Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)

Last updated

I wrote "Help is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)" after a season in the valley of sad songs. With a broken heart after losing my firstborn son and stepping almost immediately into quarantine everything was dark. I woke up one day and turned to the Psalms. I read that 'God is rolling up His sleeves.' What beautiful imagery. This picture turned me from having hope to yelling it from the rooftops. The God of all creation is rolling up His sleeves on our behalf. What a promise. We are not forgotten, not at all.

Composition

"Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)" is composed in the key of C♯ minor with a tempo of 142 beats per minute and a musical time signature of 4
4
. [7]

Reception

Critical response

Jonathan Andre of 365 Days of Inspiring Media gave a positive review of the song, concluding: "A song that has reminded me of help being on the way during the moments where we so desperately need it, well done Toby for this track, a meaningful one, and one that can remind us of the very hope we have in Christ, that help comes for the weary and downtrodden, and the seemingly all-together, alike." [8]

Accolades

"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)"
Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight) - TobyMac.jpg
Single by TobyMac
from the album Life After Death
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2021 (2021-02-19)
Genre Contemporary Christian music
Length3:01
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Micah Kuiper
  • Toby McKeehan
Producer(s)
  • Micah Kuiper
  • Toby McKeehan
TobyMac singles chronology
"I'm Sorry (A Lament)"
(2020)
"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)"
(2021)
"Like You"
(2021)
Music videos
"Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)" on YouTube
Awards
YearOrganizationAwardResultRef
2021 GMA Dove Awards Short Form Video of the YearWon [9]
Year-end lists
PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
365 Days Of Inspiring MediaTop 50 Music Videos of 202113
Jesus Freak Hideout2022 Staff Picks: Alex Caldwell's Song Picks4

Commercial performance

"Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)" debuted at No. 11 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart dated March 6, 2021, [12] concurrently charting at No. 1 on the Christian Digital Song Sales chart. [13] It went on to peak at number 3 on the chart, and spent a total of twenty-six consecutive weeks on the Hot Christian Songs Chart. [14]

The song debuted on the Christian Airplay chart dated February 27, 2021, at No. 35. [15] "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)" reached number one on the Christian Airplay chart dated June 13, 2021, becoming TobyMac's tenth chart-topping entry. [16]

Music videos

The official music video of "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)" was published on TobyMac's YouTube channel on February 19, 2021. [17] The music video was directed by Eric Welch, and it features TobyMac's son, Judah McKeehan, as a special guest. [18]

TobyMac released the official live performance video of "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)" recorded during the Drive-In Theater Tour stops in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, Dayton, Ohio, and Summersville, Kentucky locations, [19] on June 11, 2021. [20]

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic. [21]

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [30] Gold500,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousFebruary 19, 2021 ForeFront Records [31]
United StatesMarch 12, 2021 Christian radio Capitol CMG [32]

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References

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