After accepting Christ in sixth grade, Groves developed a passion for excellence in every aspect of his life. He dedicated himself to practice his music with a newfound intensity, which resulted in his catapult from last chair to first chair in the school band within months. Groves' drive and determination would eventually lead him to attend and graduate from Baylor University with a bachelor's degree in music composition on a full-ride private music scholarship.
The enthusiasm that drove Groves to excel at music was also evident in his overwhelming eagerness to share his new relationship with Christ. That eagerness was exhibited through his work at the Methodist Children's Home while in college and his current volunteer youth work at his home congregation of First Baptist Church in Franklin, Tennessee.
Groves' music and ministry are tightly entwined in his life. In fact, his straightforward and inspiring lyrics have proved to be useful even to his church pastor, who has often used Groves' songs in tandem with his sermons. Many of the songs on the album were written specifically for this purpose, drawing listeners to Christ's message of hope and redemption and challenging them to action.
Soon after college graduation Groves moved to Nashville, married his college sweetheart and landed a job with a music publisher in one month's time. His job with the publishing company eventually led to a development deal with the publisher and a record deal with Rocketown Records in 2000.
Welcome Home
Shaun Groves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking
Welcome to this heart of mine
I've buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I've made
Inside of me
Open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded
[Chorus]
Come inside this heart of mine
It's not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart and make it
All Your own
Welcome home
Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
Gathered on my search for meaning
Every closet's filled with clutter
Messes yet to be discovered
I'm overwhelmed, I understand
I can't make this place all that You can
[Chorus]
I took the space that You placed in me
Redecorated in shades of greed
And I made sure every door stayed locked
Every window blocked, and still You knocked
[Chorus]
Take me, make me
All You want me to be
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking
The lyrics of Shaun Groves's "Welcome Home" suggest that the songwriter is acknowledging that he has been living his life his own way for too long and is ready for a change. The song expresses the desire to give control and make room in his heart for God to enter and take over completely. The lyrics urge God to enter the songwriter's heart and take a seat within it. The experience of the songwriter's search for meaning has resulted in the cluttering of his life and messes that he is unable to clean up. The songwriter is willing to admit that he is not equipped to make his heart a perfect place, but with guidance from God, it can become a beautiful home.
The idea of home is central to the song, and the songwriter cleverly uses visuals to support his message. The line "Souvenirs from floor to ceiling" indicates how the songwriter has filled his life with material things and attachments that do not bring him happiness. Through this verse, he acknowledges that he has been living a life devoid of real meaning. With references to "closets filled with clutter" and "overwhelming disrepair," he shows that he is unable to tackle the issues of his life alone. However, with God's help and understanding, he believes he can overcome every problem to create a beautiful home for God within his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Take, me, make me
I surrender myself to You and ask You to mold me into whatever You want me to be.
All You want me to be
I crave to be nothing but a reflection of You and Your desires for me.
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking
All I desire is to simply follow Your lead and let You guide me.
Welcome to this heart of mine
I invite You to enter and dwell within my heart.
I've buried under prideful vines
I've hidden my true self behind pride and self-centeredness.
Grown to hide the mess I've made
I've let my mistakes and regrets consume me to the point of needing to hide from them.
Inside of me
This is a cry for help and an invitation to change the author's inner world.
Come decorate, Lord
Please, bring life and beauty to my heart.
Open up the creaking door
Please, reveal the areas in my heart that need healing and transformation.
And walk upon the dusty floor
Please, enter all the unknown parts of my heart and make them new.
Scrape away the guilty stains
Please, take away my guilt and the stains of my sins.
Until no sin or shame remain
Please, forgive me and transform my heart so that nothing remains of my past sins and shame.
Spread Your love upon the walls
Please, let Your love fill every corner of my heart.
And occupy the empty halls
Please, inhabit every part of my heart and fill me with Your love.
Until the man I am has faded
Please, help me become a new creation in You, no longer held captive by my old self.
No more doors are barricaded
Please, help me open all the doors in my heart to You and Your transforming love.
Come inside this heart of mine
Please, I'm asking You to enter into my heart and change me from the inside out.
It's not my own
My heart belongs to You, not to me or anyone else.
Make it home
Please, let me be a dwelling place for You, a place where You feel at home.
Take a seat, pull up a chair
Please, I'm inviting You to make Yourself comfortable in my heart.
Forgive me for the disrepair
Please forgive me for not taking good enough care of my heart before inviting You in.
And the souvenirs from floor to ceiling
I've collected things that aren't healthy and are holding me back, please help me to let go of them.
Gathered on my search for meaning
I've been searching for happiness and meaning in all the wrong places and have ended up accumulating negative things along the way.
Every closet's filled with clutter
I have many areas of my heart that need to be cleaned up, but I don't know where to start
Messes yet to be discovered
Please help me uncover and clean up all the areas of my heart that I've yet to realize need attention.
I'm overwhelmed, I understand
Please understand that it's hard for me to face these things, and help me to find the courage and strength to do so.
I can't make this place all that You can
Please help me to rely on You to do the work in my heart that only You can.
I took the space that You placed in me
I wasted the potential that You've given to me by filling it with things that don't matter, and left little room for You.
Redecorated in shades of greed
I've selfishly taken what should have belonged to You and used it for my own gain.
And I made sure every door stayed locked
I've tried to keep You and others out of my heart, and have been too afraid to let them in.
Every window blocked, and still You knocked
Despite all the barriers I've put up, You still tried to reach me and knock on the door of my heart.
Take me, make me
I surrender myself to You and ask You to mold me into whatever You want me to be.
All You want me to be
I crave to be nothing but a reflection of You and Your desires for me.
That's all I'm asking, all I'm asking
All I ask for is to follow Your lead and let You guide me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHIP TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wendy S
Take me, make me all You want me to be
It's all I’m asking
All I’m asking
Welcome to this heart of mine
Buried under prideful vines
Grown to hide the mess I’ve made
Inside of me come decorate, Lord
And open up the creaking door
And walk upon the dusty floor
Scrape away the guilty stains
Until no sin or shame remain
Spread Your love upon the walls
And occupy the empty halls
Until the man I am has faded
No more doors are barricaded
Come inside this heart of mine
It’s not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart
And make it all Your own
Welcome home
Take a seat, pull up a chair
Forgive me for the disrepair and the
Souvenirs from floor to ceiling
I've gathered on my search for meaning
And every closet’s filled with clutter
Messes yet to be discovered
I’m overwhelmed, I understand
I can’t make this place all that You can
Come inside this heart of mine
It’s not my own
Make it home
Come and take this heart
And make it all Your own
Welcome
I took this space that You placed in me
And redecorated in shades of greed
And I made sure every door stayed locked
Every window blocked, and still You knocked
Will You
Come inside this heart of mine
It’s not my own
Come and take this heart
And make it all Your own
Welcome home, welcome home
Come inside this heart of mine
It’s not my own
Make it home, make it home
Come and take this heart
And make it all Your own
Welcome
Welcome
Welcome home
Take me, make me all You want me to be
It’s all I’m asking
All I’m asking
Sindisiwe Thebe
FOUND IT!! After so many years , last heard it on Radio Christian Voice more than 10 years... thank you Jesus👏👏
VALERIAM Ackler
I just adore this song it makes me cry every time. God is Awesome!!
Joanne Salamat
I do too!!!
Ellena Montana
I know! I cant listen to it without balling
Rin Angel
Have a great life God is a miracle worker
J
I cry, everytime, I hear this song, too! It comes from, a strong awareness, of knowing how patient, GOD is with me. I realize, my complete dependence, on him, to make it through life, unscathed by all the darkness that abounds.
Kris Bland
This song never gets old!
Rick 1982
Kris Bland Amen!! always loved it Kris!!
Lyn Fowler
I FINALLY FOUND IT!! 150 songs or so and a great day of worship and praise and praying and understanding of what the Lord was trying to tell me today.......and a great stroll down memory lane 😁😁😁 right before I sat my phone down and the very last song I checked.....I found the one I was looking for lol God is awesome!! I needed to remember that song because of what God specifically wanted to say to me today from first thing this morning until 1:17 this afternoon!! Wow! God is GOOD
Frankie Perez
Wow me too... Ive searched forever for this song... For years till now... This song ministered to me back in 2000