Ben Fuller - Proud Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
He never hit me with his fists
But he did some damage with his words
My old man didn't know no better
Just passed down what he thought worked
I tried and tried to break his pride
And be the apple of his eye
And maybe I was loved
But he never let me know I was
Chorus
Making my father proud
Looks a whole lot different now
It ain't about the man that I call dad
Who I could never figure out
It's about knowin' who's son I really am
And knowin' He's my biggest fan
It's a kind a love that makes my world revolve around
Making my Father proud
Verse 2
Got a long road of live and learns
In the rear view of my life
But somewhere in the crash and burns
And those wrong turns, I saw the light
He kissed my face, I felt His grace
He said, "My child, you found your place"
I fell down on my knees
I looked up and I could see
Chorus
Making my father proud
Looks a whole lot different now
Ain't about the man that I call dad
Who I could never figure out
It's about knowin' who's son I really am
And knowin' He's my biggest fan
It's a kind a love that makes my world revolve around
Making my Father proud
Making my Father proud, oh, oh
Bridge
Me and my old man finally settled old scores
'Cause pleasin' this world just don't matter no more
Now all I'm livin' for is
Chorus
Making my father proud, oh, oh
It ain't about the man that I call dad
Who I could never figure out
It's about knowin' who's son I really am
And knowin' He's my biggest fan
It's a kind a love that makes my world revolve around
Making my Father proud
Making my Father proud
Yeah, that's what life's about
Video
Ben Fuller - Proud (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Ben Fuller's "Proud," released in 2022 as part of his album *Who I Am*, is a profound exploration of identity and purpose, drawing a stark contrast between earthly validation and the immeasurable love of our Heavenly Father. The song immediately delves into the deeply human struggle for acceptance, as Fuller recounts the emotional damage inflicted by his earthly father, a man whose approval was sought but never truly attained. This resonates with the universal experience of yearning for a father's affirmation, a desire often left unfulfilled by earthly relationships. The poignant observation that his father "didn't know no better, just passed down what he thought worked" speaks to the generational cycles of unhealed pain and flawed understanding, mirroring the brokenness that can permeate human connections. Yet, the narrative takes a transformative turn in the second verse, where Fuller describes a moment of profound realization, a spiritual awakening often described in Scripture as seeing the light. This is where the song shifts from the limitations of human relationships to the boundless grace of God. The lines, "He kissed my face, I felt His grace, He said, 'My child, you found your place,'" powerfully evoke the Father's loving embrace and acceptance, a direct reflection of God's paternal love for His children. This encounter with divine love redefines the very meaning of being "proud," as Fuller articulates in the chorus. The pursuit of making his earthly father proud, a quest fraught with disappointment, is replaced by the profound understanding of being a beloved son to a God who is his ultimate fan. This divine affirmation aligns with the biblical assurance found in Romans 8:15-16, which states, "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" Fuller's realization that his true identity is rooted in being a child of God, whose love is unwavering, shifts the axis of his world. This spiritual adoption means his worth is no longer contingent on human approval but is established in the unshakable love of his Heavenly Father, a love so potent it can make one's world revolve around it. The bridge further solidifies this shift, acknowledging that the pursuit of worldly approval pales in comparison to living for the Father's pleasure. This sentiment echoes Jesus' teaching in John 8:29, where He says, "And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that please him." Fuller's journey in "Proud" is a testament to finding true belonging and purpose not in the fleeting approval of men, but in the eternal, all-encompassing love of God, the Father who truly makes us proud by calling us His own.