Born in Hope Valley, Rhode Island, with his parents Mr. & Mrs. William Gilman Jr., Gilman first received notice as a performer at age seven, attracting the attention of a local vocal coach, Angela Bacari, who later became his manager. Eventually he met with Ray Benson (of Asleep at the Wheel) who helped him record demos, including "Roly Poly". Two months later he was signed by Sony Music Nashville.
His 2000 debut album, One Voice, had a very widely-played single that crossed over well into top 40 airplay. The album reached multi-platinum status, and earned a Grammy nomination. Generally touted as a child prodigy, Gilman appeared on various talk shows. Classic Christmas (which was certified gold) was released later in the year.
He released Dare to Dream (certified gold) on Sony BMG Music Entertainment/Epic Records in 2001, and in 2003 released Music Through Heartsongs, an album inspired by the poetry of Mattie Stepanek. Later in 2003, he performed at a benefit for The Station nightclub fire. In May 2005, he released Everything and More, his first album since his voice changed.
Billy's latest album, self-titled, was released in September 2006 on the Image Entertainment label. The first single off the upcoming album, Southern Star, heralds a return to his country music roots. Billy is scheduled to begin working on his next album with Eddie Galan and Andrew Lane of Trilogy Productions.
About Things That Matter
Billy Gilman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We must celebrate the gift of life
Every day in some way
We must always remember to play after every storm
All children are truly blessed
With the innocent gifts of gentleness, trust and compassion
To guide the wisdom of the grown-ups
We all have a song in our heart that inspires us in good times and hard times
It matters, it matters, oh, it matters that the world knows
Our senses help discover the hidden and non-hidden
Enchantment in life, if we use them
We must carefully choose our words and wants
Or we could forever hurt others with these dangerous weapons
Strength and value of all things created
Must be measured by character and commitment
Rather than by might and by wealth
It matters, it matters, oh, it matters that the world knows
We must heed the lessons of everyday life
Through the celebration of children and heart songs, senses and words
Or we could lose in our journey to the future
It matters
A person by my name and being existed
With a strong spirit and an eternal mindset
To become a peacemaker for all
By sharing the things that really matter
In Billy Gilman's song, "About Things That Matter," he emphasizes the importance of recognizing and appreciating the small, yet profound aspects of life. The song begins by stating that it matters that the world knows that we must celebrate the gift of life, no matter the circumstance. It is crucial to find joy in every day, in some way, and to never forget to play, even amidst struggle. Gilman highlights the purity of children and their innate qualities of gentleness, trust, and compassion, which can guide the wisdom of adults. He suggests that we all have a song in our hearts that can inspire and uplift us in difficult times if we take the time to listen.
The second verse reminds us of the importance of remaining mindful and using our senses to perceive the beauty and wonder that surrounds us in life. Gilman acknowledges the power of language and the ramifications of our words and wants, noting that they can either hurt or help others. He suggests that the strength and value of all things created should be measured by character and commitment rather than by might and wealth.
The final verse emphasizes the lessons to be learned from everyday life and the importance of observing and celebrating the innocent gifts of children, heart songs, senses, and words. Gilman suggests that we must heed these lessons, or we risk losing our way in our journey to the future. The overall message of the song is that it matters to recognize and appreciate the little things in life that truly matter.
Line by Line Meaning
It matters that the world knows
The value of sharing the important things in life with the world
We must celebrate the gift of life
It's important to appreciate and value the preciousness of life
Every day in some way
We shouldn't take a single day for granted and should find ways to make every day memorable
We must always remember to play after every storm
We should find joy and positivity even in difficult times and not let hardships overcome us
All children are truly blessed
Children possess unique and valuable qualities like innocence, trust, and compassion
With the innocent gifts of gentleness, trust and compassion
These traits are valuable and important to carry with us throughout life
To guide the wisdom of the grown-ups
Children can teach and remind adults of the importance of these traits
We all have a song in our heart that inspires us in good times and hard times
We all have something that motivates and drives us, whether things are going well or not
If we take the time to listen
We need to be open and receptive to hearing that motivating force
Our senses help discover the hidden and non-hidden
Our sensory experiences can help us find the beauty and joy in life's many forms
Enchantment in life, if we use them
We need to actively engage our senses in order to fully appreciate and find meaning in life
We must carefully choose our words and wants
We need to be mindful of the impact our language and desires can have on others
Or we could forever hurt others with these dangerous weapons
Our words can be powerful, and using them carelessly can be harmful
Strength and value of all things created
The worth of things should be measured based on character and commitment rather than material possessions
Must be measured by character and commitment
The intrinsic value of objects and people comes from their virtues rather than any external factors
Rather than by might and by wealth
Strength and wealth aren't the true measure of a person's worth or the value of things
We must heed the lessons of everyday life
There are important lessons to be learned from our day-to-day experiences that we should be mindful of
Through the celebration of children and heart songs, senses and words
We can find joy and meaning in children, our own feelings and experiences, and language
Or we could lose in our journey to the future
If we don't value and learn from these experiences, we risk losing our way as we move forward
A person by my name and being existed
The author of this song is a unique and significant individual
With a strong spirit and an eternal mindset
The author has a resilient and persevering nature, with an outlook focused on the long term
To become a peacemaker for all
The author aspires to make a positive impact on the world by promoting peace
By sharing the things that really matter
The author believes that sharing important ideas and values can help make the world a better place
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANGELA LAUER, MATTIE STEPANEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind