McLean released his debut album, You’re Not Alone, in 1983 and with every song that followed, his lyrics filled voids, encouraged love, and offered hope. Now, more than 25 albums later, his musical legacy has not only resonated in the hearts of thousands, but continues to be a standard for those seeking meaning and peace.
To celebrate this exciting anniversary, McLean released a boxed set of six albums in 2008. The definitive collection, 25, is filled with his most beloved songs from the last 25 years, many of which were out-of-print, as well as a handful of brand-new songs on each album.
With a background in film, McLean began early in his career making commercials for radio and television, receiving numerous national and international awards for advertising. Such awards included the prestigious Clio Award, National Addy Award, New York Ad Club’s Andy Award, two National Emmy Finalists Awards, and the Bronze Lion at the Cannes Film Festival. He later used his film experience to produce and direct several films including, Together Forever, The Prodigal Son, and Mr. Krueger’s Christmas starring film legend Jimmy Stewart.
Ever the engaging performer and master storyteller, McLean has shared his beloved Christmas musical, The Forgotten Carols, with more than a half-million people across the country since 2001. With humor and heart, “The Carols” has become a beloved tradition for thousands of families who mark the beginning of their holiday season with this magical musical.
Celebrating the Light, another of McLean’s musicals, ran for five seasons at the Promised Valley Playhouse in Salt Lake City and The Garden, an allegorical oratorio written with Merrill Jenson and Bryce Neubert, opened in Jerusalem and has been performed across the country as well as in France, South America, and Russia. His popular sea-faring musical The Ark enjoyed a New York City debut in 2005.
In addition to his music and films, McLean has also authored four books with accompanying CDs – Distant Serenade, Hold on the Light Will Come: And Other Lessons My Songs Have Taught Me, The Forgotten Carols, and most recently, From God’s Arms to My Arms to Yours.
McLean and his wife Lynne have three children and live in California.
Musical Style: Piano driven inspirational
Current Residence: California
Will We Forget
Michael McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A soul that's been lost might believe it's been found.
But six months from now on a warm summer night,
Will we pause to remember this night in December
When we promised ourselves we'd keep this spirit all year round?
Will we forget the promise we resolutely made?
Will we forget to thank the Lord for all the gifts he gave?
When there is just one time of year reserved for nights like this.
Six months from now on a warm summer night,
Will any part of us remember the night in December
When we promised ourselves we'd keep this spirit all year round?
Will we forget the feelings, will we forget to sing
Will we forget the Christ child came and gave us everything?
We'll have a hundred reasons why we have set aside
The memories of this season when His spirit touched our lives.
But He who came to save us for all eternity
Has not forgotten those who need His mercy to be free.
And though the number's greater than the sands upon the sea
There is no time of year that He's forgotten you or me.
He has not forgotten us on any lonely night.
He has not forgotten that our joy requires His light.
He has not forgotten those who are homeless as was He.
He has not forgotten you He's not forgotten me.
The lyrics of Michael McLean's song "Will We Forget" reflect on the fleeting nature of the holiday spirit and the challenge of carrying it throughout the year. It starts by acknowledging the potential for hearts that were once closed to open and lost souls to find a sense of belonging. However, the question arises whether, six months later, we will remember and hold true to the promises we made to ourselves to keep this spirit alive throughout the entire year.
The song suggests that there is a danger of forgetting the promise we made, the gratitude we felt, and the profound impact of the Christ child's arrival. It questions why we reserve these feelings and experiences for a specific time of year when they should be celebrated and cherished constantly. It points out that attributing our forgetfulness to human nature seems inadequate when such significant moments are confined to only one season.
The lyrics reinforce the idea that despite our potential to forget, the one who came to save us, referring to Jesus, has not forgotten us. The song acknowledges the vast number of individuals who need His mercy, emphasizing that despite the countless souls in need, He has not forgotten a single one of us. It reminds us that Jesus has not forsaken us on any lonely night, and His light is essential for our joy. Furthermore, the lyrics highlight Jesus' empathy for the homeless, as He himself was without a stable place of residence. In conclusion, it emphasizes that Jesus has not forgotten any individual, including the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
A heart that's been closed may be opening tonight.
Someone who has been emotionally guarded may finally start opening up tonight.
A soul that's been lost might believe it's been found.
Someone who has felt spiritually lost may now feel like they have found their path.
Will we pause to remember this night in December
In the future, will we reflect and remember this special December night?
When we promised ourselves we'd keep this spirit all year round?
When we made a commitment to maintain this positive spirit throughout the entire year.
Will we forget the promise we resolutely made?
Will we fail to remember the vow we made with determination?
Will we forget to thank the Lord for all the gifts he gave?
Will we neglect to express gratitude to God for all the blessings we have received?
We'll say it's human nature, but something seems amiss
We may attribute it to common human behavior, but something feels incomplete or wrong.
When there is just one time of year reserved for nights like this.
When we only deem one time of year suitable for celebrating moments like this.
Will any part of us remember the night in December
Will any aspect of ourselves retain the memory of that December night?
Will we forget the feelings, will we forget to sing
Will we lose the emotions and fail to express them through singing?
Will we forget the Christ child came and gave us everything?
Will we disregard the fact that Jesus came and blessed us abundantly?
We'll have a hundred reasons why we have set aside
We will come up with numerous justifications for why we have put aside
The memories of this season when His spirit touched our lives.
The recollections of this period when we felt the presence of His divine spirit impact our lives.
But He who came to save us for all eternity
However, Jesus, who came to redeem us forever,
Has not forgotten those who need His mercy to be free.
Has not overlooked those who require His mercy to experience true freedom.
And though the number's greater than the sands upon the sea
And even though the number of people in need is vast, more than the countless grains of sand in the sea.
There is no time of year that He's forgotten you or me.
There is no specific time or season when He has forgotten about us, neither you nor me.
He has not forgotten us on any lonely night.
He has never forsaken us on any night when we feel lonely and alone.
He has not forgotten that our joy requires His light.
He has not disregarded the fact that our happiness depends on His divine presence and guidance.
He has not forgotten those who are homeless as was He.
He has not overlooked those who are without a home, just like He was during His time on Earth.
He has not forgotten you, He's not forgotten me.
He has not forgotten you, and He has not forgotten me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Michael McLean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@garretthyer6677
Thank you so much for adding this beautiful song to listen to