Raised in Cali, communicating a message as an artist … Read Full Bio ↴The Sho Story:
Raised in Cali, communicating a message as an artist has always been a part of who Sho is. Introduced to Hip Hop at a young age, he grew to love its content and attitude. Living in Southern California during the height of Gangsta Rap presented its challenges to many youth, as well as Sho. In high school Sho and some friends from his neighborhood formed a rap group that began touring with major recording artists. But his life took a different turn after the rap group fizzled, and close friends were killed and others incarcerated due to the gang life they led. The message of his life began to change.
He decided to heed his father's advice and apply to college, pursuing education instead of the streets. At the time, Christ was not a part of his life, but his older brother, his father, and a leader at his church, had always promoted education and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Sho continued on to Tuskegee University, and it was there, that the seeds that they planted in him finally took root.
While in college, through the lives of some solid Christians on campus, the Lord rescued him and redeemed his heart. Sho's message changed from promoting himself and Hip Hop to promoting Christ, and now he wants the world to see the Lord at work in him. Our popular culture today elevates the lifestyles of rappers who promote ideas that only destroy our culture, but because of God's grace Sho has a different message: "Turn My Life Up"
What if the Programmed Culture could see the change Christ made in him and be transformed by God's Grace to impact lives and revolutionize our world? Not desiring fame or personal glory, Sho invites you to listen to his message and see how God can "Rebuild the Culture"
Half of Me
Sho Baraka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the other half is trying not to stay
Help me see the hope that's past the rain
Restore the joy within me and
Speak to me thru the pain
This kind of news would make a grown man cry
The kind of man who knows the answers but he still asks why
My team expects so much from me, I can't let them know
That I'm not finding joy and my faith's dying slow
I gotta go on preaching I gotta go on with the show
Gotta grace the stage, I gotta make the crowd say oh
Only problem is I'm not believing in the words I flow
So I look to sky I know the hour has come
Please remove this thorn from me cuz my soul feels numb
I got these liars in my head asking where my faiths gone
I don't feel happy and I don't even care to fake for them
They think me showing pain is the denial of Christ
Because my tears up in my food all day and night
Half of me hopes in the Lord and knows I'll praise again
The other half wants an excuse to wallow in my sin
They say count it all joy, I got questions about how
Theres answers after death but I need answers right now
I know this to shall pass, whether slow or fast
Loosen my grip on the world and for you I grasp (2x)
He feels he fled temptation to long, so He's tried of fighting
He no longer finds his marriage exciting
She's drowning in depression in the rain
She can't maintain, Lord can you help her ease the pain
A father gets news that his newborn son has complications
He has no idea what he's faced with
He thinks no prom, no college, no athletic fun
No matter his disabilities I'm not ashamed of my son
Lord I pray with all my heart that when his life on earth is done
He'll understand that you and the son are one
One families prays together for financial needs
Father feels inadequate cuz he aint worked in weeks
He been laid off he may loose his car and home
He thinks what good is a man who cant provide for his own
He sees the pain in wife and children's eyes
Contemplating suicide cuz dead men don't cry
Lord give him eyes to see past the pain
That his value in life, shouldn't come with things
I know this to shall pass, whether slow or fast
They are losing their grip I hope for you they grasp (2x)
I wont let this current pain master me
What is pain actually
Lets not address it causally but I don't want to fear pain
Lets count it all joy its is gain
Dear life is in my palms and I'm holding on
Strength is an illusion right along with this calm that I'm on and I'm feeling far gone-
Cause half of me is hoping that my eyes won't open in morn'
Sorrow is my tongue hear my moans
I'm eager for redemption but I know
There's more than meets the eye to the thorns in my side
So I cry refusing all the lies
Pain is my ally when aligned to who you are
There's more to my scars so I know there's more to yours
I'm resting in your arms
I'm resting in the your wrists
I'm pressing with a limp pain is purposed through your gift
I'm strengthening my grip may this faith in u persist
And when this half insists I pray u breathe in me lament
Amazing is your grace cause while I'm holding you it seems
The truth of the matter is your really holding me
The song "Half of Me" by Sho Baraka is a powerful and moving expression of the struggle and pain that people face in life. The song speaks of someone who has experienced a great loss - half of them has walked away - and is trying to find hope and joy despite the pain. The person is asking for help to see beyond the rain and pain and to find healing and restoration. They are struggling with their faith and questioning God, but they are also hoping and trusting that they will be able to praise again.
The lyrics also address the pain and struggles of other people, including a man struggling to provide for his family, a mother dealing with depression, and a father facing the challenges of raising a child with disabilities. Despite the pain and difficulties, the song offers a message of hope and faith that encourages people to keep holding on and to trust that God is with them through the struggles.
Overall, "Half of Me" is a powerful and emotional song that speaks to the struggles and pain that people face in life, but also offers a message of hope and faith that encourages people to keep holding on and to trust in God.
Line by Line Meaning
Half of me just walked away
He is feeling disconnected from himself, as if a part of him he can’t control just “walked away.”
And the other half is trying not to stay
The other part of him is trying to stay present and not become distant as well.
Help me see the hope that's past the rain
He is asking for help to recognize the hope that comes after negative experiences (rain).
Restore the joy within me and
He is asking for the restoration of his inner joy.
Speak to me thru the pain
He is asking for spiritual guidance while going through emotional pain.
This kind of news would make a grown man cry
He reveals that he is dealing with a type of news that would make even the strongest of men cry.
The kind of man who knows the answers but he still asks why
He describes the feeling of someone who knows the answer but still doesn't understand why something is happening to them.
Why are you down cast oh my soul
He asks himself why he is feeling so emotionally down.
My team expects so much from me, I can't let them know
He feels responsible for his team's expectations and doesn't want to show weakness or struggle in front of them.
That I'm not finding joy and my faith's dying slow
He admits to struggling to find joy and that his faith is slowly deteriorating.
I gotta go on preaching I gotta go on with the show
He feels obligated to continue giving sermons, as it is his job and part of his public persona.
Gotta grace the stage, I gotta make the crowd say oh
He feels pressure to make a good impression on stage to keep up his image.
Only problem is I'm not believing in the words I flow
He lacks faith in himself and his own words.
So I look to sky I know the hour has come
He is turning to God for guidance.
Please remove this thorn from me cuz my soul feels numb
He is asking God to remove his emotional pain and allow him to feel again.
I got these liars in my head asking where my faiths gone
He has thoughts that doubt his faith, which he calls “liars.”
They think me showing pain is the denial of Christ
He feels judged for showing pain and feels that others think he is denying his faith because of it.
Because my tears up in my food all day and night
He is expressing how vulnerable he feels, as he has been crying a lot and feels unable to hide it.
Half of me hopes in the Lord and knows I'll praise again
He has faith that he will feel better with the help of God's guidance.
The other half wants an excuse to wallow in my sin
A part of him wants to indulge in his negative emotions and not feel better.
They say count it all joy, I got questions about how
He is questioning the phrase “count it all joy” and what it really means.
Theres answers after death but I need answers right now
He acknowledges that he might not get all the answers to his questions in life and that the answers might come after death.
They are losing their grip I hope for you they grasp (2x)
He hopes others will be able to find God’s guidance when they feel like they are at the end of their rope.
He thinks no prom, no college, no athletic fun
A father hears news about his newborn son that he will face challenges in his life, things like going to prom and college might be impossible for him, as well as engaging in athletic activities.
He thinks what good is a man who cant provide for his own
A father is worried that he isn't providing enough for his family during his financial struggles.
Contemplating suicide cuz dead men don't cry
He feels so hopeless that he has thought about suicide because dead men can’t express their emotions.
Lets not address it causally but I don't want to fear pain
He does not want to ignore or dismiss pain, but he also does not want to become fearful of it.
Lets count it all joy its is gain
He decides to try to see pain as something that can ultimately bring positive change and growth.
Cause half of me is hoping that my eyes won't open in morn'
He is in a dark place, so much so that a part of him is hoping to not wake up the next day.
I'm eager for redemption but I know
He is looking for redemption from his pain and negative emotions, but he is aware it cannot happen instantly.
There's more than meets the eye to the thorns in my side
He knows that the issues he faces have a deeper meaning and can help him grow.
And when this half insists I pray u breathe in me lament
When one side of him fights against feeling better, he prays for help and guidance to stay strong through the process.
Amazing is your grace cause while I'm holding you it seems
He is finding comfort in his faith and feels that while he is holding on to his faith, God is holding on to him.
Contributed by Savannah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Muratori01
great song, great album!
g0diisl0ve
This song is on another level. I have to get this CD! God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. May the truth continue to be spread
Josh Riddick
great track great album
HGASoulja
this was my favorite song on the album
Natu Myers
This song touched me, i wan't expecting it to do so
TheVersatilities OfJayyy
This song is VERY deep i even think deep is an understatement
Brett Sheppard
Sho is just the realest
Mathilde Zoe
reach records ur the best! GBY g's!
Hulkmania21
wow, godbless
Ericksonmennard
0 dislike... wow..