Broken Girl

Album: Story Of Your Life (2010)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is a track from Story Of Your Life, the fourth full-length studio album by CCM artist Matthew West. The singer/songwriter turned to his fans via web and radio for songwriting material for the album asking them to submit their stories of restoration, celebration, pain, hope and more. Around ten thousand answered from across the world. One of the hardest parts of writing the album was that fans submitted stories on topics that West didn't realize he might have to address. Among them were tales of child abuse. "Writing about these things allowed me to see that I have a very narrow view of the world, and they allowed me to look beyond my sheltered life," he admitted to The Boot. "When I would read stories of sexual abuse of children, I first was shocked, then angry, and then I thought about my own children. One of the songs I wrote about this topic was 'Broken Girl.'
    I was doing a show in Seattle and my band told me they thought I should sing this song. We had never sung it live before, but I did it. A few days later, I received an email from a man who had been at that show with his daughter. His letter said, 'You don't have to write my life story; you already did. When you sang 'Broken Girl,' that was about what I had done to an innocent girl, my daughter... and I have spent many years trying to heal that wrong. She was at the concert with me that night.' Again I realized you just never know who you are reaching at your concerts."

Comments: 4

  • Anne from UkWhen i hrard this song a few years ago i was going through a dark phase i was abused as a child and it all came to surface but your song broken girl was 1 of the songs that helped me get through on bad days thank you x
  • Whitney from IdahoThis song has helped me so much. This is the story of my life and has helped me to realize that it wasn't my fault.
  • Bea from CarrolltonLove your songs ,You are a blessing and God bless you with a beautiful voice and able to write beautiful songs.
  • Ariel from LouisvilleIt's so hard to listen to this song all the way through I'm crying so hard.
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