The outcome is an album that represents the multiple facets of Cindy’s life as a wife, mother, and storyteller. “One of the greatest things in my life is being a mother to my two girls, Olivia and Savannah. I love seeing the world through their eyes; they teach me so much everyday and, of course, they inspire me.
Song Snapshots
‘Lay Me Down’
‘Lay Me Down’ starts off the record. “I wrote this song with my good friend and soul man Phil Madiera.” The music was inspired by the music from ‘O Brother Where Art Thou’ and came to her while gardening. “I was at our home in Canada, digging in the dirt and had my shovel out trying to break through this huge rock. I started singing this lyric based on a Psalm, Oh lay me down in your green pastures.”
‘The Sun Shines Through’
“This song like many was inspired by a few people in my life… all true stories of how we are sometimes handed a hard road and we wonder how we’ll make it through. It is so good to know that God will not leave us or forsake us, but bring about to completion the good work which He has started in us”.
Morgan has intentionally released few details about this record, preferring to keep it under wraps until just before the release date. In keeping with this path she has also decided to brave the digital frontier, releasing ‘Beautiful Bird’ exclusively in digital format through her website (cindymorganmusic.com) and iTunes, as well as, other hand picked online outlets. “The wonderful thing about doing a record like this is that you throw the rule book out the window… it really sets the creative spirit free to let each song, and the record as a whole, be what it is without boundaries that often squash the creative process.”
This record is a mix of all the musical styles Morgan has been a fan of. “It is a mix of Pop, Appalachia, Country, and Symphonic. I can’t choose the cello over the doboro so I wanted to make a record where they could live together. I am also a great admirer and pursuer of the art of writing a great country song and many of the lyrics are from that approach.” Morgan, who is a dynamic vocalist and pianist, has added to her musical quiver, the lap dulcimer. “I have written on the piano for so many years, it was great writing on different instruments. This really brings about different melodies and character of songwriting… I play the dulcimer and a little guitar.”
A songwriter's songwriter, Morgan has garnered eighteen number one hits that include ‘Listen’, ‘Praise the King’, ‘Take my life’, and ‘I Know You’; as well as Point of Grace’s recent hit ‘How You Live’. Morgan has garnered several Dove Awards and Billboard Music Video Award nominations. Her songs have been recorded by luminaries such as Michael W. Smith, Point Of Grace, Avalon, Rachael Lampa, Brit Nicole, Mandisa, The Martins, Michael English, BeBe
Winans, Sandi Patty, Jaci Velasquez, Mark Schultz, John Tesh, and Natalie Grant.
“A few years ago, I decided it was time for a rest from the road and take more seriously my desire to become a better songwriter. I decided of all places, to do this in Los Angeles. Along with my husband and our then one year old daughter, we headed to our little apartment in Burbank, California.” In Burbank, Morgan worked as a full-time songwriter in the Christian, pop, and country genres, crafting hits including Christy "It was so great to be around people who were not necessarily Christians because I recognized that their search goes on earnestly, and I felt so blessed that I knew what I believed and that I felt truth in that
belief."
Eventually, the family returned to Nashville and bought a house where they still make their home six months of the year. In this jambalaya of settings, Morgan engaged in a journey toward new self-discovery. She stretched as a wife and mother, and matured as a woman and musician. First and foremost, she drank deeply from a spiritual well and grew stronger in her faith. “Everyday is a new journey for me...I think we just keep on struggling and walking toward the path that God has set before us. I am so thankful to be here and to have a wonderful husband and two healthy children. I am so happy that I know Jesus and that He knows me and hears the prayers of my heart. I pray that whatever gifts he has given me, that I make the most of these gifts…never letting anything stand in the way of making manifest the wonderful goodness of God and the good news of what He has done for us.”
