Waddell began singing at the age of three in her home church, Truth Temple of (Kannapolis, North Carolina). She, along with her brother and cousin, eventually became involved with the church's daily program on Charlotte TV station WAXN.
Waddell turned down a scholarship from Belmont University in Nashville Tennessee to pursue a full-time music career, she felt that God called her to not go to college but to concentrate on music instead In 2004 she signed a management deal with Vertical Entertainment and then signed a development - dealing with Word Records Sparrow Records signed her in 2006 and her first album Say It was released May 22, 2007 Britt Nicole was committed to the Winter Jam Tour with Sanctus Real, Hawk Nelson Jeremy Camp and Steven Curtis Chapman Newsong [1]
A native of Salisbury, NC, Britt has always had a heart for reaching people and has long used music as the vehicle to change lives. She began singing in church at age three and by the time she was in high school, was appearing on her church’s daily television program and logged a performance at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall with her school’s advanced chorus.
Those early pursuits paved the way for her to sign with Sparrow Records in 2006. She burst on the charts a year later with her label debut, “Say It,” a finely crafted pop collection that introduced us to her engaging voice and thought-provoking lyrics. It earned her a slot on the Winter Jam tour that year with Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, NewSong and Hawk Nelson where she developed a reputation as a compelling live performer.
It was a whirlwind existence that found her looking to meet the needs of those around her—whether it was a girl in a youth group who needed someone to pray with or a parent seeking advice on their troubled teen. Her servant’s heart and earnest desire to fill others up soon left Britt herself feeling empty. It all caught up with her at an Alabama youth conference called The Ramp. “I went with my youth group as a youth leader to support and pray for them, but near the end of the event, I was kind of worn out and I began saying ‘Okay God, I just really need You to come and do something in my life,’” Britt recalls. She got her answer as she was driving back to Nashville.
“I just felt different. I felt like the old me was gone and God had started to show me who I really was and what I was called to do,” Britt says. “As I was driving home from the conference, everywhere I would stop, whether at a gas station or a restaurant, God was challenging me to step out and tell people about Him and His love for them. There are so many hurting and broken people around us each day and God was showing me the importance of reaching out to them just as He would. In the past, I have often let the fear of people and their opinions stop me from being who I am. At the core though, I know who I am and who God has called me to be. In letting go of my past, I was able to move forward, and instead of focusing on all my mistakes and failures, I started focusing on those around me. That’s ultimately why I’m here, to worship God and to reach those who need to know Him.”
After that experience, she wrote songs for the new album that included “The Lost Get Found,” “Walk on the Water,” and “Safe.” Britt continues to explain that, “They all have a similar message of having the courage to step out in faith and walk in what God has called you to do even when it’s scary. I don’t want to be selfish anymore. I don’t want to be safe anymore. When God tells me to step out and talk to somebody or believe for what seems impossible, I want to do it.”
The new album combines compelling lyrics with catchy pop songs that linger in your head such as the funky “How We Roll” and the infectious groove of “Headphones.” “When I write songs, I often write to specific people,” she reveals. “The first verse of ‘Headphones’ was written to a girl that I know. She’s in middle school dealing with the pressure of fitting in. I wanted to remind her that she does not have to look or be like anyone else because God loves her and made her just the way she is. Sometimes it is hard to stand out and sometimes you feel alone when you do, but I know she is being a light to so many and that’s what matters.”
“Feel the Light” is another song that was written for a specific friend of hers who had faced several difficult things as a child. “She was hiding all of her pain and had never told anyone what she was going through,” shares Britt. “Sometimes it’s easier to hide our fears, our struggles, and things that have happened to us in our past rather than talk about them. A lot of kids I meet feel they have no one to talk to who will understand, but God promises us that when we bring everything into His light, He will heal us and we will be free.” One of her favorite lines in the song is “you’re a queen, but you’ve never known it.” She explains that, “The important thing to remember is that your past does not define who you are. We all go through hard things, but it is our choice to decide how we deal with them. The song simply says, ‘Let go and feel the light.’”
One of the most personal songs on the new record is “Have Your Way”. “I was thinking about my brother when I wrote the song, but when I sang it in the studio, it somehow hit even closer to home,” says Britt. “I was also reminded of Job in the Bible when I wrote the lyrics. He went through so many things and everything was taken from him, but at the end of it all, he still fell to his knees and worshiped God and never turned his back on Him. He just said, ‘God have Your way, whatever You want.’ I want to be like that.” Through Britt’s achingly vulnerable vocals, you can sense the more personal nature of the song as she sings, “you never said the road would be easy, but you said you would never leave.” “The night I sang it in the studio, I sang it laying down,” says Britt. “I’ve never sung a vocal like that. I always sing standing up in a vocal booth, which makes it feel more like a performance. When I’m praying or just spending time with God, I’m usually on the floor so it just naturally felt more like I was singing to God.”
In listening to Britt Nicole’s music, it’s obvious she possesses wisdom beyond her years and a spiritual maturity not often seen in one so young. Yet she’s very much the playful girl next door and those equally intriguing sides of her personality merge seamlessly on “The Lost Get Found.”
“My fans want a pop record,” she says wistfully. “I’m a pop artist and they love fun music. When they come to my concerts, they want to have fun and I love that. That’s in my personality to have fun, but the heart of who I am is to worship and to see people’s lives changed and to reach those who are hurting. It’s what I believe God has called me to do.”
