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Michael W. Smith
Michael W. Smith


Background information
Birth name Michael Whitaker Smith
Born October 7, 1957
Origin Kenova, West Virginia, USA
Genre(s) Contemporary Christian music
Christian Rock
Pop
Years active 1983—present
Label(s) Reunion Records
Associated acts Amy Grant
Chris Rice
Steven Curtis Chapman
Website Website



Music World  →  Lyrics  →  M  →  Michael W. Smith  →  Albums  →  The Big Picture

Michael W. Smith Album


The Big Picture (1986)
1986
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9.
Tearin' Down The Wall (instrumental)
10.
. . .


Words & Music: Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Amy Grant

Here we are on a boat out on the sea
Off the coast of Africa
Heading for peaceful shores
With a cast of strangers
To an island hideaway
I hear you telling me
Of the place we soon will be
A rebirth from life's demise
Where the world is still--it's ideal
Anything you dream is real
It's Hotel Paradise
And you say it's nice
(when you run to)
Lamu--far away
Leave the pain far behind you
Hoping it won't find you in
Lamu--far away
You say it's there that you can run
From the one inside of you

La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la

So here we are on an island in the sea
Near the coast of Africa
And when it's right--Lamu nights,
They can be so inviting
Heaven here on earth
But I hear you telling me
This is everything you need
Well, I don't think it's true
'Cause the way you feel isn't real
You attempt to try and fill
the void that's digging thru
And it's killing you (when you run to)

Lamu--far away
Tho' that pain was behind you
It can even find you in
Lamu--far away
Because you never can run
From the one inside of you

I hear you telling me
Of the place we soon will be
A rebirth from life's demise
Where the world is still--it's ideal
Anything you dream is real
It's Hotel Paradise
And you say it's nice
(when you run to)

Lamu--far away
Leave the pain far behind you
Hoping it won't find you in
Lamu--far away
Tho' that pain was behind you
It can even find you in
Lamu--far away
Because you never can run
From the one inside of you

. . .


Words & Music: Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Chorus:
Word of mouth is the counselor
There is no need for proof
In a world that's wired for sound
The tongue becomes the mighty sword
That battles the truth
In a world that's wired for sound
Comin' on like a tidal wave
That washes thru the brain--a state of mind
No dispute when the noise is made
And so it lets the blind lead the blind
Lured by charisma to be swayed to believe

Chorus

Easier believing what is hard to get rid of than to try
Never searching--just accepting
Feeds the mind enough to get you by

Scratching the surface yet to dig deeper down

Chorus:
Word of mouth is the counselor
There is no need for proof
In a world that's wired for sound
The tongue becomes the mighty sword
That battles the truth
In a world that's wired for sound
Wisdom from the sacred page
Is turned and ignored
In a world that's wired for sound

Chorus

. . .


Words & Music:Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

In the passion your heart is abused
He is pushing you, you have to choose
Oh, Rebecca love is never
Easy anymore
Oh, Rebecca so afraid of
Losing what is yours
Chorus:
Are you giving in to the pressure
Holding you again, now he tells you
What it takes to be in love
He believes you're old enough
But how you gonna feel tomorrow
When the day reveals
What you believed was for the sake of love
Don't you think you're old enough to know

You're a breed of few and far between
Holding on to your romantic dream
Oh, Rebecca, love is patient
Love would understand
Oh, Rebecca, your decision
Is your only chance

Chorus

Bridge:

Oh, Rebecca don't confuse what love is
With what some say love should be
Should be...

Chorus

. . .


Words & Music: Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Wake up and dream about
The plans you have in store for you
But keep in mind
It's not just what you do
But what you do it for-and who
There are roads to discover
There are stories yet to be told
As you see the big picture
Just beginning to unfold (so)

Chorus:
Break down the barriers but
Don't bend the rules
Never forget your roots
As you head for something new
Ride thru the shades of desire
Letting the light be seen
And he'll steer the heart in the
Pursuit of the dream

It's alright to find yourself
Thinking now and then
About the way you want your life to be
Anticipating what lies
Just around the bend
Can't wait to see

Comes the time of decision
Some you dodge and some you should face
As you see the big picture
There will be some dues to pay (so)

Chorus

Wake up and dream about
The plans you have in store for you
But keep in mind
It's not just what you do
But what you do it for-and who

There are choices that build you
Choices that will make you fall
All part of the big picture
One day you will see it all

Chorus

. . .