A Reason to Live
Cindy Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a picture perfect place in time
I recall it so well, in my mind
Went for a walk in the snow
Got lost in our innocence
He wore his best intentions
How grand it would be to go back
Oh, too bad, life doesn't work
'Cause you can turn back
To all the memories
But you can't turn back the clock
You can make life all it can be
But you can't make it something it's not
Oh 'cause yesterday is yesterday and
Tomorrow is still a day away
So what do you say, there's a reason to love today
I see him there
Under a starlit sky
And if moonlight was magic
He'd wander back in time
To a night just like this
When the whole world was changed
With just one kiss
There was always a sweet light in her eyes
But now he's sure she's an angel in heaven tonight
He said what I would give
Just to see her face
Oh, but life doesn't work
Oh no life doesn't work that way
'Cause you can turn back
To all the memories
But you can't turn back the clock
You can make life all it can be
But you can't make it something it's not
Oh 'cause yesterday is yesterday and
Tomorrow is still a day away
So what do you say, there's a reason to live today
Oh, Savior in heaven
You are the music
That moves us to dance
The love, that leaves nothin
Nothing to chance
Oh-oh nothing to chance
Don't you know that
Yesterday is yesterday and
Tomorrow is still a day away
So what do you say, there's a reason to live
A reason to live today
The song "A Reason to Live" by Cindy Morgan is a reminder to cherish the present moment and find joy in the present, despite the inevitable passing of time. The lyrics describe a nostalgic reminiscence of a moment in the past, where everything seemed perfect and innocent. The artist remembers walking in the snow with someone special, who was wearing his "best intentions" and the feeling of not wanting that moment to end. However, the artist acknowledges that life doesn't work like that, and time cannot be turned back. The chorus emphasizes the importance of living in the moment and finding a reason to love and live today, even though yesterday is gone and tomorrow is yet to come. The song ends with a hopeful and grateful acknowledgement of a higher power that brings meaning and purpose to life.
Line by Line Meaning
How fragile, how frail
Life is fragile and can be easily broken or destroyed.
What a picture perfect place in time
The memory being recalled was a perfect moment in time.
I recall it so well, in my mind
The memory being recalled is still vivid in the songwriter's mind.
Went for a walk in the snow
The memory being recalled involves a walk in the snow.
Got lost in our innocence
The memory being recalled involves a time when the songwriter and another person were innocent and carefree.
He wore his best intentions
The other person being recalled had good intentions.
How grand it would be to go back
The songwriter wishes they could go back to that perfect moment in time.
Oh, too bad, life doesn't work
Unfortunately, life doesn't allow us to go back in time and relive perfect moments.
Oh no life doesn't word like that
Life doesn't work that way; we can't go back in time.
Cause you can turn back
Although we can't go back in time, we can still remember those perfect moments.
To all the memories
We can turn back to our memories of those perfect moments.
But you can't turn back the clock
We can only remember those perfect moments, we can't actually go back in time and relive them.
You can make life all it can be
We have the ability to make the most of our lives.
But you can't make it something it's not
We can't force our lives to be something they're not; we have to accept them as they are.
Oh 'cause yesterday is yesterday and
The past is over and can't be changed.
Tomorrow is still a day away
The future is unknown and can't be predicted or controlled.
So what do you say, there's a reason to love today
Despite the limitations of the past and future, there's still a reason to find joy and love in the present.
I see him there
The songwriter sees the other person being recalled in their mind.
Under a starlit sky
The memory being recalled involves a starry night sky.
And if moonlight was magic
Moonlight is being used as a metaphor for something special and almost mystical.
He'd wander back in time
The other person being recalled wishes they could go back in time as well.
To a night just like this
The memory being recalled involves a specific night in the past.
When the whole world was changed
The memory being recalled was a moment when everything seemed different and special.
With just one kiss
The memory being recalled involves a significant and possibly romantic gesture.
There was always a sweet light in her eyes
The other person being recalled always had a special light about them.
But now he's sure she's an angel in heaven tonight
The other person being recalled has passed away and is now in heaven.
He said what I would give
The other person being recalled is speaking about what they would give to see the person who passed away again.
Just to see her face
They specifically want to see the person's face again.
Oh, but life doesn't work
Unfortunately, life doesn't allow us to bring back those who have passed away.
Oh no life doesn't work that way
Life doesn't work the way we want it to sometimes.
Oh, Savior in heaven
The songwriter is calling out to a higher power for help and guidance.
You are the music
The higher power being called out to is like a beautiful melody or song.
That moves us to dance
The higher power being called out to inspires us to move and take action in our lives.
The love, that leaves nothin
The love that comes from the higher power is pure and doesn't leave anything out.
Nothing to chance
The love from the higher power is reliable and not subject to random chance or luck.
Don't you know that
The songwriter wants to emphasize a point or idea that they believe is important.
So what do you say, there's a reason to live
Despite the challenges and limitations of life, there's always a reason to keep going and find joy in the present.
A reason to live today
We should focus on finding reasons to live right now, in the present moment.
Contributed by Luke I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gretchen Wright
Cindy Morgan is one of my favorite artists!!! Love her music
Mark Westphal
Love Cindy Morgan Music 🎶 🎵
bobingi
Majestic music....if only we had known.
Deby Cedars
Known what???
Collins Lukaho
very underated