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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.”
Tonight
Matt Brouwer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And these dreams alive
But it’s all a mystery to me, how we’re alive and breathing
When fear is taking hold and we can’t move on
And just let go
There’s more to this than what I know
I feel it in my soul
There’s so much out of our control
Your love is deep, your love is high
When I was lost and darkness stole the light
You pick me up, you take me higher
You set me free, you opened up my eyes
Tonight, tonight I can’t wait to see the sunrise
When the light, the light
Has brought me back to life
And I’ll be alright
Tonight
We walk and then we fall
We’re just looking for something to matter at all
There’s every reason to believe
It’s all in front of you and me
This never-ending sky
It won’t wait too long to pass us by
A hopeful desperation’s taking hold
I feel it in my soul
There’s so much out of our control
Your love is deep, your love is high
When I was lost and darkness stole the light
You pick me up, you take me higher
You set me free, you opened up my eyes
Tonight, tonight I can’t wait to see the sunrise
When the light, the light
Has brought me back to life
And I’m alright, yeah, tonight
Your love is deep, your love is high
When I was lost and darkness stole the light
You pick me up, you take me higher
You set me free, you opened up my eyes
Tonight, tonight I can’t wait to see the sunrise
When the light, the light
Is shining on my face
Tonight, tonight I can’t wait to see the sunrise
When the light, the light
Has brought me back to life then I’ll be alright
Tonight
I go to sleep tonight with my head in the clouds
And these dreams alive
In "Tonight," Matt Brouwer offers a message of hope and encouragement for those who feel lost and overwhelmed by the challenges of life. He begins by acknowledging the mysterious nature of our existence - how we are alive and breathing despite the fears and setbacks that can hold us back. Yet despite the uncertainty, Brouwer holds onto a sense of faith in something greater than himself, something that he feels in his soul. He urges listeners not to give up and let go, but to hold onto hope and keep moving forward.
This sense of hope is embodied in the chorus of "Tonight," where Brouwer sings about the deep and high love that he has found in his life. This love has lifted him up and helped him see through the darkness that once clouded his life. With this love, he feels like he can take on anything and face the sunrise with renewed strength and a sense of purpose.
Overall, "Tonight" is a powerful reminder that even when life seems overwhelming and out of our control, there is hope to be found in love and faith. Brouwer's lyrics capture the struggle of the human condition while offering a message of resilience and hope for those who are feeling lost or defeated.
Line by Line Meaning
I go to sleep tonight with my head in the clouds
I am going to bed feeling very hopeful and positive
And these dreams alive
My dreams are still alive and active in my mind as I go to sleep
But it’s all a mystery to me, how we’re alive and breathing
I am amazed and curious about the mystery of life and how we stay alive
When fear is taking hold and we can’t move on
Sometimes fear can paralyze us and prevent us from moving forward in life
And just let go
Sometimes the solution is to simply let go of our fear and worries
There’s more to this than what I know
I feel like there is a lot more to life and the world around me than I can comprehend
I feel it in my soul
My intuition and inner feelings tell me that there is something powerful and meaningful about life
There’s so much out of our control
There are many things in life that are beyond our control
Your love is deep, your love is high
Your love is vast and all-encompassing, reaching all the way to the heavens and the depths of the earth
When I was lost and darkness stole the light
During a dark or difficult time in my life, your love helped to guide me through and bring light back into my life
You pick me up, you take me higher
Your love lifts me up and helps me to rise above my struggles and challenges
You set me free, you opened up my eyes
Your love has helped me to feel free and liberated, and to see things in a new and positive way
I can’t wait to see the sunrise
I am excited and hopeful about what a new day might bring
When the light, the light has brought me back to life
When I am feeling lost or downtrodden, the light of your love helps to bring me back to a place of hope and vitality
And I’ll be alright
With your love and support, I know that everything will be okay in the end
We’re just looking for something to matter at all
Sometimes it feels like we are searching for something that truly matters in life
There’s every reason to believe
Despite this, I am confident that there is a purpose and meaning to life
It’s all in front of you and me
The answers and opportunities we seek are right in front of us, waiting to be discovered
This never-ending sky
The infinity of the sky and universe reminds us of the endless possibilities of life
It won’t wait too long to pass us by
However, we must also remember that time is fleeting and we need to make the most of our lives while we can
A hopeful desperation’s taking hold
I feel a hopeful sense of desperation to make the most of my life and find meaning in all that I do
When the light, the light is shining on my face
The light of your love and positivity is reflected on my face
Then I’ll be alright tonight
With your love and support, I know that everything will be okay in the present moment
Lyrics © 2012 Unlearning Music Pub
Written by: Matt Brouwer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mandie pinkney
I love this song ty matt ! GOD BLESS :)
guesswho 1440
for a few albums this guy is awsome
Beverly Breaux
Love It!!!
Kim Vacco
Love this song. Debuted a #30 on the charts - WooHoo!