Alison Krauss - I Give You To His Heart Lyrics
Lyrics
The wind is blowing down the quiet river,
a shining road that carries you alone.
Baby boy my love will last forever.
If you're to live, I must give you up to God.
I know our God will guide, protect and keep you.
Teach you faith and hold you by the heart.
Though your mother's heart is broken by your leaving,
her Father knows just who he is and who you are.
I wish that life wasn't always ending up this way,
with Heaven's love at stake and hell to pay.
But you in God's loving plan might be the missing part.
You must live.
So I give you to his heart.
The wind, it blows you down the silent river,
a shining road that leaves me all alone.
A life for you's worth losing you forever.
Some day we'll stand in God's fair land, forever home.
I wish that life wasn't always ending up this way,
with Heaven's love at stake and hell to pay.
But you in God's loving plan might be the missing part.
You must live.
So I give you to his heart.
I wish that life wasn't always ending up this way,
with Heaven's love at stake and hell to pay.
But you in God's loving plan might be the missing part.
You must live.
So I give you to his heart.
Video
I Give You To His Heart
Meaning & Inspiration
Alison Krauss’s "I Give You To His Heart," released in 2007 as part of her "A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection," stands as a profoundly moving testament to faith and ultimate surrender. This song unveils a harrowing narrative: a mother’s agonizing decision to entrust her beloved child to God in a moment of desperate necessity, believing it is the only path to the child's survival. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a quiet river, symbolizing a journey or passage, down which her "baby boy" is carried alone, prompting the heart-wrenching realization that for the child "to live," she must "give you up to God." This is not a casual act of faith, but a deeply personal, almost primal act of relinquishment born from an impossible choice, reminiscent of the biblical account of Hannah dedicating Samuel to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:27-28), or even the desperate faith of Jochebed placing baby Moses in the Nile (Exodus 2). It reflects a mother's sacrificial love that echoes the ultimate surrender found in Scripture, where faith demands we release what we hold dearest into divine hands.
The song delves into the mother's internal struggle, expressing her conviction that God will "guide, protect and keep you," teaching faith and holding the child "by the heart." This unwavering belief underscores the promises of God found throughout the Bible, such as Psalm 23, where the Lord is depicted as a shepherd leading, protecting, and restoring, or Isaiah 41:10, where God assures, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Even as her "mother's heart is broken by your leaving," she finds solace in the knowledge that "her Father knows just who he is and who you are." This speaks to the divine perspective, a wisdom beyond human understanding, acknowledging that God, as our heavenly Father, intimately knows each of us and has a perfect plan, as Jeremiah 29:11 confirms: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It is a profound acknowledgment that God's sovereignty often requires us to trust Him with our deepest vulnerabilities and aspirations, particularly when earthly solutions seem nonexistent.
The repeated chorus articulates the spiritual gravity of the situation: "I wish that life wasn't always ending up this way, with Heaven's love at stake and hell to pay." This line clearly establishes the high spiritual stakes involved, suggesting a battle for the child’s soul or destiny, where eternal consequences are imminent. It powerfully evokes the core message of the Gospel, where "Heaven's love" was indeed at stake as Christ gave His life to save humanity from "hell to pay" (John 3:16). The mother's conviction that the child "in God's loving plan might be the missing part" reveals a recognition of divine purpose, affirming that even in the most painful relinquishments, God is working out His perfect will. The unwavering declaration, "You must live. So I give you to His heart," is a pure expression of faith and submission, trusting implicitly in God's ability to preserve life and fulfill His purpose. It’s a call to trust in the Lord with all one's heart, leaning not on personal understanding, but in all ways submitting to Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).
As the song progresses, the imagery of the wind blowing the child down the "silent river" reinforces the isolation of the mother, who is left "all alone." Yet, her resolve remains unshaken: "A life for you's worth losing you forever." This painful acceptance of separation for the child’s greater good culminates in the glorious hope of eternal reunion: "Some day we'll stand in God's fair land, forever home." This ultimate promise of a "forever home" in "God's fair land" speaks directly to the Christian hope of Heaven, where believers will dwell with God for eternity, free from sorrow and pain, as described in Revelation 21:4: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Alison Krauss's vocal performance, while understated, powerfully conveys the raw, tender emotion of this mother's sacrifice and unwavering faith, allowing the message to resonate deeply without distraction. "I Give You To His Heart" serves as a powerful reminder that true faith often requires letting go of what we hold dearest, trusting in God's unfailing love and sovereign plan, and embracing the hope of His eternal kingdom. It is an inspiring anthem for anyone facing an impossible choice, a testament to the transformative power of surrendering all to the Father’s perfect will.