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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.”
Please Say
Matt Brouwer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can see it in your eyes
We don’t need an invitation
This is once in a lifetime
It’s so strong we can’t fight it
Or hardly breathe when silence is everything
I don’t want to lose this
I don’t want to lose this feeling
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
Than what we’re feeling
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
(You and me would never)
Now the sky’s open wide and the light
Has captured the places we try to hide
Even though as time passes by we will find
It’s easier to say goodbye
But now we’re coming alive
And taking it in, the silence is everything
I don’t want to lose this
I don’t want to lose this feeling
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
Than what we’re feeling
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
(You and me would never)
Even when the nights are long
And even when the road we’re on seems wrong
And all our friends are moving on
Just say we’ll still be there
We’ll be right there
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
Than what we’re feeling
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
(You and me would never)
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
Than what we’re feeling
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
(You and me would never)
(You and me would never)
The lyrics of Matt Brouwer's song, "Please Say" talks about a feeling that is hard to describe, but one that can be seen in the eyes of someone else. The feeling is so strong that it cannot be fought or ignored, and it is something that they don't want to lose. The song is about the desire to keep this feeling alive and to never settle for anything less than what they're feeling, forever.
The song begins with the singer admitting that he can't quite describe the feeling he's experiencing but that he can see it in the eyes of the person he's with. The feeling is so strong that they don't need an invitation to experience it. They acknowledge that the feeling is so strong that they can hardly breathe when there's silence, but even then, they don't want to lose it. The chorus reinforces this feeling, with the singer pleading with the other person to promise that they'll never settle for anything less than this feeling.
As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges that life is unpredictable, and there will be long nights and times when things seem wrong, but they still want to hold onto this feeling. The final repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea that they don't want to settle for less than what they're feeling, and they want to be together forever.
Line by Line Meaning
I can’t quite describe this feeling
The feeling being experienced is indescribable
But I can see it in your eyes
The feeling is evident in the other person's eyes
We don’t need an invitation
No permission is required to experience this feeling
This is once in a lifetime
The experience is a unique and rare occurrence
It’s so strong we can’t fight it
The feeling is overpowering and cannot be resisted
Or hardly breathe when silence is everything
The silence between them is filled with intense emotion
I don’t want to lose this feeling
The feeling is so cherished that it is not wanted to be lost
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
Asking for a commitment to always aim for the highest level
Now the sky’s open wide and the light
The environment is open and bright
Has captured the places we try to hide
Even their hidden emotions are exposed in this moment
Even though as time passes by we will find
Over time, the feeling may fade
It’s easier to say goodbye
Ending the experience becomes simpler over time
But now we’re coming alive
In this moment, they feel truly alive
And taking it in, the silence is everything
They are absorbing the moment, and the silence is filled with emotion
Even when the nights are long
Even during difficult times
And even when the road we’re on seems wrong
Even when circumstances are not ideal
And all our friends are moving on
Despite other people moving on with their lives
Just say we’ll still be there
A commitment to remain present and unchanged
Please say that we’ll never settle for anything less
Reiterating the desire for a commitment to always aim for the highest level
(You and me would never)
An added emphasis that they, as a team, will never settle for anything less
Lyrics © Unlearning Music Pub.
Written by: Matt Brouwer, Michael Omartian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind