Don Francisco - Give Your Heart a Home Lyrics
Lyrics
I hear your hollow laughter
your sighs of secret pain
pretending and inventing
just to hide your shame
plastic smiles and faces
blinkin' back the tears
empty friends and places
all magnify your fears
If you're tired and weary
weak and heavy laden
I can understand how
it feels to be alone
I will take your burden
if you'll let Me love you
wrap My arms around you
give your heart a home
It hurts to watch you struggle
and try so hard to win
but trade your precious birth rite
for candy coated sin
wasting priceless moments
restless and confused
building up defenses
for fear that you'll be used
If you're tired and weary
weak and heavy laden
I can understand how
it feels to be alone
I will take your burden
if you'll let Me love you
wrap My arms around you
give your heart a home
Take My yolk upon you
and walk here by My side
let Me heal your heartaches
and dry the tears you've cried
never will I leave you
never turn away
keep you through the darkness
lead you through the day
If you're tired and weary
weak and heavy laden
I can understand how
it feels to be alone
I will take your burden
if you'll let Me love you
wrap My arms around you
give your heart a home
wrap My arms around you
give your heart a home
?1981 NewPax Records
Video
Give Your Heart a Home
Meaning & Inspiration
Don Francisco's "Give Your Heart a Home," featured on his 2000 album *Signature Songs: Don Francisco*, offers a profound invitation to all who navigate the complexities of life with a hidden burden. The song immediately establishes a somber scene, painting a picture of individuals trapped in a cycle of pretense and pain. It speaks to the "hollow laughter" and "secret pain" that many carry, masked by superficial "plastic smiles and faces." This portrayal of outward composure concealing inward turmoil, battling shame and magnifying fears through "empty friends and places," resonates deeply with the human experience of trying to manage life's struggles independently, often with limited success. It echoes the universal search for genuine connection and peace in a world that frequently offers only fleeting comforts and superficial relationships, reminding us of the spiritual emptiness that can result from seeking fulfillment in temporary things, as highlighted in passages like Ecclesiastes where Solomon describes the futility of worldly pursuits apart from God.
The song then shifts, presenting a tender, empathic voice that acknowledges the profound weariness and heavy burdens weighing down the soul. "If you're tired and weary, weak and heavy laden," the voice states, immediately aligning itself with the very words of Christ in Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." This direct reference is not merely a poetic flourish but the very foundation of the song's redemptive message. It conveys a divine understanding, proclaiming, "I can understand how it feels to be alone," a testament to the God who empathizes with our struggles, as seen in Hebrews 4:15, where we are assured that our High Priest can sympathize with our weaknesses. The offer is simple yet revolutionary: "I will take your burden, if you'll let Me love you, wrap My arms around you, give your heart a home." This is an intimate, unconditional offer of love and belonging, a sanctuary for the fragmented spirit.
The narrative continues to observe the human struggle, noting how individuals "trade your precious birthrite for candy coated sin," squandering "priceless moments" in a state of confusion and restlessness. This imagery vividly describes the allure of sin, which often appears sweet and desirable on the surface but ultimately leads to spiritual impoverishment, a theme warned against throughout Scripture, such as in Proverbs 14:12, which states, "There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death." The song identifies the defensive walls built up, "for fear that you'll be used," recognizing the protective barriers people erect after past hurts. Yet, the divine voice persists with its compassionate call, knowing that true protection and security are found not in self-reliance but in surrender.
The comforting invitation to the "tired and weary, weak and heavy laden" is reiterated, emphasizing the profound empathy and understanding of a love that transcends human limitations. The promise of taking one's burden and offering a heartfelt "home" underscores the essence of God's desire for an intimate relationship with humanity. It speaks to the deep need for a place of safety and acceptance, a spiritual dwelling place where one is fully known and deeply cherished, reflecting the welcome into God's household described in Ephesians 2:19-22, where believers are no longer strangers but members of God’s family.
Finally, the song introduces the powerful imagery of taking "My yolk upon you and walk here by My side." This is a direct echo of Christ's teaching, inviting a partnership where burdens are shared and the path is guided. It promises healing for "heartaches" and the wiping away of tears, a future hope anticipated in Revelation 21:4, where God "will wipe every tear from their eyes." The unwavering commitment is declared: "never will I leave you, never turn away, keep you through the darkness, lead you through the day." This resonates with the steadfast faithfulness of God promised in Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5, assuring His continuous presence and guidance through every season of life. "Give Your Heart a Home" is more than a song; it is a sermon in melody, a warm embrace in lyrical form, deeply rooted in the liberating truths of the Gospel, offering peace and belonging to anyone seeking true rest.