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.”
The Promise
Cindy Morgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The man will leave, the boy will cry
To stand out in his freedom
But his freedom hasn't freed him
And they spoke in faith they prayed their vows
But her broken face is longing now
What about the promise that we made
Wonder what he's thinking of?
The promise, the promise
That we made
The longing heart, the searching soul
Will search and never find a home
'Til Jesus comes and takes control
And He takes the promises that you left behind
And He resurrects the dead to life
But you can run but you can't hide from your life
(chorus)
Well I know that your heart is aching now
But just let it go and let God turn it
Turn it all around, yeah
Oh, the promise
Oh, the promise
Oh, the promise
That we made
In Cindy Morgan's song "The Promise," the lyrics describe the struggle of a broken relationship. The man leaves without showing any emotion, causing the young boy to cry. The singer stands out in their freedom, but their freedom has not freed them from the longing and pain they feel. The parents spoke in faith and made their vows, but the mother's face is now filled with sadness and longing.
The second verse speaks about the longing and searching that takes place in one's heart and soul, never finding a true home until Jesus takes control. It addresses the promises that were left behind and how Jesus can bring them back to life, but there is no running from the truth of one's life.
Overall, the song speaks to the pain of broken promises and relationships, and how only through turning to God can one find true healing and restoration.
Line by Line Meaning
He walked away and didn't smile
The man left without expressing happiness or contentment
The man will leave, the boy will cry
When the man departs, the boy will weep
To stand out in his freedom
He desired to be recognized for his liberty
But his freedom hasn't freed him
However, despite his newfound independence, he remains constrained and troubled
And they spoke in faith they prayed their vows
They spoke their promises with conviction and prayed for success
But her broken face is longing now
She yearns for the assurances made, even though her face displays visible pain
What about the promise that we made
What happened to our pledge?
And the vows we freely made before God
And the pledges we willingly made in front of God
Wonder what he's thinking of?
I wonder what is going through his mind
The promise, the promise
The promise we made
That we made
The pledge we made
The longing heart, the searching soul
Aching hearts and seeking souls
Will search and never find a home
They will look without discovering a sense of belonging
'Til Jesus comes and takes control
Until Jesus assumes command
And He takes the promises that you left behind
Jesus will assume the promises you abandoned.
And He resurrects the dead to life
And He breathes life into the dead
But you can run but you can't hide from your life
You may flee, but you can't escape your fate
Well I know that your heart is aching now
I know that your heart is pained at present
But just let it go and let God turn it
However, relinquish it and allow God to transform it
Turn it all around, yeah
Completely overturn it
Oh, the promise
Oh, the promise
Oh, the promise
Oh, the promise
Oh, the promise
Oh, the promise
That we made
The pledge we made
Contributed by Dylan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jennifer-Crystal Johnson
I don't do Christian music, but your music has always touched me. <3 Thank you.
mrm6464
This sounds great!! Go Cindy! I wish she still made songs
jmckasyru
mrm64, Cindy Morgan still records and writes music. She even has a YouTube channel now called "On the Porch with Cindy Morgan." However, she mostly records original bluegrass songs and a few covers in that same style. It's definitely a lot different kind of music, but her songs still have Christian lyrics and messages. I understand that she has written and still writes for other artists. I'd like to see a list of songs that she's written. Occasionally, I'll listen to some old CCM song and discover that she either wrote or co-wrote the song. She's still definitely talented.
Vincent Stevenson
been looking for this song for 20 years! Found it again And I still love it!
kd2kaydee yup
love this entire album
Kari On
such a healing song...thank you
Maureen Myers Koeppel
I love this album so much, especially Will You Be There With Me, my only gripe is the song is too short.
Kris Bland
This entire album is soooo money!
Kevin Bland
Great Song writing supposedly about a friend of hers who made a pass at her even though he was married to one of her best friends.