Brian Free - Only God Knows Lyrics
Lyrics
She will never see the beauty of a sunrise
Nor pick a flower blowin' in the wind
She will never climb up to sit on Daddy's knee
Never spend a summer day with her best friend
She will never bake cookies with Mommy
Never know what it's like to be sixteen
Never share her love with that special someone
Never have the family of her childhood dreams
He will never celebrate his first birthday
You'll never hear him call your name out loud
He will never run across a grassy meadow
Nor will he be the little boy who makes you proud
He will never go fishin' with Daddy
Nor have the joy of buying his first car
He will never get to father his own family
Nor hear his little boy wishin' on a star
Day-by-day and one-by-one, we're killing our future
By the thousands everyday across the land
Can you tell me what has happened to America?
Is there anyone who dares to take a stand?
We have the blood of little children on our hands
But in heaven, God is picking up the pieces
Of the countless treasures we have thrown away
While slowly He's reshaping and remolding
Those precious little helpless lumps of clay
So lovingly He holds them in his hand
Only God knows just what they could have been
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Video
Only God Knows
Meaning & Inspiration
Brian Free's "Only God Knows," released in 2014 as part of the *Signature Ballads* album, is a profound and heart-wrenching exploration of the tragedy of lost potential, specifically addressing the issue of abortion through a deeply spiritual lens. The song opens with a series of poignant vignettes, painting vivid pictures of the simple, beautiful life experiences that are stolen before they can even begin for unborn children. We hear of sunrises unseen, flowers unpicked, intimate moments with parents, friendships unformed, and the dreams of a family that will never materialize. These lines aren't just descriptions; they are laments for futures extinguished, echoing the sorrowful cry of Jeremiah 1:5, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart." The song directly confronts the listener with the stark reality of this loss, asking a challenging question about the state of a nation that permits such widespread destruction, a sentiment that resonates with verses like Psalm 94:4, which laments the boasting of evildoers and their disregard for life.
The pivot in the song, however, is where its true redemptive power lies. While acknowledging the devastating impact of these losses and the collective guilt, "Only God Knows" turns its gaze upward to the boundless mercy and restorative power of God. The lyrics beautifully depict heaven as a place where God meticulously gathers the fragments of what has been cast aside, transforming these broken pieces into something precious. This imagery powerfully evokes God's sovereignty and His ability to bring good out of unimaginable circumstances, a theme central to Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." The helpless "lumps of clay" being reshaped and held lovingly in God's hand speak to His intimate knowledge and care for each individual, even those whose earthly existence was cut short. The line, "Only God knows just what they could have been," is not an expression of despair, but a profound statement of divine wisdom and purpose that surpasses human understanding. It’s a reminder that while we may mourn the lost, God’s perspective is eternal and His love all-encompassing, much like the simple, yet powerful affirmation, "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world." This song, therefore, serves as a spiritual anthem, urging reflection on the sanctity of life and the ultimate comfort found in God's unyielding grace and His promise of eternal hope for every soul.