The Stories I Tell Myself – Matt Maher
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I was introduced to Matt Maher’s music when he opened for TobyMac several years ago. I’ve enjoyed his music ever since. This collection of songs, that were mostly written during the pandemic, celebrate friendship with God and other people. The album, which features a variety of musical genres, was recorded in a house owned by Marty Stuart. There are several collaborations, and a few of the songs have two versions, one of which was recorded live.
Here are a few brief comments about each song, several of which were released in advance of the official album release:
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- Song of the Week Lyrics: Only a Holy God/Holy, Holy, Holy by CityAlight
The Lord’s Prayer (It’s Yours) – This joyful adaptation of the Lord’s Prayer was written by Maher, Bryan Fowler and Jacob Sooter and produced by Fowler, Sooter and Brian Elmquist. The song features organ, handclaps, drums, guitars, bass, and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
Give us this day, our daily bread
Forgive us, forgive us
As we forgive the ones who sin against us, forgive them
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
From the evil one
Let Your Kingdom come
Bigger Table – This song was written by Maher, Bryan Fowler and Jacob Sooter and produced by Fowler, Sooter and Brian Elmquist. The song features piano, drums, bass, guitar, handclaps, and backing vocals. God’s love has a bigger table and there is a place for you.
Key lyric:
A house for the hungry
A well for the thirsty
Where all saints come together
Shoulder to shoulder
A welcome for the traveler
New wine for the vineyard
In all things, God is able
Love has a bigger table
In the Room – This song was written by Maher, Jane Williams, Chris Brown, and Mia Fieldes. It was produced by Jacob Sooter and Brian Elmquist and features Chris Brown of Elevation Worship on vocals. The powerful song features guitar, piano, drums, bass, backing vocals and a brief guitar solo. The song references Luke 5: So tear off the roof, lower me down, whatever it takes to get me to You.
Key lyric:
And I just wanna be in the room
Wanna be in the room when You move
And I’m not leavin’
Not leavin’ ’til You do
Leaning – This song was written by Maher, Lizzie Morgan, Brian Elmquist and Jacob Sooter, based on E.A. Hoffman’s 1887 hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”. It was produced by Elmquist and Sooter and features Lizzie Morgan on vocals. The song features piano, guitar, bass, drums, and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
What a fellowship
What a joy divine
What a priceless gift
God, I’m Yours, and You are mine
Let my restless soul
Be still and know
I am leanin’ on Your everlasting arms
Burning Heart of God – This worship song was written by Maher, Jacob Sooter, Brian Elmquist and Nate Moore. It was produced by Sooter and Elmquist. The song features synth, keys, piano, guitar, bass, drums, and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
Love like fire, all-consuming
From the beginning, without an end
My desire is my offering
And I’ll never be the same in the burning heart of God
The Stories I Tell Myself – The album’s title song was written by Maher, for King & Country’s Luke Smallbone and Joel Smallbone, and Jacob Sooter. It was produced by Jacob Sooter and Brian Elmquist. The song features synth, keys, bass, drums, and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
When I think about Jesus
He never faced a battle that He couldn’t win
And all I ever needed, I found in Him
And He made a way through the wilderness
From glory to glory, He is my story
Better Off Broken – This song was written by Maher, Paul Mabury and Ryan Ellis. The song was produced by Jacob Sooter and Brian Elmquist, and features Ryan Ellis on lead vocals. The song, which slows down the pace, features bass, guitar, synth, piano, and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
Love came crashin’ in, oh, bombs away
Blowin’ up my world
From the fallout, I can say
I’m better off broken
I did all I could to run away
But now I’m givin’ up
If it’s the only way I stay
I’m better off broken
The Answer Is Yes – This song, which has a live gospel music feel, was written by Maher, Brian Elmquist, Jacob Sooter and Thad Cockrell. It was produced by Elmquist and Sooter. The song, which is about turning to God when we don’t know where else to turn, features guitar, piano, and a gospel choir.
Key lyric:
You’ve seen me through good times (Yes)
You’ve held me through pain (Yes)
You’ve heard all my questions
The answer’s the same
The Way You Love Me – This joyful song about God’s love, was written by Maher, Ethan Hulse and Ran Jackson and produced by Jacob Sooter and Brian Elmquist. The song features drums, a choir, bass, organ, guitar and piano.
Key lyric:
Oh, how can it be? Makes me want to sing
Every day I’m amazed at the way You love me
‘Cause I’ve finally found what it’s all about
Gotta say, I’m amazed at the way You love me
In the Room (Live) – This extended live version features Ben Fuller and Ellie Holcomb.
Burning Heart of God (Live) – This live version features Nate Moore.
