And I scrub and scrub
But my hands won't come clean
Of this sin that's underneath my nails
I've given everything a chance at molding me
But everything continues to fail
Who holds the keys to my closet?
Who sees my wrong
But won't hold it against me?
Guilt, leave me alone
It's been forgiven and forgotten so let me be
My memory won't leave me alone
Of my past, it keeps reminding me
Can my heart be recovered?
Someone give me the chance to start over
And over and over and over
What this clay needs is a new potter
Who's every touch shapes me free
What these hands need is breathing water
To restore purity, yeah!
Faith, where are you off to?
Don't be gone too long
It's going to be dark soon
And you won't find your way home
And all the world's horses
And all the world's men
Could not put my heart back together again
What this clay needs is a new potter
Who's every touch shapes me free
What these hands need is breathing water
To restore purity, yeah, yea-yeah
And I can't imagine where I'd be
And I can't imagine where I'd be
What this clay needs is a new potter
Who's every touch shapes me free
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
What these hands need is breathing water
To restore purity, yeah!
Oh, purity, yea-yeah! Ooh!
Yeah, yeah, yeah...
Lyrics Page
Purity
709 views
Aug 5, 2026 updated
Verified editorial review
MercyMe's song "Purity" is a heartfelt plea for spiritual cleansing and renewal. The lyrics describe the struggle with persistent sin and the inability to clean oneself, symbolized by dirty hands. The singer expresses guilt and the haunting memory of past mistakes, longing for a fresh start. The central metaphor is clay needing a new potter, emphasizing the need for God's transformative touch to restore purity. The song also touches on faith and the fear of losing it, but ultimately finds hope in divine restoration. It's a worshipful reflection on grace and the desire to be made whole again.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team