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Written by: Andrea Emmes - Music & Background Vocals by: Chris Mendez Copyright 2008 This song took me a couple of weeks to write. I came across the expression, “Beautifully Broken” and thought is was exactly how I felt. My parents had always taught me that God made me perfect just as I am, flaws and all. Since I came down with CRPS and wasn’t able to walk, move, or function like I’m used to…I was a dancer/singer/performer. I was stripped of all of my “talents” as well as any “normal, everyday abilities”. I felt who I was had died and I didn't know what to do. But I still had God and who He made me to be. This song is about me. How I grew up, all of my little flaws and insecurities and how my parents taught me. It isn’t until the last chorus where instead of mom or dad telling me that I was beautifully broken, is where I took ownership of that fact. I began to embrace who I was, the good and the bad, the broken and whole parts of who God made me to be and I knew that I still had a purpose. God still had a use for me even though I couldn’t walk. It was at this time as well that I was starting to feel depression set in and felt like I wasn’t doing anything for the Kingdom because I was stuck in my apartment all alone away from everyone. Well, I was online a lot and started to meet a lot of people online all over the world from all kinds of different chat sites, as well as an online video game called World of Warcraft. I realized that I was talking to all of these people about Christ and was witnessing to them. Many of them would tell me how, because of me, they were able to find truth in the Lord’s words, or faith, encouragement. My collaborator, Chris, even said that by watching how I was dealing with my disease and how continued to persevere, that he was inspired and found strength. Because of ME!!! All alone in my little apartment, all by myself, I was reaching God’s children all over the world. I wasn’t broken at all. Life is hard and we all have burdens to bear whether it be physical, mental, emotional, etc. but we do not have to let our challenges define us. We can still love ourselves and find our purpose, our worth, find hope. LyricsVerse
There she was this little girl, born to this world With wonder in her eyes Dreaming of moonbeams and pearls Gazing to the sky She’s taking it all in Trying to find her way Looking for a place to begin And her momma says… Chorus You’re beautifully broken Perfectly made With all that you’re given How can you complain? For I know His purpose Is given to you With words from His Spirit Who resides in you? You’re beautifully broken, beautifully broken, you're beautifully broken... Perfectly made Verse Looks like her mother Laughs like her dad With Jesus in her heart You know she’s safe where she stands Growing up and making friends How the time does fly Going through her awkward stage Questions in her eyes And her daddy says… Chorus You’re beautifully broken Perfectly made With all that you’re given How can you complain? For I know His purpose Is given to you With words from His Spirit Who resides in you? You’re beautifully broken, beautifully broken, you're beautifully broken... Perfectly made Bridge By now she’s got a job This girl is all grown Trying hard to find herself And make it on her own It’s time to face her fears And Embrace herself Trust in the Lord And give faith a chance And then she says… Chorus ’m beautifully broken Perfectly made With all that I’m given How can I complain? For I know His purpose Is given to me With words from His Spirit Who resides in me I’m beautifully broken I’m beautifully broken I’m beautifully broken
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Copyright ©2006 Written by: Andrea Emmes & Richard Smith - Additional Vocals: Richard Smith, Diane Kelly In college, I had a friend who was being abused by her mother who professed to be a strong Christian and it tore me up inside to see my friend suffer. This song is actually me writing this to her mother as if to say this is how you should view your child and how you should seek God in how to raise your child. A child is a gift and a big responsibility from God not to be taken lightly or taken for granted. It started out as a poem called, “Lord, Hear My Prayer” which was published in 1994. After I left college and moved to Orlando, I met up with my now good friend and writing partner, Richard Smith and we wanted to write together and I had this poem and he had this music and we just combined the two together and it turned into the song “Father”. We finished “Father” in 1995 and I’ve had it shelved for 11 years, and now it’s the first track of my debut album. It's one of my favorite songs on the album. LyricsVerse