Leaning (Live) – This extended live version features Lizzie Morgan.
Common Ground (Live) – This song about brothers and sisters standing together, was written by Maher and Anne Wilson. It was produced by Jacob Sooter and Brian Elmquist and features Dee Wilson on vocals. The song features piano, organ and some excellent vocals.
Key lyric:
Tear down the walls between us
Make way for love to heal us
Show us the way of Jesus
Where He is found in common ground, yeah
Inheritance (Live) – This worship about Jesus being our inheritance, was written by Maher, Dameon Aranda, JT Murrell, and Mia Feldes. The song was produced by Jacob Sooter and Brian Elmquist. The song features guitar, piano, bass, drums, and backing vocals. Jesus is our inheritance that we don’t deserve.
Key lyric:
You don’t withhold a thing
You were the offering
I don’t deserve it, doesn’t make sense
What an inheritance, yeah
The Time Is Now – This song was written by Maher, Brian Elmquist and Greg Lwinski. It was produced by Jacob Sooter and Brian Elmquist. The song features guitar, bass, organ, piano, drums, and backing vocals.
Key lyric:
If we are the lessons we’re learnin’
If everyone’s someone worth savin’
Then the time is now
One Heart at a Time – This upbeat song was written by Maher and Brian Elmquist and was produced by Elmquist and Jacob Sooter. The song features piano, guitar, bass, drums and backing vocals. If you lose your way, remember that love moves at the speed of forgiveness one heart at a time.
Key lyrics:
I wanna hear you talk
Even if we don’t agree
My Old Friend – This song was written by Maher and Drew Holcomb and was produced by Brian Elmquist and Jacob Sooter. The song features Drew Holcomb on vocals, guitar, bass, and percussion. Holcomb’s and Maher’s voices blend well.
Key lyric:
Time stands still
Whenever I see you once again
I always will
Hold onto the memories, my old friend
Wedding Ring – This love song was written by Maher, Emily Weisband, Bernie Herms, and Jacob Sooter. The song was produced by Sooter and Brian Elmquist. The song features guitar, backing vocals, bass, and drums.
Key lyric:
Said I did, and I do
I always will, still willin’ to
Say I’m sorry for the times I should
When you’re lettin’ go and holdin’ everything
The magic in a wedding ring
I Wanna Feel Again – This melancholy song was written by Maher and Taylor Leonhardt. It was produced by Brian Elmquist and Jacob Sooter, and features Taylor Leonhardt on vocals. His heart is a heavy stone and his mind is a lonesome road. The song features guitar and a guitar solo. Maher’s and Leonhardt’s voices blend well.
Key lyric:
So open up the floodgates
Let it all come rushin’ in
Oh, I, I just wanna feel again
I just wanna feel again
Only Good Will Grow – This song was written by Maher and Brian Elmquist. The song is produced by Elmquist and Jacob Sooter and features Elmquist on vocals. Maher and Elmquist sing this song in excellent harmony. The song features guitar, drums, bass and a guitar solo. The title of the song relates to the house the album was recorded in, which is owned by Marty Stuart, and was one time between houses owned by Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison. After Orbison’s house burned down, killing two of his children, Cash bought an orchard next door and promised him that only good will grow there.
Key lyric:
Only light will shine on this sacred garden
Every season new life, death has long departed
Plant you a tree, roots have wings
Favorite songs:
In the Room
Leaning
The Stories I Tell Myself
Common Ground (Live)
Inheritance (Live)
Only Good Will Grow
Only a Holy God/Holy, Holy, Holy by CityAlight
This week’s song of the week comes from the live album recorded at the 2022 Sing! Getty Music Worship Conference. It is a medley of “Only a Holy God”, written by Michael Farren, Jonny Robinson, Dustin Smith and Rich Thompson, performed by CityAlight, and “Holy, Holy, Holy” written by Reginald Heber, with Keith Getty leading 7,000 in singing. Watch the performance video here.
“Only a Holy God”
Who else commands all the hosts of heaven
Who else could make every king bow down
Who else can whisper and darkness trembles
Only a Holy God
What other beauty demands such praises
What other splendour outshines the sun
What other majesty rules with justice
Only a Holy God
Come and behold Him
The One and the Only
Cry out, sing holy
Forever a Holy God
Come and worship the Holy God
What other glory consumes like fire
What other power can raise the dead
What other name remains undefeated
Only a Holy God
Come and behold Him
The One and the Only
Cry out, sing holy
Forever a Holy God
Come and worship the Holy God
Come and behold Him
The One and the Only
Cry out, sing holy
Forever a Holy God
Come and worship the Holy God
“Holy, Holy, Holy”
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
