Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)

"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)"
"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)" single cover
Single by TobyMac
from the album Life After Death
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2021 (2021-02-19)
GenreContemporary 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
"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)" (Live) on YouTube

"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)" is a song by American Contemporary Christian artist TobyMac as the third single from his ninth studio album Life After Death. The song was released on February 19, 2021.[1] TobyMac collaborated with Micah Kuiper in songwriting and production of the single.[2]

"Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)" peaked at No. 24 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart,[3] and at No. 3 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart.[4] The music video of the song won the GMA Dove Award for Short Form Video of the Year at the 2021 GMA Dove Awards.

Background

TobyMac released "Help Is On the Way (Maybe Midnight)" with its accompanying music video on February 19, 2021.[5] TobyMac shared the story behind the song, saying:[6]

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

Awards
Year Organization Award Result Ref
2021 GMA Dove Awards Short Form Video of the Year Won [9]
Year-end lists
Publication Accolade Rank Ref.
365 Days Of Inspiring Media Top 50 Music Videos of 2021 13
[10]
Jesus Freak Hideout 2022 Staff Picks: Alex Caldwell's Song Picks 4
[11]

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]

  • Chris Gehringer — mastering engineer
  • Serban Ghenea — mixing
  • Micah Kuiper — producer
  • TobyMac — primary artist, producer

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[30] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)"
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various February 19, 2021
ForeFront Records [31]
United States March 12, 2021 Christian radio Capitol CMG [32]

References

  1. ^ "TobyMac shares 'Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight)'". Niagara Frontier Publications. February 19, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight) - TobyMac | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "TobyMac Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "TobyMac Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  5. ^ Young, Abby (February 19, 2021). "TobyMac Drops New Single, "Help is on the Way (Maybe Midnight)" | Freeccm.com". Freeccm.com. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  6. ^ "TobyMac New Song/Video 'Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight)' | CCM Magazine". CCM Magazine. February 19, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  7. ^ "Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight) by TobyMac". MultiTracks. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  8. ^ Andre, Jonathan (February 23, 2021). "TobyMac – Help is On the Way (Maybe Midnight) – Single | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media". 365 Days of Inspiring Media. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  9. ^ "2021 Winners | The 52nd Annual GMA Dove Awards". GMA Dove Awards. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Andre, Joshua (January 17, 2021). "BEST OF 2021- PART 2: TOP 50 MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2021 | 365 Days Of Inspiring Media". 365 Days Of Inspiring Media. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  11. ^ "JesusfreakHideout.com 2022 Staff Picks". Jesus Freak Hideout. December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "Hot Christian Songs Chart | Billboard". Billboard. September 15, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  13. ^ "Christian Digital Song Sales Chart | Billboard". Billboard. September 15, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  14. ^ "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight) Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Hot Christian Songs. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  15. ^ "Christian Airplay | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  16. ^ Asker, Jim (June 17, 2021). "TobyMac, Tye Tribbett Earn New No. 1s on Christian, Gospel Radio Charts | Billboard". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  17. ^ "TobyMac - Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight) - YouTube". YouTube. YouTube, LLC. February 19, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  18. ^ Longs, Herb (February 20, 2021). "TobyMac Debuts New Single & Music Video "Help Is On The Way" - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  19. ^ Longs, Herb (June 11, 2021). "TobyMac "Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight)" Live Video - TCB". The Christian Beat. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  20. ^ "TobyMac - Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight) (Live from the Drive-in Theater Tour 2021) - YouTube". YouTube. YouTube, LLC. June 11, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  21. ^ "Help Is on the Way (Maybe Midnight) - TobyMac | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  22. ^ "TobyMac Chart History (Christian Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  23. ^ "TobyMac Chart History | Billboard". Billboard. Christian AC Airplay Chart. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  24. ^ "TobyMac Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  25. ^ "Hot Christian Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  26. ^ "Christian Airplay Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  27. ^ "Christian AC Songs – Billboard". Billboard. Year-End Chart. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  28. ^ "Weekend 22". Podbean. Year-End Chart. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  29. ^ "Weekend Top 20". Podbean. Year-End Chart. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  30. ^ "American single certifications – TobyMac – Help Is On The Way". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  31. ^ "Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight) - Single by TobyMac on Apple Music". Apple Music. United States. Apple Inc. February 19, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  32. ^ Capitol CMG Radio (March 12, 2021). "Capitol CMG Radio on Instagram: "Today's the day... add date is here for @tobymac's "Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight)"! Celebrate by checking out the music video that…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.