Salisbury, North Carolina, United States2007
Who You Say You Are
Britt Nicole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know my name
I know you wrote my story
But there are days, I can't see a happy ending
No, no
Life get's hard
It's kicking me down and throwing me curves
When I feel the rain
I won't be afraid
'Cause I know, I know, I know you are who you say you are
Who you say you are
You are the one still standin' when everything is fallin' apart
Yeah, you got my heart
I'll still be smilin' when the sky is dark
'Cause I believe that you are who you say you are
You're who you say you are
Yeah, yeah
I've had control
But I didn't know where, I was going
Yeah, yeah
I went down my road
But my road just left me broken, yeah yeah
I see it all now
I don't know how
But there's never been a time that you let me down
Or walked away, so I'm not afraid
'Cause I know, I know, I know you are who you say you are
Who you say you are
You are the one still standin' when everything is fallin' apart
Yeah, you got my heart
I'll still be smilin' when the sky is dark
'Cause I believe that you are who you say you are
Life's gonna knock me down
It's not gonna keep me down
I'm gonna trust you now, in every season
I know you're here
I know you're for me
I know that joy comes in the morning
God, I believe it now
God, I believe you now
You're who you say you are
When life knocks me down
I won't stay down
I'll get back up on my feet now
You're more than a conqueror
I know, I know, I know you are who you say you are
Who you say you are
You are the one still standin' when everything is fallin' apart
Yeah, you got my heart
I'll still be smilin' when the sky is dark
'Cause I believe that you are who you say you are
Who you say you are
Who you say you are
You're who you say you are
Who you say you are
I know you are, who you say you are
Who you say you are
You're who you say you are
The song "You" by Britt Nicole conveys a message of hope and faith in God during difficult times. In the verses, the singer acknowledges the challenges of life and the feeling of being lost, but she trusts in God and believes that He is always there, guiding her and holding her up. The chorus repeats the message that she knows God is who He says He is, and she finds comfort in the fact that He is always standing with her, even when everything else falls apart.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of surrender and letting go of control, as the singer admits that she didn't know where she was going when she was in control, and that her own road left her broken. However, she has now found peace in trusting God and acknowledging that His plan for her life is greater than anything she could have come up with on her own.
Overall, the song provides a message of encouragement and reassurance that there is always hope even in the darkest of times, and that God is a constant presence in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah
Expressing agreement with what has been said or acknowledging what has been done
You know my name
You are aware of who I am and what I represent
I know you wrote my story
I believe that you have a plan for my life and that you have already designed it
But there are days, I can't see a happy ending
Even though I trust in your plan, there are times when I struggle to envision a positive outcome
No, no
Expressing disagreement with what has been said or denying what has been done
Life get's hard
Life becomes difficult and challenging at times
Sometimes it just hurts
Occasionally, situations cause emotional and physical pain
It's kicking me down and throwing me curves
Life is continuously challenging me, and I am struggling to cope
When I feel the rain
During the stormy moments in life
I won't be afraid
I have faith that things will get better in the end
'Cause I know, I know, I know you are who you say you are
I am confident that you are exactly who you claim to be
Who you say you are
Your promises and characteristics are unchanging
You are the one still standin' when everything is fallin' apart
You remain steadfast and unchanging even when everything else is chaotic
Yeah, you got my heart
You have captured my heart with your faithfulness and love
I'll still be smilin' when the sky is dark
I choose to have joy even in the midst of difficult circumstances
'Cause I believe that you are who you say you are
My unwavering belief in you and your promises
I've had control
I have had the authority over my life
But I didn't know where, I was going
However, I didn't have the vision or direction for my future
I went down my road
I went down the path I thought was best for me
But my road just left me broken, yeah yeah
However, my plan resulted in me feeling shattered and hopeless
I see it all now
I now understand the greater plan for my life
I don't know how
Even though I don't know the reasoning behind it all
But there's never been a time that you let me down
You have never failed to come through for me, even in the most challenging times
Or walked away, so I'm not afraid
You have never abandoned me or left me to face situations alone, so I am not scared
Life's gonna knock me down
I know that obstacles and hardships will come my way
It's not gonna keep me down
However, I will not allow them to defeat me
I'm gonna trust you now, in every season
I will put my faith in you throughout every circumstance in my life
I know you're here
I trust that you are always present with me
I know you're for me
I believe that you are on my side and have my best interests at heart
I know that joy comes in the morning
I understand that a brighter future awaits
God, I believe it now
My newfound faith in your promises
God, I believe you now
I trust in your goodness and righteousness
You're who you say you are
I affirm that you are truthful and trustworthy
When life knocks me down
When I am faced with adversity
I won't stay down
I refuse to be defeated
I'll get back up on my feet now
I will stand tall again and persevere through the hardship
You're more than a conqueror
Through your strength and presence, I can overcome anything
Who you say you are
My faith in you as the true and ever-present God remains unwavering
I know you are, who you say you are
I am convinced that you are precisely who you claim to be
You're who you say you are
Your characteristics, traits, and promises are unchanging and reliable
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ben Glover, Britt Nicole, Daniel John Muckala
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind