Such descriptions are ironically appropriate since the artist was born with essentially half a functioning heart. That life-threatening congenital defect as well as a series of difficult surgeries and heart-related illnesses have shaped Cardall’s musical style and inspired his dozens of popular melodic compositions and arrangements.
Notably, his thirteenth studio album titled New Life debuted as the number one Billboard New Age album in February, 2011 and held a position in the top five for more than 30 weeks. Radio stations reporting to Reviews New Age recognized New Life as the best album of 2011. Music critic Michael Debbage wrote, “There is no filler on this brilliant album that has even surpassed Yanni and Enya on the Billboard New Age Chart, hitting No. 1 without any major label support or media attention - Amazing!”
The aptly named album was Cardall’s first recording after undergoing a life-saving heart transplant in September 2009. It was during the 385 days of waiting on the organ donation list that a hospitalized Cardall turned to blogging as a means of maintaining perspective while facing death and sharing his experience with family and friends. Over a million people followed the blog and own one of his albums.
Cardall believes his music “has the power to heal and inspire others.” Indeed, audiences who attend a Paul Cardall concert or speech typically come away feeling more alive and grateful for all that is good in this beautiful, yet often chaotic world. One well-known fan, Fox News Anchor Bret Baeir, who has a son with a similar congenital heart defect, has said, “Paul inspires me and my family. He exudes optimism.”
Steinway & Sons Artist Manager Jenn Gordan said, "Cardall's commitment to excellence in his artistic and professional achievements make it most appropriate that he is included on the Steinway Artist Roster, a list of the most accomplished and discriminating artists in the world."
In addition to his recording career, Cardall founded his own record Stone Angel Music in 1999. He launched cellist Steven Sharp Nelson's (The Piano Guys) recording career with the popular "Sacred Cello Series" that debuted on the Billboard Classical Charts. Cardall also helped establish acoustic guitar virtuoso Ryan Tilby with a solo career. As part of his Stone Angel Music venture, Cardall owns a prestigious recording studio in the heart of Salt Lake City featuring a large orchestral live room, piano room, drum room, iso-booth, and two mix rooms; including offices for the record label.
In addition to his music, Cardall actively promotes various causes involving congenital heart disease and speaking out about what has been described as the nation’s number one birth defect. He created an endowment at Salt Lake Community College that funds scholarships for students born with congenital disease. His long-list of awards and recognitions includes an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Utah State Board of Regents.
Discography & Awards
2011 New Life #1 Billboard New Age Album / #3 Top Heatseekers / #28 Independent
2009 Sacred Piano #5 Billboard New Age Album
2008 Hymns Collection #4 Billboard New Age Album
2008 Living for Eden
2007 Songs of Praise
2005 Primary Worship #12 Billboard New Age Album
2004 Christmas Hymns Vol. 1
2003 Live
2003 Faithful
2002 Daily Devotions
2001 Miracles: A Journey of Hope & Healing
2000 Hymns II: Piano Solos
1999 Looking Glass
1999 The Christmas Box #23 Billboard New Age Album
1997 Hymns: Piano Solos
1996: Sign of Affection
Official Website:
www.paulcardall.com
(2) Contemporary jazz pianist Paul Cardall was born April 24, 1973; suffering from a congenital heart defect, he was given only days to live but defied medical expectations, enduring a series of surgeries and illnesses throughout his childhood. Finding comfort in music, Cardall began piano lessons at age eight but quit six months later, not playing again for a decade. While in high school, however, tragedy struck when one of his best friends was killed in a car accident; a grieving Cardall spontaneously composed a musical tribute, going on to write a dozen more songs and in 1995, privately pressing an album. Around that same time he took a job playing piano at a local department store during the holiday season, and selling his record to customers; one copy of the disc made its way to author Richard Paul Evans, the writer of the best-seller The Christmas Box, who invited Cardall to write and record a musical adaptation of the book. The resulting album, also titled The Christmas Box, was released in 1997; upon signing to the Narada label, Cardall reissued the album two years later in conjunction with a new effort, The Looking Glass, which, like its predecessor, drew inspiration from Evans' novels. Cardall issued two albums in 2002, Daily Devotions and Miracles: A Journey of Hope and Healing. Stone Angel has distributed many of his releases, including 2004's Christmas Hymns, Vol. 1 and 2007's Songs of Praise. His 2009 effort Sacred Piano began his relationship with Shadow Mountain Records, the label that released his 2011 effort New Life, which debuted at number one on the Billboard New Age Charts. In 2013 he composed the music for the LDS feature film Ephraim's Rescue. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi
Worth of Souls
Paul Cardall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The crowded streets where there's no love
You gave me ways to figure out
What this life is all about
You let me hear your voice that softly speaks
Guiding me and gives me peace
You let me make my own mistakes
I will love the best I know
Thank you for the ways I grow
Showing me the place where I can stand
And I will not forget
You gave Your life for me
Not a gift to small to recognize
Standing at your door
You give your hand to me
The worth of souls is great in Your eyes
This life you've given me
Sure has tasted sweet
Now I know through all the noise
I sing out loud you hear my voice
I feel that I've been blessed beyond my needs
I will not forget
You gave Your life for me
Not a gift to small to recognize
Standing at your door
You give your hand to me
The worth of souls is great in Your eyes
REPEAT CHORUS
In the song "Worth of Souls" by Paul Cardall, he expresses gratitude to God for the blessings in his life. He acknowledges that God has given him the strength to rise above the heartless reality of the world and discover his true purpose. He feels blessed to have heard God's voice, which has guided him through the ups and downs of his life. He acknowledges that God has let him learn from his mistakes and grow from them.
Paul Cardall emphasizes on not forgetting that the reason he lives and enjoys the sweetness of life is that God has never ceased to be with him. God gave His life for him, and He continues to extend His hand to him whenever he needs it. Paul Cardall understands the worth of every soul in God's eyes, and he sings out his thankfulness for everything that God has done for him.
Line by Line Meaning
You gave me wings to fly above
You provided me with the elevation I needed to get out of the crowd
The crowded streets where there's no love
The difficult situations where love seems to be absent
You gave me ways to figure out
You gave me tools to handle and understand difficult situations
What this life is all about
The purpose and essence of this life
You let me hear your voice that softly speaks
I am grateful that you allow me to hear your voice that speaks softly and kind
Guiding me and gives me peace
You guide me and provide peace of mind
You let me make my own mistakes
You allowed me to make and learn from my own mistakes
So I can learn just what it takes
To teach me what it takes to progress and grow
I will love the best I know
I will love those around me as much as I am capable of
Thank you for the ways I grow
I am grateful for the ways in which I have grown and developed
Showing me the place where I can stand
You have shown me a strong foundation where I can stand firm
And I will not forget
I will never forget
You gave Your life for me
You sacrificed Your life for me
Not a gift too small to recognize
I acknowledge even the smallest of gifts you have given me
Standing at your door
Coming close to you
You give your hand to me
You offer me your support and guidance
The worth of souls is great in Your eyes
You value all souls highly
This life you've given me
The life You have given me
Sure has tasted sweet
I have found life to be pleasurable
Now I know through all the noise
In spite of the turmoil surrounding me
I sing out loud you hear my voice
I will sing loudly knowing that you hear me
I feel that I've been blessed beyond my needs
I feel that I have been blessed in abundance beyond my needs
Writer(s): Paul Layton Cardall
Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.