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.
Life Inside You
Matthew West Lyrics
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She's stuck between her future and her past
'cause she's just a baby, but the doctors say
She's got a baby on the way
And now the devastation makes her start to cry
How could this be happening she wonders why
But they're talking options
And the choice is hers to make
[Chorus]
There's a life inside you
There's a beating heart
There's a child of wonder
Shining like a star
There's a life inside you
I know a boy who's all caught up
In his addictions and they're tearing him up
And now he's hearing voices
Telling him it's time to let go
But if I could talk to that boy
I would die for him to know
[Chorus]
We all arrive here in this place
Imperfect people in need of grace
But that's why God sent his only son to die
So that every broken heart could have a life inside
So, just open up your broken heart
[Chorus]
Matthew West's song Life Inside You is a poignant lyric that explores the themes of teenage pregnancy and drug addiction. In the song, he describes a young girl who is "growing up too fast" and who finds herself pregnant while still "stuck between her future and her past." The girl's world is crashing down around her, and she is left to wonder how this could be happening. The doctors who are caring for her offer her options, but ultimately the choice to keep or terminate the pregnancy is hers to make. The chorus of the song reminds her that "there's a life inside you," and that "there's a child of wonder shining like a star."
Similarly, the song explores the story of a young boy who is caught up in his addictions and is hearing voices telling him that it's time to let go. The singer wishes he could talk to the boy to let him know that there is still hope for him, that there is still life inside of him. Both the boy and the girl in the song are imperfect people in need of grace, and the song reminds us that we are all brokenhearted at some point in our lives. But the central message is that there is always hope for healing and for new life, even in the darkest of places.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a girl who's growing up too fast
The singer is acquainted with a young girl who is facing the pressures of adulthood from an early age
She's stuck between her future and her past
The girl is troubled by the choices she's made in the past, and the decisions she'll have to make for the future
'cause she's just a baby, but the doctors say
She's got a baby on the way
Despite her young age, the girl is expecting a child, a fact confirmed by medical professionals
And now the devastation makes her start to cry
How could this be happening she wonders why
The girl is overwhelmed by her situation and is emotionally distraught
But they're talking options
Like it's just another day
And the choice is hers to make
Despite the severity of the situation, the girl is presented with options and must make the decision that's right for her
There's a life inside you
There's a beating heart
There's a child of wonder
Shining like a star
There's a life inside you
The chorus reminds the girl that there is another life at stake, that of the child growing within her, and that it is a precious and wondrous thing
I know a boy who's all caught up
In his addictions and they're tearing him up
The singer also knows a boy who is dealing with addiction and is suffering as a result
And now he's hearing voices
Telling him it's time to let go
But if I could talk to that boy
I would die for him to know
The boy is struggling to overcome his addiction, and despite the voices he hears urging him to give up, the singer wishes he could help the boy understand that he has value and worth beyond his addiction
We all arrive here in this place
Imperfect people in need of grace
The singer acknowledges that we all come into this world as flawed individuals, in need of forgiveness and redemption
But that's why God sent his only son to die
So that every broken heart could have a life inside
So, just open up your broken heart
The singer believes that God sent Jesus to forgive our faults and heal our wounds, and that we should open ourselves up to the possibility of new life and a fresh start
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATTHEW WEST, MATTHEW JOSEPH WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind