Heart Of The Matter
Bob Bennett Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

HEART OF THE MATTER
W/M: Bob Bennett

I'm just a man
In a world full of men just like me
With a heart full of questions and answers
That seem to be somewhat connected
And a head full of preconceived notions
That manage to get in the way

And I find myself longing to return
Back to the place where I started
Back when I knew next to nothing
Back to the heart
Back to the heart of the matter
To the heart of the matter

Hearts alternate
Between tears and rage
A short journey through the human zoo
In this mortal cage
Words, like weapons
Ask no questions as they kill
People, wounded
Once dancing, now they're standing still

And all these things I can't explain
They keep on running 'round my brain
And drive me deep, deep to heart
To the heart of the matter

Lamb to the slaughter
Well aware of the consequence
Saving fallen men
Living and dying in this present tense

So many things I can't explain
They lose and confuse me again and again
They drive me deep, deep to the heart
To the heart of the matter

A light shining in this heart of darkness
A new beginning and a miracle
Day by day the integration
Of the concrete and the spiritual

You can show me your sales curves
Plot my life on a flow chart
You can count up your converts
And miss where it all starts
You can show me your sales curves
There's just some things that numbers can't measure
These fragile pieces of priceless treasure
There's just some things that numbers can't measure




In matters of the heart
Matters of the heart

Overall Meaning

In the song "Heart of the Matter," Bob Bennett explores the inner workings of the human heart and mind. He acknowledges that he is just a man amongst many others, grappling with questions about life and trying to sort through the preconceptions that often cloud our understanding of the world. Bennett longs to return to a simpler time when he knew less, but that sentiment is soon followed by the realization that the heart of the matter is a complex, often bewildering place. He talks about the conflicting emotions of tears and rage that plague us in our journey through life, and how words can be like weapons that wound and kill. Despite the confusion and turmoil, Bennett finds hope in the integration of the concrete and spiritual, as well as the knowledge that there are some things that numbers simply cannot measure.


Bennett's lyrics speak to the complexities of the human heart and mind, the struggles we all face in trying to make sense of things and find meaning in our lives. The song is a poignant reminder that, in the end, what truly matters are matters of the heart—the intangible things like faith, hope, love, and compassion that bring us together and make life worth living.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm just a man
I'm an ordinary human being


In a world full of men just like me
I'm not special, there are many others like me


With a heart full of questions and answers
I have both questions and answers in my heart


That seem to be somewhat connected
These questions and answers are related in some way


And a head full of preconceived notions
I have many pre-existing ideas and beliefs


That manage to get in the way
These beliefs often hinder me


And I find myself longing to return
I wish to go back


Back to the place where I started
To where I began


Back when I knew next to nothing
To a time when I was ignorant


Back to the heart
To the core


Back to the heart of the matter
To the central issue


To the heart of the matter
To the heart of the issue


Hearts alternate
Our emotions fluctuate


Between tears and rage
From sadness to anger


A short journey through the human zoo
Life is a brief experience among all kinds of people


In this mortal cage
Our bodies are finite and fragile


Words, like weapons
Words can be used to hurt


Ask no questions as they kill
Words may not be challenged as their harm is done


People, wounded
Those hurt by words are affected


Once dancing, now they're standing still
Those who were happy are now immobile


And all these things I can't explain
I don't understand some things


They keep on running 'round my brain
These things consume my thoughts


And drive me deep, deep to heart
They force me to explore my emotions


To the heart of the matter
To the crux of the situation


Lamb to the slaughter
A passive victim of a harrowing experience


Well aware of the consequence
Knowing the outcome


Saving fallen men
Helping those in need


Living and dying in this present tense
Experiencing life in the here and now


So many things I can't explain
There are many more things I don't understand


They lose and confuse me again and again
These things continue to bewilder me


They drive me deep, deep to the heart
They force me to look within myself


To the heart of the matter
To the essence of the situation


A light shining in this heart of darkness
Hope in a bleak situation


A new beginning and a miracle
A fresh start and something unexpected


Day by day the integration
Slowly combining


Of the concrete and the spiritual
Physical and non-physical aspects


You can show me your sales curves
You can demonstrate financial success


Plot my life on a flow chart
Analyzing my life systematically


You can count up your converts
You can tally your followers


And miss where it all starts
But ignore the initial motivation


You can show me your sales curves
You can exhibit your financial gains


There's just some things that numbers can't measure
Some things can't be quantified


These fragile pieces of priceless treasure
These invaluable items


There's just some things that numbers can't measure
Some things elude quantification


In matters of the heart
In emotional concerns


Matters of the heart
Affairs of the emotions




Contributed by Jordyn F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@steveholloway9939

Wow! I had forgotten how truly special this wonderful Godly artist is and how much of Christian influence he had on me!!! Thank you Bob! :)

@BobBennettMusic

Steve ... Thank you for such an encouragement. Almost thirty-nine years down the road from this video and I’m still at it! Thanks for listening. Bob.

@lelasart

I agree -- I remember seeing you in concert in the early 80s most likely - I got radically saved in 1980 - I was blown away at the concert - I think Amy Grant came on after and I couldn't care less after hearing your beautiful music

@deniseforbes3687

Love Bob ❤️ This my favorite all time song.

@AaronBosley66

Such talent. Hard to find music this deep today. I need a time machine to go back. I’m so grateful for his music.

@jimchumley7907

Bosley: The so called gospel industry is just that, a huge wealthy industry and nothing more. Bob broke that mold so many yrs ago and remains faithful to carrying the torch of truth. What an outstanding prolific writer. THE BEST IN MY OPINION.

@LianaPalooza

Still one of the most amazing singers I've ever laid ears on.

@jimchumley7907

LI WE; YES and no other like him and such a very deep prolific writer. I saw Bob Bennett when he was very young in 1985. Awesome warm person. Me and my best friend got at our church where Bob Bennett was playing and actually got to talk to him for a length of time before the show when he was tuning and warming up. Such a pleasant sweet fellowship we had. Awesome musician and in my opinion the very best overall.

@carolgurvich9649

We love you Bob! We never get tired of your music!

@chickenwretch

This is as credible and inspired as anything secular minstrels have done in the same genre...a near perfect album that remains timeless and thoughtful.

More Comments

More Versions