Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Matthew West, who is my favorite Contemporary Christian songwriter EVER, y’all, is apparently launching a comeback with a song titled Forgiveness, the carrier single of Into the Light, the follow-up to his critically acclaimed album, The Story of Your Life.
Matthew recently posted May 17 that he was already in the studio recording new songs, and included a picture that lets us know there is a song titled We Are The Broken in his upcoming release, but it apparently isn’t a single – YET! – being shopped to Christian AC. Some Christian AC radio stations are already playing Matthew West’s Forgiveness, including The Crossing on KYXY 96.5 in San Diego (Forgiveness by Matthew West is at #21 the week of May 10).
Matthew West penned Forgiveness after encountering the story of Renee, who lost her 20-year-old daughter in a drunk-driving accident. Renee experienced a lot of bitterness as a result of the loss; despite the sentencing of the driver, Eric, to 22 years in prison, she did not experience peace. When she eventually visited Eric in prison, and forgave him of his crime, she experienced true freedom. Today, she and Eric tour around the country speaking about the dangers of drunk driving.
Respected USA Today columnist Brian Mansfield also cited Matthew West’s Forgiveness in his May 30 column, he says, “Like Don Henley once said, it’s ‘the heart of the matter.’ And West’s song has a big, kind, generous heart.” Spot-on, Sir!
You can bet I will continue tracking the chart performances of Matthew West’s Forgiveness. Update (July 28 chart) Matthew’s Forgiveness is now Top 10 after only six weeks on the chart! That’s awesome!
Update (June 5): There is a video of Matthew West performing Forgiveness live at Spirit West Coast Del Mar. I’ve embedded the Matthew West Forgiveness live performance video from there while an official video is still unavailable.
Matthew has always given credit to the people who inspire his songs. And yes, I’m proudly Team West. It’s my blog, I’m allowed to gush.
Buy Matthew West’s Forgiveness on iTunes
FORGIVENESS Lyrics
Matthew West
It’s the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don’t deserve
It’s the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just to real
It takes everything you have just to say the word…
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It’s always anger’s own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying ‘Set It Free’
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness
It’ll clear the bitterness away
It can even set a prisoner free
There is no end to what it’s power can do
So, let it go and be amazed
By what you see through eyes of grace
The prisoner that it really frees is you
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
Show me how to love the unlovable
Show me how to reach the unreachable
Help me now to do the impossible
Forgiveness
I want to finally set it free
So show me how to see what Your mercy sees
Help me now to give what You gave to me
Forgiveness, Forgiveness