Words & Music: Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

A Friday night affair
Out in the city heat
Always a party there
Along the sordid street
And it was guaranteed
The place to be was Rocketown
The drinks were two for one
Inside the crowded bars
The girls would make their run
Out on the boulevard
It was the idol place
We lived the ways of Rocketown
Hang around by the street light
In the heart of the night life

There came a certain man
A stranger to the crowd
We didn't understand
What he was all about
He walked a different pace
So out of place in Rocketown

They made a fool of him
They teased him when he'd speak
But when they knocked him down
He'd turn the other cheek
He told me I could find
A life outside of Rocketown
hang around by the street light
In the heart of the night life

Chorus:
What was his mission
Where was he going
Why was his heart light
Always glowing
All I was missing
He stood there holding
What was his secret
Could I know it

Some didn't like him near
Some laughed and turned away
But me, I longed to hear
All that he had to say
He had a peace of mind
I couldn't find in Rocketown
and when I reached down inside me
I could feel the emptiness

Chorus

He said it's in the heart
This change that comes to be
Now he had done his part
The choice was up to me
As we were standing there
He said a prayer for Rocketown
As we were standing there
He said a prayer for Rocketown
As we were standing there
He said a prayer for Rocketown

He walked off silently
And prayed for me
And Rocketown...

Chorus

. . .


Words & Music: Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Follow the footsteps
Or travel down your own road
Designing your fate
Hear what your heart says
Still you decide which way to go
Your life's an open gate
Chorus:
'Le bon et 'le mal
These are the voices
We nous somme liberti'
We make the choices

Echoes of laughter
Dancing in distant corridors
With the tears of hearts undone
Dreams we chase after
Give us the key to any door
We are what we become

Chorus

Holding and reaching
We face the calm, we face the fear
As we learn to win and lose
Voices are speaking
Still we hear what we want to hear
Our life is ours to choose

Chorus

. . .


Words & Music: Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Sitting alone up in your empty room
In the stillness of the night
Where all the many dreams that used to carry you
Are no longer in sight
You put your feelings down in black and white
A sad, disturbing reply
That you don't really want to face another night
So you're saying goodbye
But do you know that you're saying goodbye
To a lifetime

Chorus:
Well, I've got to tell you there's another way
To be free to be complete
But, you've got to make it thru another day
And deny your own defeat (don't give in)
And I'm here to tell you there's another way
To consume a hungry heart
All the love you need is just a prayer away
Let it in to where you are

You've made it to the edge of seventeen
Thinking now you've reached the end of the line
But there's so much of life that you have never seen
Now you won't have the time
You say that you don't hear the music play
so you're ready to give up the dance
Now that nothing really matters anyway
Oh, you give up your chance
But do you know that you give up your chance
At a lifetime

Chorus:
Well, I've got to tell you there's another way
To be free--to be complete
But you've got to make it thru another day
And deny your own defeat (don't give in)
And I'm here to tell you there's another way
To consume a hungry heart
Jesus is waiting just a prayer away
Let him in to where you are

You put your feelings down in black and white
A sad, disturbing reply
That you don't really want to face another night
So you're saying goodbye
But do you know that you're saying goodbye
To a lifetime

Chorus

. . .


Words & Music: Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Actions have been justified
All is compromised
Looking for approval there
In someone else's eyes, oh
Dodging all you really are
Becomes your greatest task
Acting out your lonely part
You hide behind your mask
Bridge:
Never true to yourself
Knowing well this is not like you
Fooling yourself
You're just living a lie

Chorus:
Goin' goin'
Goin' thru the motions
Goin' goin'
Goin' thru the motions
Goin' goin'
Goin' thru the motions
Goin' goin'
Goin' thru the motions

Victim of the circumstance
Prisoner of the shame
But it's the double standard life
That keeps you in the game
Taken by your own disguise
But when it's wearing thin
You'll do anything it takes
To impress your friends

Bridge:
Never true to yourself
This is not what you want to be
Fooling yourself
You're just living lie

Chorus

Bridge

Chorus

. . .


Words & Music: Michael W. Smith and Wayne Kirkpatrick

Chorus:
Tearin' down the wall
Getting closer
Further ever, and ever, and ever

. . .


Words & Music:Michael W. Smith, Wayne Kirkpatrick, and Chris Rodrigues

You're Alright
You take a look inside
But you don't like what you see
And so you choose to look away
It doesn't coincide
With how you'd like to be
And each glimpse of hope can easily fade

Chorus:
Down on your confidence
It's a fight that won't let go
(But) you've got to realize
That you're alright
('Cause) under your rubble
Lies a heart the Father holds
And when you see your life
Thru his eyes
You're alright

To learn how He loves you
Is to learn to love yourself
To live the life He's livin' in you
(And) what others think of you
Could never measure to the wealth
Of what he's paid and given to you

Chorus

. . .





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