This song was written by Mercy Me and it really is powerful. Years later, in 1999, when MercyMe was writing songs for its freshman project, Millard stumbled across that simple phrase—”I can only imagine“—in an old notebook. About ten minutes later, the song was written.

“People say it’s amazing that it was written in ten minutes, when really it had been on my heart for almost ten years,” Millard says. In fact, not many days go by that he still doesn’t ask himself those questions that form the chorus of his song:

Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still? Will I stand in your presence, or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?

“I have faith that Christ is real,” Millard adds. “Therefore, I ask him questions.”

I can only imagine chords

E
I can only imagine what it will be like
            A
When I walk by Your side
                  E
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
                      A
When Your face is before me
                   E                                A
I can only imagine, I can only imagine

A                                                      B
Surrounded by Your glory what will my heart feel
          E
Will I dance for You Jesus, or in awe of You be still
           A                                                         B                                              
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall
                   E
Will I sing halleluiah, will I be able to speak at all
          A                 B                           E
I can only imagine, I can only imagine