Sunrise
Nichole Nordeman Lyrics


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If I had the chance
To go back again
Take a different road, bear a lighter load
Tell an easy story

I would walk away
With my yesterdays
And I would not trade what is broken for beauty only

Every valley
Every bitter chill
Made me ready to climb back up the hill
And find that . . .

You are sunrise
You are blue skies
How would I know the morning
If I knew not midnight?

You're my horizon
You're the light of a new dawn
So thank You, thank You
That after the long night, You are sunrise

There's a moment when
Faith caves in
There's a time when every soul is certain God is gone

But every shadow is evidence of sun
And every tomorrow holds out hope for us
For every one of us

You are sunrise
You are blue skies
How would I know the morning
If I knew not midnight?

You're my horizon
You're the light of a new dawn
So thank You, thank You
That after the long night, You are sunrise

You alone will shine
You alone can resurrect this heart of mine

You are sunrise
You are blue skies
How would I know the morning
If I knew not midnight?

You're my horizon
You're the light of a new dawn
So thank You, thank You
That after the long night, You are sunrise





You are sunrise

Overall Meaning

Nichole Nordeman's song "Sunrise" speaks to the idea of redemption and hope after experiencing difficult times. The lyrics describe a desire to go back and choose a different path, but also acknowledge the beauty that can come from brokenness. The song notes that every valley and bitter chill that we experience can prepare us for growth and renewal. Moreover, the lyrics suggest that we may not fully appreciate the light and hope of a new day without first experiencing darkness and struggle. However, the song ultimately promotes a sense of gratitude for the sunrise after the long night and for the hope that it brings.


The strength of the song lies in Nordeman's ability to weave together metaphor and imagery to create a message of hope and renewal. The use of imagery such as valleys and shadowy darkness frames the struggles that many people experience in life. Similarly, the idea of sunrise and blue skies are symbols of hope and light that contrast with the struggles of the night. Furthermore, the lyrics acknowledge the necessity of faith during difficult times and promote a sense of gratitude for both the darkness and the light.


Line by Line Meaning

If I had the chance
Reflecting on past experiences, if given the opportunity to change the outcome, take a different path, and have a lighter burden.


To go back again
To revisit the past and make different choices.


Take a different road, bear a lighter load
Choose a different path in life and have fewer problems to carry on that journey.


Tell an easy story
Have a simpler, less complicated life story to tell.


I would walk away
If given the chance, I would leave the past behind.


With my yesterdays
With the memories of my past experiences.


And I would not trade what is broken for beauty only
I would not exchange the broken parts of me for only beautiful parts.


Every valley
The low points in life.


Every bitter chill
The difficult and harsh experiences in life.


Made me ready to climb back up the hill
Every challenging experience prepared me to overcome the next obstacle.


And find that . . .
And discover that...


You are sunrise
God is like the sunrise of a new day, bringing hope and renewal.


You are blue skies
God is the clear, bright sky that follows a storm.


How would I know the morning
Without experiencing the darkness of night, I wouldn't appreciate the beauty of the sunrise.


If I knew not midnight?
If I never experienced the darkness of night, I wouldn't appreciate the light of day.


You're my horizon
God is the boundary of my perception and understanding.


You're the light of a new dawn
God brings hope and renewal in a new day.


So thank You, thank You
Expressing gratitude towards God.


That after the long night, You are sunrise
Even after a long and difficult night, God brings light and renewal to start a new day.


There's a moment when
In life, there is a moment when...


Faith caves in
One's faith in God can falter or weaken for a time.


There's a time when every soul is certain God is gone
There are times when we feel like God has abandoned us.


But every shadow is evidence of sun
Even when things are dark, hope and light are always present.


And every tomorrow holds out hope for us
Every new day presents new opportunities and the hope of a brighter future.


For every one of us
For every person, no matter their situation or circumstance.


You alone will shine
Only God can bring light to the darkness.


You alone can resurrect this heart of mine
Only God can bring new life to a broken or damaged heart.




Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: NICHOLE NORDEMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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