It was during his first year of college, that Matthew began playing guitar and writing songs. By Matthew's senior year, he was playing at every venue imaginable, from Fraternity houses to churches, and youth groups.
He signed an exclusive songwriting deal only a week after graduating and making the move to Nashville. His songs have been recorded by various artists including Rachel Lampa's most recent single, "Savior Song," which was Matthew's first top-5 song as a writer. Some other highlights were having songs placed on the platinum selling WoW 2002 project and also having his song, "Heart of Every Man recorded for the World Youth Day 2000 official soundtrack.
Matthew continued pursuing his dream of singing his own songs. Matthew had the opportunity to travel to universities across the country, and quickly began building up a steady following. With the help of Word Music and Extreme Writers Group, Matthew recorded an independent CD called, "Sellout," which caught the attention of Universal South Records.
Since signing with Universal South, He has released several albums, starting with "Happy" in 2003, "History" in 2005, and "Something to Say" in 2007; along with the re-release of Sellout in 2006. The Forgiveness Songfacts reports that West's fifth album, "Into the Light," is scheduled to be released on September 25, 2012.
A Friend In The World
Matthew West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she couldn't take the drama it created
And it's a wonder that she didn't wind up jaded
From all the times she's been let down
Well, mom and dad split up when she was four years old
And left the world as she knew it spinning out of control
And she grew up feeling a hole in her soul
She said, why is everybody always leaving'
I just want someone to believe in
And someone who believes in me
When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world, Love is reaching down
When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world, you got one now
Well, I grew up in the glass house of a preacher
Where every move I ever made was a feature
And when you don't always do what they teach you
You see they always point you out
Yeah, but it's just like Toby Mac used to say
Some people gotta learn the hard way
And when I couldn't outrun all the things I'd done
I picked up the phone and my dad said
Son, when you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world, Love is reaching down
When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world, you got one now
This is where the story gets crazy
And this is the part that's so amazing
You see, the girl I sang about in the first verse
Became my wife
And there's one last thing I'd like to mention
We owe it all to the Author of redemption
Because He reached her life and He reached my life
And he's reaching out now take a look around
When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world, Love is reaching down
When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world, you got one now
When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world, Love is reaching down
When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world, you got one now
A friend in the world
A friend in the world, Love is reaching down
When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world, you got one now
The lyrics to Matthew West's "A Friend In The World" tell the story of two people who have struggled to find meaningful connections with others. In the first verse, we are introduced to a woman who has been let down by the world and the people in it. Her parents' split when she was young left her feeling like there was a hole in her soul that couldn't be filled. She longs for someone to believe in her and to be there for her when times get tough.
The second verse shifts focus to the singer himself, who grew up in a family of preachers. He felt like he was always being watched and judged by others, and when he found himself struggling with his own mistakes and shortcomings, he turned to his father for support. The chorus brings the two stories together, offering the hope that even when it feels like you have no one to turn to, love is always there to reach down and lift you up.
Overall, the song is about the power of love and friendship to help us through the toughest times. It reminds us that no matter how alone we may feel, there is always someone out there willing to offer a helping hand.
Line by Line Meaning
She always said the world was overrated
She believed that the world was not as great as people made it out to be, and it did not live up to her expectations
And she couldn't take the drama it created
She was unable to handle the difficulties and conflicts that arose in life
And it's a wonder that she didn't wind up jaded
It is surprising that she did not become bitter due to the disappointment and disillusionment she faced
From all the times she's been let down
She felt disappointed and betrayed after being hurt many times by others
Well, mom and dad split up when she was four years old
Her parents separated when she was a child
And left the world as she knew it spinning out of control
Her life became chaotic and unpredictable after her parents' separation
And she grew up feeling a hole in her soul
She grew up with a deep sense of emptiness within her
'Cause they were never around
Her parents were not present in her life
She said, why is everybody always leaving'
She wondered why people kept leaving her life
I just want someone to believe in
She needed someone who would support and have faith in her
And someone who believes in me
She desired someone who would have trust and confidence in her
When you can't find a friend in the world
During times when she had no one to turn to for support
A friend in the world, Love is reaching down
Love is always available to provide aid and comfort during difficult times
Well, I grew up in the glass house of a preacher
He grew up in a household where his father was a pastor and was held to a high standard
Where every move I ever made was a feature
His actions were constantly being evaluated and judged
And when you don't always do what they teach you
When he did not always follow the teachings of the church
You see they always point you out
He was exposed and criticized for his actions
Yeah, but it's just like Toby Mac used to say
As Toby Mac once said
Some people gotta learn the hard way
Some individuals only learn from life's harsh experiences
And when I couldn't outrun all the things I'd done
When he was unable to escape the consequences of his past mistakes
I picked up the phone and my dad said
He called his father for support and guidance
This is where the story gets crazy
The story becomes incredible from this point forward
And this is the part that's so amazing
The upcoming event is remarkable
You see, the girl I sang about in the first verse
The woman mentioned earlier in the song
Became my wife
She eventually became his spouse
And there's one last thing I'd like to mention
There is one final point I would like to make
We owe it all to the Author of redemption
They attribute their success and happiness to God's saving and restorative power
Because He reached her life and He reached my life
God positively impacted their lives and brought them together
And he's reaching out now take a look around
God is present in their lives and is offering help and support
A friend in the world
A reliable and trustworthy companion during life's struggles
A friend in the world, Love is reaching down
Love is always available to provide aid and comfort during difficult times
When you can't find a friend in the world
During times when you have no one to turn to for support
A friend in the world, you got one now
There is now someone who can provide help and support during difficult times
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CINDY MIZELLE, MATTHEW WEST, MATTHEW JOSEPH WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind