Mallary Hope grew up singing in her father's church in little Cohutta, Ga. At age 9 she traveled with her family to Nashville and talked her way on stage at The Nashville Palace to sing "Unchained Melody" and "Daddy's Hands." She formed her first band when she was just 12 years old. She wrote her first song when she was 15. She sang it at a talent competition, won first prize and subsequently made her first CD single and music video. By the time she was a sophomore in high school, she was performing 150 shows a year. Her determination was so intense that her entire family pulled up stakes to move to Music City when she was 17 in order for her to pursue her dream full-time. She finished her education as a home-schooled student while in the process of signing a song-publishing contract and recording more than 500 "demos" as a Music Row session singer. At 21, she signed with MCA Records, which released her debut single, "Love Lives On," in 2009. The song is told from the point of view of a widow with a child, missing the man she loves. The lyric sprang from a conversation that she had with her older sister. Hope's brother-in-law is in the Army and was deployed to Iraq on Aug. 3, 2009.
NOW
Mallary Hope Lyrics
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This is not the road I had in mind in front of me
Don't see the reason, and sometimes I'm scared
But I know you're leading, even when I don't know whereSo I'll put one foot in front of the other
Take one breath and then take another
Lead the way, God, I'm gonna follow you
'Cause you're faithful every moment
You've never led me wrong, never let go
Your love is strong and your arms still hold me
Right here to forever
Like a child and like a treasure
From the start to the end, through the ups and downs
You were with me then, and you're with me now
What should I fear, you're on my side
And there's not a mountain you tell me that I can't climb
No matter the struggle, no matter the weight
With you I can handle anything
Cause you're faithful every moment
When it's easy, when it isn't
You've never led me wrong, never let go
Your love is strong and your arms still hold me
Right here to forever
Like a child and like a treasure
From the start to the end, through the ups and downs
You were with me then, and you're with me now
Like a light that will not fade
Shining bright always
I'll put one foot in front of the other
Take one breath and then take another
Lead the way, God, I'm gonna follow you
Cause you're faithful every moment
When it's easy, when it isn't
You've never led me wrong, never let go
Your love is strong and your arms still hold me
Right here to forever
Like a child and like a treasure
From the start to the end, through the ups and downs
You were with me then, and you're with me now
Mallary Hope's "Now" is an introspective track full of inspiration and hope even in the midst of sad and challenging situations. The song's lyrics tell a story of a person who finds themselves in a place they never expected to be and don't know what the future holds. But they have faith in God, knowing that He is leading them even when they can't see the way ahead. The chorus repeats the idea of God's faithfulness, and that even in the difficult moments and challenges of life, His love is strong enough to hold and sustain us.
The verses of the song focus on the singer's feelings of uncertainty and fear, but also their willingness to trust in God's plan for their life. The lines "What should I fear, you're on my side / And there's not a mountain you tell me that I can't climb" show a belief that with God, all things are possible. The song's bridge is a declaration of faith and trust in God, likening His love to an eternal, unchanging light that will always shine.
Overall, "Now" is a deeply personal song about faith, hope, and trust in God, even when life is difficult and things don't make sense. It encourages listeners to stay strong and keep moving forward, putting one foot in front of the other, and following God's lead.
Line by Line Meaning
This is not the place I thought I'd be
I am not where I expected to be in life.
This is not the road I had in mind in front of me
My path looks different than I anticipated.
Don't see the reason, and sometimes I'm scared
I don't always understand why things happen and it can be frightening.
But I know you're leading, even when I don't know where
I have faith that God is guiding me, even when I don't know the destination.
So I'll put one foot in front of the other
I will keep moving forward, even if it's just one step at a time.
Take one breath and then take another
I will take deep breaths to calm myself and keep going.
Lead the way, God, I'm gonna follow you
I trust in God to guide me and I will follow wherever He leads.
'Cause you're faithful every moment
God is always faithful and trustworthy, no matter the circumstances.
When it's easy, when it isn't
God is faithful in good times and bad times.
You've never led me wrong, never let go
God has always been with me and has never abandoned me.
Your love is strong and your arms still hold me
God's love surrounds and supports me.
Right here to forever
God's love and support is never-ending.
Like a child and like a treasure
God sees me as precious and valuable.
From the start to the end, through the ups and downs
God has been with me through all of life's experiences.
You were with me then, and you're with me now
God is always present, no matter the circumstance.
What should I fear, you're on my side
I have no reason to fear because God is on my side.
And there's not a mountain you tell me that I can't climb
With God's help, I can overcome any obstacle.
No matter the struggle, no matter the weight
God is with me through all difficulties and challenges.
With you I can handle anything
I am capable of overcoming any challenge with God's help.
Like a light that will not fade
God's love and guidance is constant and unwavering.
Shining bright always
God's love and guidance is a constant presence in my life.
Writer(s): Dokke Mallary Hope, Hope Mallary
Contributed by Julian Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.