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.”
Everlasting
Matt Brouwer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To deserve the love I've found in You
There is nothing I could say
Nothing I could say to be worthy
If I rise upon the wings of the dawn
If I settle in the depths of the sea
Even there your light will shine
There your hand will guide
Search my heart O God
And know my anxious thoughts
And lead me in the way everlasting, everlasting
There are times when I have turned away
Lost sight of what you've done for me
Still you never let me go
Your love has taken hold,
You surround me, surround me
Search my heart O God
And know my anxious thoughts
And lead me in the way everlasting, everlasting
And I will follow, I will follow, I will follow you
In the way everlasting
Search my heart O God
And know my anxious thoughts
And lead me in the way everlasting
Search my heart O God
And know my anxious thoughts
And lead me in the way everlasting, everlasting
And I will follow, I will follow, I will follow You
In the way everlasting
The lyrics of "Everlasting" by Matt Brouwer convey a sense of humility and awe towards the love and guidance of God. The first stanza highlights the singer's realization of their unworthiness to receive God's love, but also acknowledges that it is freely given. The second stanza reflects the acknowledgement that the singer has strayed in the past, but God's unwavering love and guidance have kept them close. The repetition of the line "search my heart O God and know my anxious thoughts" serves as a plea for God to keep leading the singer on the right path.
The chorus emphasizes the central idea of the song - that God's guidance leads to everlasting life. The repetition of "everlasting" underscores the importance of the singer's relationship with God and the hope that it provides. The final repetition of "I will follow you in the way everlasting" cements this commitment to follow God's guidance.
Overall, the lyrics of "Everlasting" convey a deep sense of faith and gratitude towards God for His unending love and guidance.
Line by Line Meaning
There is nothing I could ever do
I am aware that there is nothing I could ever do to deserve Your love.
To deserve the love I’ve found in You
I have found Your love, which is unconditional and beyond what I deserve.
There is nothing I could say
Even my words cannot convey the gratitude I have for You.
Nothing I could say to be worthy
I can never be worthy of the love You have shown me.
If I rise upon the wings of the dawn
Even if I achieve great things or position, Your love still shines on me.
If I settle in the depths of the sea
Even if I am in the darkest or loneliest place, You are still guiding me.
Even there your light will shine
Your love never fades, no matter where I am.
There your hand will guide
You are always there to guide me, even in the toughest times.
You will find me, find me
No matter where I am, You will find me and lead me back to You.
Search my heart O God
I ask You to search deep into my heart.
And know my anxious thoughts
Please understand my deepest fears, doubts, and worries.
And lead me in the way everlasting, everlasting
Guide me to Your way of living, which is everlasting.
There are times when I have turned away
I have made mistakes and turned away from You.
Lost sight of what you’ve done for me
Sometimes I forget all the wonderful things You have done for me.
Still you never let me go
Despite my failures, You never abandon me.
Your love has taken hold,
Your love has rooted deep within me.
You surround me, surround me
You are always around me, protecting me with Your love.
And I will follow, I will follow, I will follow you
I will always follow You, no matter what.
And I will follow, I will follow, I will follow You
I will always follow You, no matter what.
And I will follow, I will follow, I will follow You
I will always follow You, no matter what.
In the way everlasting
I will follow You in the way of everlasting life.
Search my heart O God
I ask You to search deep into my heart.
And know my anxious thoughts
Please understand my deepest fears, doubts, and worries.
And lead me in the way everlasting
Guide me to Your way of living, which is everlasting.
Search my heart O God
I ask You to search deep into my heart.
And know my anxious thoughts
Please understand my deepest fears, doubts, and worries.
And lead me in the way everlasting, everlasting
Guide me to Your way of living, which is everlasting.
And I will follow, I will follow, I will follow You
I will always follow You, no matter what.
In the way everlasting
I will follow You in the way of everlasting life.
Lyrics © 2012 UNLEARNING MUSIC PUB
Written by: Matt Brouwer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jenn Lynn
This is really good Matt....awesome stuff!!
debbie chambers
I love this song!!!!!
Gregory Lang
brings my heart and soul to our loving GOD.thank you
Peter Griffins
As a man with an anxiety disorder, I needed to hear this. Thank you!!
ItsKirstenn
Feel God's presence when i listen to this...He's so near my heart...Awesome Song Matt!! Thank You Lord!! <3
Olive Branch Fellowship
can't stop singing along. God is so good.
Amanda Retana
Favorite Artist. Great songs Matt Brouwer handsome guy too beautiful! 😊😍😚
Nick Vu
You music is so inspiration. Can you please make karaoke of your music. I love to sing your songs.