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.”
Sanity
Matt Brouwer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It took all week in search of a glimpse of sanity
It took all month to follow through
It's been a year and here I am again
Not knowing what to do
But I could never know love
Unless you show it to me
Unless you reach down and touch me
And I know my soul is touchable
And only your love is what I'm needing
I hung my head and tried to hide the shame
I bought the lie that
I alone was not the one to blame
But I can't hide it anymore
And on my own I know I'll
Find myself back where I was before
The lyrics to Matt Brouwer's song Sanity describe the struggle of the singer to find peace and love in their life. The first verse talks about the long and difficult journey the singer has taken to try and find sanity, using metaphors like "fighting the air" and "searching for a glimpse." Despite all their efforts, they still feel lost and uncertain of what to do next.
The chorus of the song provides a glimmer of hope, as the singer acknowledges that they cannot find love and peace on their own. They need someone else to show them the way, to touch their soul and give them what they are truly seeking. The second verse reveals that the singer has been hiding something, perhaps a mistake or a secret shame, and blaming it on others instead of facing it head-on. But now they realize they can't keep hiding and need to confront their problems if they hope to find true peace.
Overall, the song speaks to the universal human experience of seeking something greater than ourselves, whether it's love, peace, or sanity. It reminds us that it's okay to ask for help and to admit when we need guidance, and that sometimes the only way to move forward is to confront our own weaknesses and struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
It took all night to fight the air and breathe
It was a difficult, arduous task trying to breathe in air, which lasted an entire night.
It took all week in search of a glimpse of sanity
The search for sanity was a lengthy process that lasted a week.
It took all month to follow through
To achieve the desired goals, it was necessary to devote an entire month.
It's been a year and here I am again
Despite facing the same problems, it has taken a whole year to come back and fight them again.
Not knowing what to do
Feeling lost and unsure about how to tackle the problems at hand.
But I could never know love
It is impossible to understand love without experiencing it oneself.
Unless you show it to me
One can only grasp the meaning of love if it is demonstrated by someone else.
And I could never find peace
It is difficult to attain inner peace on one's own.
Unless you reach down and touch me
Unless there is external intervention, it is impossible to find solace and comfort.
And I know my soul is touchable
One is aware of the reality of their soul and its capacity to be influenced by external factors.
And only your love is what I'm needing
The only thing that can help is love and support from someone else.
I hung my head and tried to hide the shame
The feeling of humiliation was so consuming that it led to hiding oneself.
I bought the lie that I alone was not the one to blame
There was a belief that one was not responsible for everything and that other factors played a role.
But I can't hide it anymore
Suffering cannot be concealed any longer.
And on my own I know I'll find myself back where I was before
Without any external help, there is a certainty of returning to the previous state of affliction.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: MATT BROUWER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rex Racer
I remember when this song was getting heavy rotation on a Christian music station in San Bernardino, CA (USA). I bought the CD and was recently sharing how God lead me to really appreciate 2 specific Christian songs at the time and THIS was one of them. As a musician, I really enjoy this song from the instruments, chord change choices, the lyrics and the superb vocals. Just wanted to share that this song has been a big influence in my life.
Marshall Hopkins
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING ME ALIVE WITH YOUR MUSIC! YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, EVEN LEFT FOR DEAD IN A HOSPITAL ER WHERE I DID DIE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS TRASH, BUT AFTER THEY SAID TAG HIM, BUT WHAT TIME, HES STILL MOVING,-. I CAME BACK BECAUSE JESUS WAS WITH ME. I LOVE YOU MY DEAR BROTHER, I LOVE YOU SO TENDERLY DEEPLY AND DEARLY, LOVE MARSHALL THOMAS HOPKINS.
Amanda
❤❤❤❤❤