Lonely eyes of a child They see with naïve sight They fantasize, exaggerate, dream with great delight You've granted me the chance to teach the child What is right from wrong Pray mistakes won't be made Guide him where he belongs Pre Chorus Memories we'll make together Will last a lifetime now Forever in my heart I know (I know) We'll make it through some how Chorus Father, help me guide my child Let Your light shine Erase all my fears Descend Your gift of wisdom (yeah) And teach my child to be righteous Right from the start Verse My child is older now We're seeing troubled times Unsure what tomorrow holds His faith we cannot find I'm trying hard to teach the child (what is wrong from right) I pray to You oh God my Lord That he'll see the light Pre Chorus Memories we'll make together Will last a lifetime now Forever in my heart I know (I know) We'll make it through some how Chorus Father, help me guide my child (As he grows in years) Let Your light shine Erase all my fears (erase all his fears) Descend Your gift of wisdom (yeah) And teach my child to be righteous Right from the start Choir Shine down Your light Make it alright Descend Your gift of wisdom Teach this child, oh teach this child To be righteous from the start Shine down Your light Make it alright Descend Your gift of wisdom Teach this child, oh teach this child To be righteous from the start Shine down Your light Make it alright Oo--Ah ah ah Choir & Prayer (spoken) (Father) Heavenly Father Descend Your great gift of wisdom To fall upon my heart (As he grows in years) So I may teach my son To be righteous From the very start And when my (Erase all my fears) time on this earth Has come to its conclusion Please continue to guide my child Out of the world's confusion Amen (and teach my child oo Father As he grows in years Erase all his fears And teach my child oo) Lyrics by: Andrea Emmes - Music by: Maia Rodriguez Copyright 2008 LyricsThis is a very special song that took about 3 months to write and was originally titled, “Don’t Tear My Heart Out”. I also write non-Christian songs, and this was gonna possibly be one of my “mainstream” songs. Well, I had everything but the second verse and the bridge written. I was stuck. So, I shelved it for awhile. Then, again, at 2am, God woke me up and gave me another inspiration for this song. I broke out my notes and started to re-arrange verses and choruses and finding new lyrics and finally came up with this song. It’s a song that has a couple of meanings/references. First, I had been praying for a friend of mine who had been going through a lot of problems in her marriage and struggling with many personal things. That’s when God woke me up and I started writing it for her. Once it was finished, I realized that it wasn’t just for her pain, but it was for my pain too. My anguish, pain, sorrow, loneliness, helplessness in my situation with CRPS and saw that it was extremely poignant on speaking for me. I really think this is a song that so many people can relate to. Christians of any age, whether they are new Christians or have been a Christian their whole life. So many times, we can dive deep into our own problems and forget that we have God to help us out of our valleys. We are human and will never be infallible. We are always going to need God and I’m asking God, crying to God, begging God to help me, show me, fill me, be patient with me as I limp my way through this life. Maia wrote the music and I cried the first time I heard it. I listened to it for 2 hours straight, just crying because that small woman in my heart was just aching for God to hold me. I really want to give encouragement others with this song, same as I do with “Don’t Cry”. No matter what you’re going through, whatever place you are in your life or your walk with the Lord, there will be times when tragedies or hard times will come into our lives that we just can’t explain—9/11, Katrina, Suicide, Death of a child, Diseases, etc,. and we need to know that God is there with us, through the pain and the hurt. This reminds me of the famous “Footprints” story of how we question where God is when we only see one set of footprints in the sand and the truth is that He’s carrying us. It’s ok to hurt and be scared. But God is there. Verse
Been crying for days And the rain won’t stop My eyes are a blur As I glance at the clock Then a soft voice is humming From deep within Saying, where are you going? Look where you’ve been. Is this really how you hoped it would be? Then I look to the Heavens, praying, Lord can you hear me? Chorus This is my journey to you Within this mess I call my life I’m on my way to seek Your Truth To find Your Peace and Your Light Is it true of Your Grace? How you died so I’d be saved? I’m on my way, Lord I’m on my way, to you. Verse Lord, I’m looking to you now As I cry myself to sleep It’s late in the evening Will I ever break free? Of this pain that I’m feeling Then I hear you calling to me With a loving tug You remind me You’re here with me It’s not where I’ve been Or who I was But it’s who I am in you And where we go from here, because Chorus This is my journey to you Within this mess I call my life I’m on my way to seek Your Truth To find Your Peace and Your Light Is it true of Your Grace? How you died so I’d be saved? I’m on my way, Lord I’m on my way, to you. Bridge Will you help me through this valley? Hold my hand along the way Be the one that I can lean on So I can see another day Will you show me what to do? Cause I’m barely hanging on Chorus x2 End chorus This is my journey to you Within this mess I call my life Now I want Your Truth And I need Your Light Now is it true that You died so I’d be saved? I’m on my way, Lord I’m on my way, to you Copyright © 2008 Lyrics by: Andrea Emmes - Music & Background vocals by: Chris Mendez I love this song. It’s geared more toward tweeners and it has a small tribute to one of my favorite ‘80s singers, Pat Benatar. I am extremely close to my cousin, she’s kinda like the little sister I never had. She calls me a lot for advice or just to be a sounding board. I love her, unconditionally. I’ve witnessed to her more than I’m sure she would like and she’s been so polite in humoring me. Well, I started to put myself in her shoes and this song just kinda poured out. Again, another 3 o’clock in the morning wake up from the Lord. I take it as if the character, ‘me’, is questioning what Christians keep trying to tell me, try to witness to me, and I’m searching for the answer. I’m “lost”, confused, hurt, alone and in need of something to “fix” me. Well, I’m kinda putting God, Jesus to the test, and telling Him to show Himself to me. Help me believe. Kinda goes along with the ideas of “Meet Me Here”. We can only do so much on our own. We really must rely and put all of our strength, trust, etc, in the Lord. He’s the only one who can help fix us, change us, love us like no one else can. LyricsVerse
Bottled emotions of my, my torn heart Jesus, I’m much too weak-- I need a brand new start You said in Your Word that you-- have a plan I need to find You, Lord Cuz I don’t understand Pre-Chorus I don’t wanna hurt no more Can’t wanna feel this way But what else can I do? What else can I say? Chorus I am so lost Help me believe I gotta let go I need to be free I am so lost Why can’t I see? What you have done-- you have done for me I am so lost Gotta be Need to be free Verse I know the world says they, just don’t know Running in circles-- don’t know where to go It seems we push too hard good turns to hate Come release me, Lord-- before it gets too late Pre-Chorus I don’t wanna hurt no more Can’t wanna feel this way But what else can I do? What else can I say? Chorus I am so lost Help me believe I gotta let go I need to be free I am so lost Why can’t I see? What you have done-- you have done for me I am so lost Gotta be Need to be free Bridge I am so lost Don’t wanna cry I am so lost Can’t wanna try Why am I lost? Jesus You came Now set me free Chorus I am so lost Why can’t I see? What you have done-- you have done for me I am so lost Gotta be free I am so lost Why can’t I see? What you have done-- you have done for me I am so lost Gotta be Need to be free Lyrics by: Andrea Emmes - Music by: Maia Rodriguez Copyright 2008 I’ve had a million conversations with non-believers about why I believe what I do about God and why I gave my life over to Christ. This song is my message, even though it may seem a little frustrated or impatient, but my message or my side of the conversation to a non-believer. It also has a small private joke between my mother and me. Growing up, my mom would always say to me, “I don’t wanna, I don’t gotta, you can’t make me”. Well, I decided to use that idea and exact words to express how I don’t wanna live my life any other way but for God. I don’t gotta give up my stance for God, you can’t make me change my mind about my choice to follow God. We all have our own beliefs and experiences that are personal to us and no one should shame another for how they believe and what brings them joy, hope and strength. Since I wrote this song, I've matured in my beliefs and have tried to live my life as best as I can. As an imperfect person who strives to be better. No one but my mother will get the reference, but that’s ok. This, along with “Don’t Cry” is kind of like my “witnessing” song. Again, Maia did an amazing job on the music. LyricsVerse
You can say Hey whatever I can do anything I want Consequences They don’t touch me Who is God? To tell me that I’m lost Don’t you see? It’s not that easy To pay the price Decisions gone all wrong To tell the truth I see you tremble When I ask What happens when your gone? Chorus I don’t wanna I don’t gotta You can’t make me Face this life alone I don’t get it Don’t regret it For my life is not my own Verse When your worth Amounts to nothing And you’ve lost that Pep in your stride Cuz the world seems to blow you over And there’s no where left to hide You really think The world can fill you? Quell that emptiness inside Don’t mock the one Who is eternal Just to hold on to your pride Chorus I don’t wanna I don’t gotta You can’t make me Face this life alone I don’t get it Don’t regret it For my life is not my own Bridge Don’t you know He is Christ Jesus He died for you Accept, Believe Commit my good friend And you can be Born Again Chorus x3 Written by: Andrea Emmes, Richard Smith, Steve Erdeman & Jeff Linder © 2007 In 2005, in Orlando, in the car on my way to a rehearsal for a show I was doing, I started humming this melody and I recorded it on my phone. Once I got back to the hotel, I started singing and writing the melody for this praise and worship song. It just kinda came to me with out even thinking about it. It’s just a pure and simple praise song to the Lord of how amazing he is and how humble I am for all that He has provided for me. Musically, it went through quite a metamorphosis and went through numerous drafts and went through 3 different composers. Richard Smith, Steve Erdeman and the late, great Jeff Linder. I knew what I wanted and once I heard the end result I knew that it was anointed. LyricsVerse
I wanna say With all my heart That I worship You my Lord Please hear my voice With all I am For I worship You my God I yearn for your presence Your grace abundantly Show me Your mercy Please set me free Chorus Cuz You are Holy You are wonderful You are Father King of Kings Cuz You are Jesus You are my true God You are Mighty God, You’re everything Verse Pieces of me Fallen apart How I call upon Your name Can’t find my way Out of this mess How I call upon Your Grace I need to feel You near me To call upon Your name Release me, oh, Father From this pain Chorus Cuz You are Holy You are wonderful You are Father King of Kings Cuz You are Jesus You are my true God You are Mighty God, You’re everything Bridge And now I can’t remember J ust how I used to be I am Yours forever For eternity And I’ll never leave You I praise Your Holy name I worship You so freely My life’s not the same Chorus-----> I need to feel you near me To call upon Your name You are mighty God You’re everything Cuz You are Jesus Y ou are my true God I am Yours forever Copyright 2008 Lyrics by: Andrea Emmes - Music by: Maia Rodriguez, Background vocals: Maia Rodriguez, Matthew Merchant LyricsVerse They say the road to heaven Is a narrow path Seek ye first His kingdom And His riches we'll amass He died for our freedom Up there on the cross He is the Lord Christ Jesus Who suffered for the lost Chorus Meet Me Here I'm not half of who I need to be Meet Me Here I'll never make it halfway I know the road is long Lord, I'm just not that strong Meet Me Here Meet Me Here Verse Of all the time I've worshipped I've not gotten on my knees To seek Your truth more clearly To see the You in me I've wandered on this path, Lord The time it has no end I need you to find me To make me whole again Chorus Meet Me Here I'm not half of who I need to be Meet Me Here I'll never make it halfway I know the road is long Lord, I'm just not that strong Meet Me Here Meet Me Here Bridge Your word is talking to me A fool that I have been This distance I have kept you We'll build that bridge again But Lord I pray you take me Take me as I am And fill me with Your Spirit So that I can live again! Chorus Meet Me Here I need you, Father desperately Meet Me Here I'll never make it halfway I know the road is long Lord, you know I'm not strong… Meet Me Here… Oh-oh Meet Me Here My boyfriend (at the time) and I were talking about song ideas one day and said why don’t you write a song about meeting God where you are. He even came up with the title, “Meet Me Here (I’ll Never Make It Halfway”). I thought it was a brilliant idea. But it took me a few days to really come up with the storyline and the journey for my “character” or myself…most of my songs are me speaking about my own experiences. In the middle of the night about 2am or 3am, I just woke up and began writing the song and finished it in about 30 minutes. God does that a lot to me. I have written half of my songs like that. God will just wake me out of a sound sleep, between 2am-4am and I’ll just write an entire song. Sometimes, I will have completed the entire song in that one sitting, but most of the time I finish the major first draft and then will revisit the song later. Again, I had a completely different vision for this song melody and musically, and it was to be a harder rock song, very similar to one of Heart’s songs from the 80’s. Well, I was struggling to find a musician to help me with composing the music and then finally, this unbelievable gifted musician/composer friend of mine, Maia Rodriguez said that she would write with me but she asked if she could have free reign creatively with the melody and musical structure and composition. I said, “absolutely”, and I fell in love with what she came up with. Ever since then, any song that Maia and I write together, I let her write the melody and the music. I may give her guidelines of the style or feel that I’m looking for, but then I just let her go. Each time, it’s been magic. This song speaks about how no matter how hard I try to be a “good Christian”, I always seem to fail and that though my heart is willing, I need God to pick me up and help me the rest of the way.
Lyrics by: Andrea Emmes - Music & Background Vocals by: Maia Rodriguez Copyright 2008 Lyrics It took me a year to write this song. I don’t know why it takes me so long sometimes. Sometimes I’ll write whatever idea’s I have and then I’ll bounce from different ideas from time to time, shelve some and then come back others that spoke to me. I wanted to literally Thank God for all that He’s done in my life. Especially while I’ve been out on disability and in dealing with my disease, He’s never left me, He’s always encouraged me and gave me strength and showed me that there is more work for me to do for His kingdom but that will also fulfill my own hearts desire. This song is my “Thank You Card” to God for allowing things to happen the way they did so that I could write this album. Maia wrote the music and I love how jazz-y it feels. Verse
Praise the Lord, I've been blessed From the one and only God Who has given me a life so rich and free Well, Once, I was lost But now, oh Lord I'm found Because of what You did at Calvary Chorus I wanna thank You Thank you Holy Father I wanna thank you For what You've done for me I wanna praise You For Your mercy and Your glory I wanna praise You For all Your majesty Verse Christ Jesus, You're the One Who washed my sins away For Your love and forgiveness Has done something to me I wanna praise you for your mercy And Your grace abundantly For You have saved my soul And made me see Chorus x3 Copyright 2008 Words & Music By: Andrea Emmes Music/Guitar by: Kyle Rice Most of my songs start out as small ideas or just words or phrases and this song started out as a fast paced, hard, rock tune but then I got together with a talented guitarist, Kyle Rice in the Pirates Dinner Adventure boys greenroom/bathroom in between shows (we both worked there) and I started to tell him what my ideas were and he just stared playing and then the song and melody just kinda re-wrote itself. It took us only 1 hour to write the entire song. My message with this song is that I’m speaking to someone who may not know the Lord and I’m telling them about the power of God’s peace and that no matter what they are going through, that they can just call upon the Lord and He will be your refuge. Psalm 62. Instead of making it this intricate rock song, it’s a simple acoustic song, because the message is so simple. The answer is so simple. God will dry your tears. LyricsVerse
What if I told you? The gifts He showed you? The way, the truth And the life What if I told you? He who loved you first? He paid the sacrifice Pre-Chorus How many times must I tell you? How many ways can you fall? It seems we’ve going ‘round for hours now And now you see you’ve hit a wall Chorus Don’t cry He’ll hold you He loves you, so you know Don’t cry He’ll show you He gave you His life so you can live forever Verse So now you know To be free from darkness You must repent from sin So now you know Of Christ Lord Jesus You must be born again Pre-Chorus How many times must I tell you? How many ways can you fall? It seems we’ve going ‘round for hours now And now you see you’ve hit a wall Chorus Don’t cry He’ll hold you He loves you, so you know Don’t cry He’ll show you He gave you His life so you can live forever Bridge I know you’re scared now, I know you’re lost no where to run to, love… It’ll be alright, Just trust the Lord and praise His holy name Repeat Chorus x2 Lyrics, Melody: ANDREA EMMES, Music, Additional Lyrics: Richard Smith © 2008 This song took me 6 years to write. It's written about a loved one who passed away. We were very close and it still devastates me when I think about him. May his soul rest in peace. LyricsThe 11th Hour Prayer
Verse There was a boy So alone he felt Swept away from the pain, that haunted him that night How long did you know It was your time to go? I wish I could save you and bring you back home Chorus Although you're gone My love will never leave you Although you're gone Verse Can this be real? Tell me it's not true You've gone away It tore my heart in two Your memories remain and this pulls me through All I have is the love I have for you Chorus Although you're gone My love will never leave you Although you're gone Bridge Find your rest in the Lord Seek your peace in His sweet light Don't be afraid anymore, no It hurts so deep inside Like a part of me has died I will always love you, Although you're gone Ooo, Although you're gone, gone, gone Tag Promise me When the moon is bright You'll smile down on me Help me through the night, oh yeah Touch my heart, touch my soul, please fill the voice, just take control Show me You're there, there Although you're gone My love has never left you Oh, Although you're gone |
#PainWarriorI've been living with CRPS since 2006. We are not alone! #PainWarrior ArchivesCategories
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