Lyrics Page
Everyman
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Sep 27, 2026 updated
The World As Best As I Remember It, Vol. 2 album
Verified editorial review
Song Meaning
Rich Mullins builds this song out of a series of unnamed biblical figures, each introduced only by their situation: "he was out on a limb, he was sitting in the shade, he'd led a hundred men and lived alone among the graves, he had a thousand questions and a million heartaches, he was everyman."
"She was caught in a sin, she knew the well was so deep, she threw her last pennies in and poured oil upon His feet, she touched the garment's hem" blends details from at least two different gospel women — one anointing Jesus' feet with ointment, another touching the hem of His garment for healing — folded into a single composite "she."
"And the Lord looks down and He understands, the world draws up its lines, but at the foot of the cross there's room for everyone" states the song's actual argument plainly between verses, before returning to more unnamed figures: a fisherman who "couldn't understand until on Damascus road," a clear nod to Paul's conversion.
"With thorns in His brow and a spear in His side, nails in His hand, He died for you and I, for you and I and everyman" closes each chorus on the same claim — whatever specific story any listener recognizes themselves in, the cross was already built wide enough for it.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team
Well he was out on a limb he was sitting in the shade
He'd led a hundred men and lived alone among the graves
He had a thousand questions and a million heartaches
He was everyman he was everyman
She was caught in a sin she knew the well was so deep
She threw her last pennies in and poured oil upon His feet
She touched the garment's hem she had only been asleep
She was everyman she was everyman
And the Lord looks down and He understands
The world draws up it's lines
But at the foot of the cross there's room for everyone
And love that is not blind
It can look at who we are and still see beyond
The differences we find
But with thorns in His brow and a spear in His side
Nails in His hand He died for you and I
For you and I and everyman
He had nets to mend he gave his fish and his loaves
He had to wash his hands and ran away without his robe
He couldn't understand until on Damascus road
He was everyman he was everyman
She brought the world a lamb and took warning from a dream
From an empty tomb she ran for her children she would weep
In her womb a baby danced she'd been waiting for a King
She was everyman she was everyman
And the Lord looks down and He understands
The world draws up it's lines
But at the foot of the cross there's room for everyone
And love that is not blind
It can look at who we are and still see beyond
The differences we find
But with thorns in His brow and a spear in His side
Nails in His hand He died for you and I
For you and I and everyman
The world draws up it's lines
But at the foot of the cross there's room for everyone
And love that is not blind
It can look at who we are and still see beyone
The differences we find
But with thorns in His brow and a spear in His side
Nails in His hand He died for you and I
For you and I and everyman
Everyman