Michael W. Smith (born October 7th, 1957) is an American singer, author, so… Read Full Bio ↴Michael W. Smith (born October 7th, 1957) is an American singer, author, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist.

Since his first solo project in 1983, Smith has become one of the most popular artists in the contemporary Christian music world, while also finding considerable success in the mainstream. Smith has frequently topped both Christian radio and Billboard charts and is often listed as one of the top keyboardists in rock and roll in Keyboard Magazine. Smith has sold more than 13 million records and has had 29 #1 hit songs. By 2005, he had garnered 14 gold records and 5 platinum records, 40 Dove Awards, an American Music Award and 3 Grammy Awards. He was also named one of People magazine's most beautiful people.

The Glory Songfacts reports that recorded with a 65-piece London orchestra, Glory is Christian musician Michael W. Smith’s seventeenth studio album and his second instrumental record. It was released November 22, 2011. His first instrumental album was Freedom, which was released November 21, 2000.

Live Forever
Michael W. Smith Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You painted me a picture of tomorrow
A place where you and I walked hand in hand
A world without despair and without shadows
But things just didn't turn out how we'd planned
Now you're gone

[Chorus:]
And I believe that there is somewhere

Where the angels fill the sky
And I believe we'll live forever
You and I, you and I
Will never die

I wonder if you knew that you were leaving
I thought that I saw something in your eyes
You painted me a picture of believing

I'll see you there on the other side
And I'll be there

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Michael W. Smith's song "Live Forever" are somewhat melancholic and nostalgic, yet hopeful. The song is about two people who used to be close and had dreams of a better future together, but unfortunately, the reality was different, and the person they cared about has passed away from this world. The singer is left wondering if the other person knew that they were leaving, and the chorus offers the listener a glimpse of hope for an afterlife where they will meet again, where the angels fill the sky and they'll live forever, never to die. The lyrics are open to interpretation but the song seems to be about the idea of an afterlife and the comfort that it can provide to those who have experienced loss.

The song's melody and tempo echo the feelings of loss and nostalgia that the lyrics convey. The opening line is poignant and sets the tone for the rest of the song. The use of the word "painted" in the lyrics is symbolic and suggests that the picture of tomorrow that the two people were hoping for was well thought out and carefully crafted but in the end could not be realized. The chorus offers hope and solace to the listener by suggesting that their loved ones are not gone forever and will meet again in an afterlife, which many people around the world believe.

Line by Line Meaning

You painted me a picture of tomorrow
You gave me hope for a better future

A place where you and I walked hand in hand
A world where we were united and happy

A world without despair and without shadows
A world without pain and darkness

But things just didn't turn out how we'd planned
Reality did not match our expectations

Now you're gone
You have passed away

And I believe that there is somewhere
I have faith in a place beyond this world

Where the angels fill the sky
Where there are heavenly beings all around

And I believe we'll live forever
I believe in life after death, eternal existence

You and I, you and I
Together, both of us

Will never die
We will never truly cease to exist

I wonder if you knew that you were leaving
I wonder if you were aware of your passing