Ca… Read Full Bio ↴“Turn the page because where we are is not where we’re going...”
Canadian-born singer/songwriter Matt Brouwer’s latest single, 'Waking Up', is more than just a nod to the past 14 years of being a recording artist, which Brouwer is celebrating on the release of his first career spanning ‘best of’ collection, "Writing To Remember". The sentiment of a bookend and a new beginning is no accident and reveals a season of transition that Brouwer is happily embracing. With more than a decade of hit songs, including “Water,” “I Shall Believe,” “Tonight,” and the Top 20 "Sometimes”; two GMA Canada Covenant Awards; two Canadian people’s choice Vibe Awards—not to mention a 2010 Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy equivalent) for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the year—Matt has a lot to celebrate in all that has been accomplished so far over the course of his career. With the passage of time inevitably comes change and it is in looking back that Matt is starting to see a new and exciting road ahead.
Matt Brouwer got his start in the music industry while studying music at school in Alberta, Canada. While in college he and fellow students founded the band Monday Night Worship (MNW). Because of the spiritual content of his lyrics he was 'discovered' by a Nashville record company in 2000, and in 2001 recorded his solo debut CD "Imagerical". The album was released on May 29, 2001 on Reunion Records. He then formed his own label called Black Shoe Records and released an album titled 'Unlearning' in 2005, 'Where’s Our Revolution' (Universal) in 2009, and 'Till The Sunrise' in 2012. Brouwer's music has been hailed for its relentless vulnerability as he shares his life's story of tragedy (the tragic death of his father) and hope (his Spiritual pilgrimage) with his listeners.
“I never imagined where this journey would take me”, says Brouwer. “I can remember being 17 or 18 and feeling so compelled to want to shout from the rooftops about the Spiritual awakening I was experiencing. It was like being embraced by the most incredible love and connection to the Lord and the key to unlocking this door to my heart was through music. I was so hungry for that and totally committed and determined to follow it wherever it might lead me. My time in college and the friends I made there, the energy that was driving us, or driving me, to write songs and attempt to share them with the world felt like a humble but passionate expression of a new but relevant faith that was growing like a wildfire at the time. Fifteen years or so later, I still feel that longing. With all the miles travelled and water under the bridge, I still sit down in front or a piano or with a guitar and dream about what could be possible. I believe in the power of God’s love, transforming hearts through music and worship because I’ve experienced it and I’ve seen it happen in sometimes subtle and not so subtle ways. It’s something I believe I’ll be pursuing my entire life.”
That’s not to say that Brouwer believes that all anyone needs to find peace in life is a three minute pop song to solve all of their problems. Growing up in a very devout Christian family, Matt’s mom made sure that he and his siblings were memorizing full chapters of scripture by the time they started kindergarten and spending as much or more time during the week at church gatherings than in front of the tv or devouring any type of pop culture media. “I used to feel embarrassed by how sheltered we were, but now I am so thankful because it gave me an incredible foundation of solid teaching and an education in Biblical theology. But knowledge alone is pretty useless until it makes an emotional connection somehow and finds it’s way into your heart. For me, the music is what connected the two.”
Like so many new beginnings, much of the genesis for this fresh optimism happened when Hannah entered Matt’s life. The two first met while Matt was on a mission trip in Guatemala, where Hannah’s parents serve as medical missionaries. The relationship blossomed and they were engaged in spring 2010 and married later that year. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in September of 2013 and life forever changed. The balance of career and family has been a stretch at times, but it’s something Matt says he is learning to embrace and explore. “It might sounds strange, but I’ve never been less interested in pursuing a music career. Being married and having a family has re-oriented my priorities completely and the career things that used to be so important to me have become less so. In that way it’s been very freeing and has forced me to let go of control and allowed my steps to be directed by opportunities that the Lord brings our way rather than striving and trying to ‘make it’. If ten or ten million people are listening, it really doesn’t matter. Being a great husband, father, and friend are much more important to me right now than striving for some big career that takes me away from these precious gifts of family and community.”
