Matthew Joseph West (born April 25, 1977 in Downers Grove, Illinois) is a C… Read Full Bio ↴Matthew Joseph West (born April 25, 1977 in Downers Grove, Illinois) is a Christian singer who was raised in a suburb of Chicago, IL., where he discovered music at an early age. The son of a minister, he grew up in the front pew listening to his mom harmonize and following her lead. By the time he reached high school, Matthew remained involved in music and received a scholarship to study music at Millikin University in Illinois.

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.

The Center
Matthew West Lyrics

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I wanna know

I got a feeling as a matter of fact
It's like my whole world just came under attack
And I hear can a voice tellin' me to turn back
'Cause I must be onto somethin'

It happens every single time I get close to

Everything I know is good and right and so true
It's like somebody doesn't want me to love You
And I must be onto somethin'

So help me hold on
Help me be strong
'Cause I don't wanna move
Unless You move me

I wanna know how it feels to be
Standing in the center of Your will for me
I wanna know what surrender means
Keep me in the center of Your will for me
Keep me in the center

God forbid, I start to think I'm on a roll now
'Cause I do believe there is a battle for my soul now
And I can feel the world fighting for control now
I must be onto somethin'

So help me hold on just a little bit longer
'Cause all the struggle's gonna do is make me stronger
This is the everyday prayer of my heart
I just wanna stay where You are

I wanna know how it feels to be
Standing in the center of Your will for me
I wanna know what surrender means
Keep me in the center of Your will for me

Lord, help me hold on
Help me be strong
'Cause I don't wanna move
Unless You move me, yeah, yeah

Oh, I wanna know how it feels to be
Standing in the center of Your will for me
I wanna know what surrender means
Keep me in the center of Your will for, will for me

I wanna know
I surrender, I surrender
I wanna know

You gotta help me hold on

Help me, help me hold on
Yeah, help me hold on

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Matthew West's "The Center" resonate with the desire of many faithful Christians to figure out their purpose in life and to be constantly walking in the center of God's will, where they know they are doing exactly what they should be doing. The song confesses to feeling attacked every time the singer gets close to that good and true place, and yet he knows in his heart that he must be onto something since he can feel the pull towards it. The lyrics reveal a sense of struggle and fear that the singer has in trying to navigate the complexities of this world, where the forces of the worldly and the divine often seem to be in conflict. They show the singer seeking the strength to hold onto what he knows to be right and true, and to surrender to God's will for him.

The song's lyrics highlight how important it is to be in the center of God's will, and it speaks to the desire that many people have to achieve just that. The whole piece speaks of unwavering faith and a commitment to holding on to what one believes is true, even when faced with the adversary's fierce opposition. It serves as an inspiration for Christians who seek to discover their purpose in life and for believers to remember that they are to remain focused on God's will and keep themselves in His center. It is a reminder that everything one does must have a divine purpose and a divine plan, and that it is essential to keep oneself in the center of that plan to live out one's life with meaning and purpose.

Line by Line Meaning

I wanna know
The singer expresses a desire to have clarity about God's will for their life.

I got a feeling as a matter of fact It's like my whole world just came under attack And I hear can a voice tellin' me to turn back 'Cause I must be onto somethin'
The singer describes feeling threatened and discouraged whenever they are pursuing God's will, likely as a result of the enemy's opposition.

It happens every single time I get close to Everything I know is good and right and so true It's like somebody doesn't want me to love You And I must be onto somethin'
Whenever the singer draws near to what they believe to be God's will, they experience resistance and opposition, making them feel that they are on the right path.

So help me hold on Help me be strong 'Cause I don't wanna move Unless You move me
The singer prays for strength and guidance, recognizing that they cannot move forward without God's leading.

I wanna know how it feels to be Standing in the center of Your will for me I wanna know what surrender means Keep me in the center of Your will for me Keep me in the center
The singer desires to be fully surrendered to God's will, wishing to experience the peace and fulfillment of being in the center of it.

God forbid, I start to think I'm on a roll now 'Cause I do believe there is a battle for my soul now And I can feel the world fighting for control now I must be onto somethin'
The singer acknowledges the spiritual battle between good and evil, and recognizes that they are on the right path when they experience opposition from the world.

So help me hold on just a little bit longer 'Cause all the struggle's gonna do is make me stronger This is the everyday prayer of my heart I just wanna stay where You are
The singer asks God for endurance and acknowledges that the obstacles they face will only make them stronger in the long run.

Lord, help me hold on Help me be strong 'Cause I don't wanna move Unless You move me, yeah, yeah
The singer repeats their prayer for strength and guidance, affirming their commitment to God's leading.

Oh, I wanna know how it feels to be Standing in the center of Your will for me I wanna know what surrender means Keep me in the center of Your will for, will for me I wanna know
The singer reiterates their desire to fully surrender to God's will, seeking to understand the experience and meaning of surrender.

You gotta help me hold on Help me, help me hold on Yeah, help me hold on
The singer's plea for strength and guidance is repeated, emphasizing the importance of God's help.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: MATTHEW WEST, MATTHEW JOSEPH WEST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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