Alibi (Michael Tait & Pete Stewart)
Alibi is a song about relationships. Something has gone
bad in a relationship and you want to be angry and non-forgiving,
but know you have to forgive and forget. This song finds its resolve
in the second verse when it says, "Every storm deserves an ending".
This means that everything must come to an end and every argument
must be settled.
Loss for Words (Michael Tait, Mario Santana & Randy Crawford)
This song is like the apostle Paul - the things he wished he wouldn't
do, he did; and the things he should have done, he didn't do.
The bridge is the basis of the song… "Empty words cannot suffice,
I've been runnin' from what I know is right, when only Yours are
words of life." In the end the only words that matter are the
words that are influenced by Christ.
Bonded (Michael Tait & Randy Crawford)
This song is about spending time with God and finding
that quiet place. We bond with friends, husbands and wives, brothers
and sisters but there is nothing better than the bond between
a man and his saving grace - Jesus.
All
You Got (Michael Tait, Chad Chapin, & Toby McKeehan)
This song is probably my favorite on the record. It is
a very encouraging song. It is a song for people who feel like
they have given their all and nobody noticed. Everybody has been
there, but everybody still needs to know at the end of the day,
that they are loved and everything is going work out.
Spy (Michael Tait & Aaron Julison)
This song is to the people who treat us like outcasts because
we're Christians. The chorus is "You treat me like a spy when
I come around. Just like a private eye roaming through your town.
You treat like me like a spy and I can't see why." We are not
spies. Spies hide and have a secret agenda. Our agenda is wide
open which is to reach people and share the good news of God with
them. The bridge addresses the person and says "Its a shame, will
you ever change? You are so suspicious."
Looking
for You (Michael Tait & Chad Chapin & Pete Stewart)
This is probably the most passionate song on the record. It could
be to Christ or my spouse someday. "Life's so bittersweet, like
a dream. Remembering when I could talk to you, we were safe in
a world of harm." This says I was safe in a crazy place because
I was safe in the arms of Christ. His love will never leave me,
even though I have been lured away by many stupid things. The
chorus says "I am looking for you cause' you are all that's true
to me. You make me smile." The feeling of deliverance you get
when you recklessly abandon yourself to Christ is immeasurable.
At the very end the lyric says "I am looking for you cause' you
are my soul's desire. I am searching for you, yes, you are my
soul's desire."
Tell
Me Why (Michael Tait & Mark Heimermann)
Many people hear this song and don't realize it is a song about
divorce. There is regret, pain and anguish in the song. But it
is also an encouraging song. We don't have to run away. We can
stay together and make this thing work. The second verse says
"A beating heart, a tender kiss. Love is so much more than this,
Always givin' in and never giving up." To me, that is probably
the meatiest part of the whole song. It is letting you know that
you have to completely serve your mate. You have to dig in when
it gets tough. It is all about sticking it out and saying that
we are going to make it through. Running is not the answer.
Carried
Away (Michael Tait & Toby McKeehan) This song has a quirky
crazy Dorothy/Oz feel. I am almost talking to the dark side in
the song. I am saying, "You say my name like I am
the only game in this town but just the same you gotta stop hanging
around." The chorus continues "I am carried away, a full-on freak
display." This means that I am not ashamed to be who I am in Christ.
Empty
(Michael Tait & Chad Chapin)
Empty is the staple of the record. It is a song I wrote
at home over two years ago while I was at my moms at Christmas
time. I was feeling pretty good about myself that night and started
thinking that I have probably done more in my short years than
most people have done in their lifetime. I was having all these
selfish, conceited thoughts, and out of the blue it hit me "What
is the profit if I gain the whole world and lose my own soul."
(Mark 8:36) Often emptiness is a thing that comes when you have
completely exhausted your time and resources chasing after vain,
temporal things. But every day you have a choice to bring a cup
before the Lord and have it filled or you will end up unfulfilled
and empty.
Unglued
(Michael Tait & Daniel Joseph)
I decided to add the song late in the writing process
of the record. The song helps people grieve. My sister died in
'97. My dad died in '98. My brother in died in '99. I also lost
two uncles during that same time. I think many times when you
lose a family member, loved one, best friend or any kind of loss,
people feel uncomfortable. They don't know what to say and don't
know how to respond to your hurt. They will say things such as
"Be strong, hang in there. Don't cry it will be all right." But
you need to cry and to lose it. You need to fall apart. When I
cry God holds this heart of mine, He feels the pain inside and
feels the pain I hide.