Well, it breaks my heart
Every time I see the world break yours in two
You know those lies ain’t true
But when you let ‘em get to you
Being you is hard to be, I see

These days, stick and stones
Sound like paradise compared to those harsh words
They’d rather cut you down than hold you
But they don’t know you like I know you
If they did I know they’d see, yes they would see

To me you are
Heaven’s finest invention by far
So much brighter than the brightest star
And what I’d give to make you see
Who you are to me

All your so-called friends
That said they’d be there till the bitter end are gone
But I won’t be just like the others
I’m gonna show you my true colors
You can’t ever make me leave
No, no, I won’t ever leave

When you laugh
That’s my favorite song
And all the gray is gone
Every single time I see you smile
I just haven’t seen it in a while

So go on and dream
Bigger dreams than this town’s ever seen before
There are just two kinds of people
Ones who say you’re just not able
And the ones who change the world
And you’re gonna change the 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:
"Have you ever felt the pain of middle school? I have through my son Connor. There are many things most people do not know about him :

~ That he struggles to learn on a daily basis, that he thinks of himself as stupid. However, he works harder then anyone I know.

~He is just looking for a friend that will accept him as he is someone to hang with and do things with on the weekends. Doesn't everyone deserve a "true" friend?

~ The pain of wanting a "girlfriend" so bad that you let those "popular girls" say mean things to him on facebook. It says he has 255 friends ~ friends that would not even say "hi" back when he passes them in the hallway at school. Nevertheless, he is proud of all those so called friends.

However, you see, he is my inspiration because through all the painful moments he still has such empathy for people and can forgive in a heartbeat. I always tell him that God has something special waiting for him because of all the struggles he has been through since his birth. I want him to tell me how he can get up each morning and still put a smile on his face and be positive when he has so many negative things going on around him each day? He's learned it a choice!"

Matthew’s commentary:
“To Me” was one of the first songs written in the cabin. Michelle sent her story to me and I’ll never forget the first sentence she wrote. “Have you ever felt the pain of middle school?” Immediately, Michelle’s story about her son’s struggles with a learning disability and longing for acceptance from the other kids in school resonated with me. As I read her story, pictures of my own middle school years came to mind, and I was surprised to find how much I remembered of being picked on in school because of my weight. I remember how cruel kids in school can be, and my heart broke for Michelle’s son who was dealing with the same thing. I found myself writing this song from the perspective of Michelle, the parent of a child who is getting a first taste of how cold this world can be. I wanted the song to say, “hey, don’t worry about them, they don’t know the you that I do. They just don’t see what I see. This is who you are to me.” It is hard to imagine, but as much as Michelle loves her son, and I love my two little girls, God loves each of his children that much more.