Community and camaraderie has become increasingly more important to the singer and one listen to 'Writing to Remember' reveals this collaborative spirit that is a hallmark of Matt’s musical pallet. Those lending their vocal talents include JJ Heller, Jill Paquette, and even Vince Gill and Amy Grant on a deeply personal and emotional track, 'The Other Side'. 'Writing to Remember' is equally saturated with a spirit of hope, togetherness, and God’s love. The album beautifully bookends this first chapter with a nod to the next waiting to unfold. “These 15 songs truly represent the progression of learning for me and express the joys and struggles of life that has been lived these past 14 years”, says Matt. “It’s been cool to re-discover how relevant these simple truths still are in my life and I believe for all of us.”
All The Way
Matt Brouwer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the way, all the way back again
Like a lonely river running to the sea
All the way, all the way back again
All the way back home
To a place of rest for every weary soul
All the way back home
I can't make it on my own
There's a dark cloud over every step I take
Like a sickness that the body just can't shake
There's a thirst that my addictions cannot quell
So lead me on and out
Of where I'm prone to dwell
All the way back home
To a place of rest for every weary soul
All the way back home
Come and save me
I can't make it on my own
There's a burning fire just behind the eyes
Of the seeking who awake to recognize
That it's a long and winding road to kingdom come
On the way, Father thy will be done
All the way back home
To a place of rest for every weary soul
All the way back home
Come and save me
I can't make it on my own
Come and save me
I can't make it on my own
Come and save me
I can't make it on my own
The song "All The Way" by Matt Brouwer reflects on the journey of coming back to one's true home, both physically and spiritually. The lyrics speak of feeling lost and disconnected from oneself and the world, and the yearning for a place of rest and belonging.
The opening lines "All the way is where I hear you calling me, all the way, all the way back again" indicate that the singer is being called back to a familiar place or a state of being. The metaphor of a river flowing to the sea suggests that this journey is natural and inevitable, just as a river flows to its destination. The line "Like a lonely river running to the sea" underscores the sense of loneliness and isolation that the singer feels.
The second verse explores the struggles and obstacles that the singer encounters on their path back home. The "dark cloud" and "sickness" indicate emotional and mental turmoil, while the "thirst" implies a deeper spiritual longing. The chorus repeats the desire to find peace and salvation, admitting that "I can't make it on my own." The final verse acknowledges that the journey home is a long and difficult one, but concludes with a hope and a prayer: "On the way, Father thy will be done."
Overall, the song is a contemplative reflection on the human condition and the search for meaning and purpose, and the need for divine guidance and support.
Line by Line Meaning
All the way is where I hear you calling me
I feel your presence strongly and unmistakably, leading me forward.
All the way, all the way back again
The path I'm on is circular, and after making it all the way, I'll return to where I started.
Like a lonely river running to the sea
My journey is solitary like a river flowing to the vast, open ocean.
All the way, all the way back again
I'll circle around and come back to where I started, having gone through a transformative experience.
All the way back home
The ultimate destination of my journey is a metaphorical home where every weary soul can find rest.
To a place of rest for every weary soul
I seek respite and rejuvenation in a peaceful place where I can recharge my spirit.
Come and save me
I'm in need of help, and I'm reaching out for salvation from a higher power.
I can’t make it on my own
I'm acknowledging that I'm unable to navigate this journey alone and need help from a divine source.
There’s a dark cloud over every step I take
I feel under a cloud, experiencing difficulties at every turn as I progress.
Like a sickness that the body just can’t shake
The feeling of being weighed down is so persistent that it's akin to an illness.
There’s a thirst that my addictions cannot quell
My habits and compulsions aren't enough to satisfy the longing I feel.
So lead me on and out
I need guidance and a way out of my current situation.
Of where I’m prone to dwell
I recognize that I have a tendency to remain in unhealthy patterns or thought processes.
There’s a burning fire just behind the eyes
A fierce passion and drive are present within me, visible in my gaze.
Of the seeking who awake to recognize
Those who seek change wake up to reality and begin recognizing that they need to do something more.
That it’s a long and winding road to kingdom come
The path to the ultimate goal is complex and full of twists and turns.
On the way, Father thy will be done
I'm submitting to a higher power's will and plan as I traverse this difficult path.
Come and save me
Once again, I'm asking for divine assistance.
I can’t make it on my own
I'm reiterating that I need help and am incapable of doing this alone.
Lyrics © Unlearning Music Pub.
Written by: Matt Brouwer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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