In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world, population: me

I try to stay awake during Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate, but I never give ‘til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see
Yeah, it’s easy to do when it’s population: me

What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose?
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world

Stopped at a red light looked out my window
I saw a cardboard sign said, “Help this homeless widow”
And just above that sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, “God what have I been doing?”

So I rolled down the window and I looked her in the eye
Oh, how many times have I just passed her by?
I gave her some money then I drove on through
And my own little world reached population: two

Father, break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me

What if there’s a bigger picture?
What if I’m missing out?
What if there’s a greater purpose?
That I could be living right now
I don’t want to miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world
My own little world
My own little world


Written by Matthew West © 2010 External Combustion Music / Songs For Delaney / Songs Of Southside Independent Music Publishing, LLC (Admin. by Wixen Music Publishing, LLC) (ASCAP)

Behind the Song:
'I’m not sure I fully understood just what I was asking for when I reached out to all of you and with the opportunity to send me the story of your lives. And perhaps God intended for me NOT to see the whole picture beforehand because I may have been too scared to follow through with his plan for this new record. As stories began to pour in by the thousands, I could quickly sense that not only was something special taking place, but that my life was about change.

I spent two months in a Tennessee cabin reading every story and writing songs inspired by them. During those months, my eyes were opened to see the world outside my door like I had never witnessed before. It was as if a veil had been lifted, allowing me a rare look into the lives of everyday people. I read joyful stories about adoption and cancer survivors. I read heart-breaking stories of abuse and broken homes. And with every look into someone’s life, something began to stir in my own. My Own Little World was written one night in the cabin as I found myself humbled by the realization of just how sheltered my safe little Christian life is most days. For the first time, I was truly sharing in the hurt and the pain of these other people who I’ve never truly seen before, and it felt good. I first walked into that cabin with my own little world being “population: me,” but with each new story, God began to change all that. This is the song that talks about how the thousands of stories you sent opened my eyes and my heart to see the world outside my door through the eyes of my savior, through the eyes of compassion.

I can honestly say that this song is inspired by every single story that was sent in! In my mind – if this project were a book – this would be the first chapter. My prayer is that this song sets the table for the rest of the album. We must first get outside of ourselves, look beyond our “Population One” – and begin to see the world in a different light if we are going to truly make a difference and live a life that is pleasing to God. The last verse of the song became the prayer for this album:

Father, break my heart for what breaks yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put YOUR light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me

Join me in this prayer as we begin this journey in to “The Story Of Your Life.” Every single one of your stories matter – we are all living proof of God’s grace, love and forgiveness. Tell your story – look beyond “Population Me” – don’t miss what matters.' - Matthew West