road, ‘out of breath’ finds the ‘Dusty Bibles’ singer-songwriter underlining that when the time comes for him to leave this life, he won't be reluctant to say goodbye to the world. Instead, he'll be sprinting past those pearly gates as he runs towards God and Jesus.

It lays the foundation for ‘when I see you’, one of the stand-outs from Damascus Road, which finds Queen hoping God and Jesus will say ‘Good job‘ when he gets to Heaven.

‘out of breath’ epitomises the signature folk-infused, banjo-driven style we've come to know and love from Queen, with the Florida native crooning softly across an undulating instrumental for the first verse. As he approaches the euphoric hook, the composition builds out. It features the sudden removal of virtually all instrumentation right before the hook, adding an extra jolt of energy as Queen launches into the anthemic chorus - something that's become a hallmark of his sound.

Queen had been teasing ‘out of breath’ extensively in the lead-up to his third album, with the ‘amazing!’ hitmaker using various TikTok clips to highlight the intended message behind it. Over the course of ‘out of breath’, Queen underlines that he wants to make the most of every second he is on earth, and ensure he is doing everything he can to spread Jesus’ teachings as far and as wide as he possibly can.

Queen utilises the common imagery of being “on fire for Jesus”, as he emphasises that he doesn't want to live some of his life for Jesus, rather, he wants every moment to have Him at its heart, “I don't wanna be lukewarm / Light a fire in my soul 'til I run the streets of gold”. It echoes the sentiments of ‘sundays’, in which Queen sings about not compartmentalising the spiritual side of his life to one day.

He admits that he knows life is a marathon, not a sprint - but even so, when it's his time to make his way to Heaven's gates, he makes it clear he'll be running as far as he can.

“I wanna go the distance
Life is like a race, a marathon
Can't afford to miss it
I gotta make the most with this time I've got
-
I don't wanna be lukewarm
Light a fire in my soul 'til I run the streets of gold
-
I want to get to Heaven out of breath
Don't wanna waste no time when I cross the finish line
Oh, Lord, I want to hear You say
"Well done, my child and my friend"
When I get to Heaven out of breath
-
A million miles a minute
Life is like a vapor and we're short on time
With every breath I'm given
I'll shout it from the mountaintops
I'll burn so bright
-
I don't wanna be lukewarm
So light a fire in my soul 'til I run the streets of gold
-
I want to get to Heaven out of breath
Don't wanna waste no time when I cross the finish line
Oh, Lord, I want to hear You say
"Well done, my child and my friend"
When I get to Heaven out of breath
Out of breath
-
Heaven out of breath
Oh, out of breath
-
Like a steam rolling train
I'll be on my way
On my way 'til the wheels fall off
'Til I see Your face
Walk through Heaven's gates
I will run, I will run, I will run
-
I want to get to Heaven out of breath
Don't wanna waste no time when I cross the finish line
Oh, Lord, I want to hear You say
"Well done, my child and my friend"
When I get to Heaven out of breath
Out of breath
-
To Heaven out of breath
"Well done, my child and my friend"
When I get to Heaven out of breath”

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