Lyrics Page
Pushing Back the Dark
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Sep 13, 2026 updated
Carry Me album
Verified editorial review
Song Meaning
Josh Wilson opens by naming the discouragement head-on — "one million reasons why you shouldn't even try... a single candle in the dark" — before answering it with an old image instead of a new pep talk: "the city on a hill, it should be shining still." That's Matthew 5:14-16's picture of a light no one hides under a basket, treated here as an instruction rather than a metaphor to admire.
"Keep on pushing back the dark" works like 1 Corinthians 15:58's charge to stand firm because labor in the Lord is never wasted — the song never claims the darkness disappears, only that showing up against it counts. The call-and-response "let your lights all shine" in the outro turns a solo pep talk into a crowd instruction, "we are rising from the dead" reframing small, ordinary persistence as its own kind of resurrection.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team
One million reasons why, you shouldn't even try.
After all you're just one heart, a single candle in the dark.
And there are shadows here, feeding on your fears,
That you don't have what it takes - who are you to make a change?
[Pre-Chorus]
But oh, oh, don't underestimate the God you follow.
[Chorus]
Whatever you do, just don't look back.
Oh somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don't lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark.
[Verse 2]
The city on a hill, it should be shining still.
Every sinner saved by grace, has a purpose, has a place
Inside the bigger plan, we might not understand.
But if we just keep walking on, we will see the Kingdom come, yeah.
[Chorus]
Whatever you do, just don't look back.
Oh somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don't lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark.
[Bridge]
(Let your lights all shine...)
Oh, oh, don't underestimate the God you follow.
He is the light that burns inside your soul,
So keep on shining 'til the whole world knows.
[Chorus]
Whatever you do, just don't look back.
Oh somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don't lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Just keep on pushing back the dark, dark.
[Chorus]
Whatever you do, just don't look back.
Cause somebody needs the light you have.
Whatever you do, just don't lose heart.
Keep on pushing back the dark,
Keep on pushing back the dark, yeah
[Outro]
(Let your lights all shine)
When you feel like you're too small
(Let your lights all shine)
To do any good at all
(Let your lights all shine)
Like a sunrise through the window
(Let your lights all shine)
Like a symphony crescendo
(Let your lights all shine)
We are waking up again, we are rising from the dead
(Let your lights all shine)
We are shining like the stars, we are pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
Yeah, we are pushing back, pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
We are pushing back, we are pushing back, pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)
Just pushing back, we are pushing back, pushing back the dark
(Let your lights all shine)