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Clumsy
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Nov 5, 2026 updated
Deep Enough to Dream album
Verified editorial review
Song Meaning
Self-deprecating humor carries a serious confession. After thirty years of practice the speaker is still "reachin' out for that same old piece of forbidden fruit," slipping and knocking his halo loose. The chorus lists his failings bluntly (clumsy, foolish, stupid, useless), then pivots on one word: "But You're sayin' You love me and You're still gonna hold me."
The second verse tightens the failure. He has prayed the same resolution a thousand times, promised to be strong and make God proud, and then "the rooster crows and my tears roll down again," a nod to Peter's denial. The reply he hears is that he was made from dust and could never be good enough, and that this will not come between them.
What keeps the song from self-pity is its refrain. God wants to be near him "'cause You're makin' me holy," and the present tense matters: holiness is something being done to him. A short bridge admits that God's holiness is too high to reach and settles on "my only hope is to fall on Jesus." The closing repeats "keep makin' me holy" as a request.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team
You think I'd have it down by now
Been practicin' for thirty years
I should have walked a thousand miles
So what am I still doin' here, yeah
Reachin' out for that same old piece of forbidden fruit
I slip and fall and I knock my halo loose
Somebody tell me, what's a boy supposed to do?
I get so clumsy, I get so foolish, I get so stupid
And then I feel so useless
But You're sayin' You love me and You're still gonna hold me
And that You wanna be near me 'cause You're makin' me holy
Still makin' me holy, yeah
I'm gonna get it right this time
I'll be strong and I'll make You proud
Prayed that prayer a thousand times
But the rooster crows and my tears roll down again
You remind me You made me from the dust
And I can never, no never, be good enough
And that You're not gonna let that come between us
'Cos I get so clumsy, I can get so foolish, I can get so stupid
And then I feel so useless
But You're sayin' You love me and You're still gonna hold me
And that You wanna be near me 'cause You're makin' me holy
Still makin' me holy, yeah
From where I stand
Your holiness is up so high I can never reach it
My only hope is to fall on Jesus
'Cos I get so clumsy, and I get so foolish, I can get so stupid sometimes
And then I feel so useless
But You're sayin' You love me and You're still gonna hold me
And that You wanna be near me 'cause You're makin' me holy
I get so clumsy, and I get so foolish, I can get so stupid
And then I feel so useless
But You're sayin' You love me and You're still gonna hold me
And that You wanna be near me 'cause You're makin' me holy
You're still makin' me holy, keep makin' me holy, yeah