Matthew West - 1 Song Lyrics
Lyrics
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Well I've written a bunch of these
Words, chords, melodies
I picked up my first guitar and I never looked back
Still I search for the perfect verse
Safe to say this ain't my first
But just in case it's my last
I want you to know
This is how it would go
If I only had one song
I would sing it for you
One last chance to let my words ring true
It'd be a hallelujah, it'd be a thank you Lord
It'd be an amen, I'm made new
One song
I would sing it for you
Oh yeah yeah yeah
You
Oh yeah yeah yeah
I could use some King James words
The kind you only hear in church
Make it sound real good, I could impress a lot of people
But if I was down to my last breath
If I had one heartbeat left
I'd keep it short and simple
If I only had one song
I would sing it for you
One last chance to let my words ring true
It'd be a hallelujah, it'd be a thank you Lord
It'd be an amen, I'm made new
One song
I would sing it for you
Oh yeah yeah yeah
You
Oh yeah yeah yeah
I want you to know
This is how it would go
I'd just tell you "I love you"
If I only had one song
I would sing it for you
One last chance to let my words ring true
It'd be a hallelujah, it'd be a thank you Lord
It'd be an amen, I'm made new
One song
If I only had one song
I would sing it for you
One last chance, I want the last thing that I do
To be a hallelujah, be a thank you Lord
Be an amen, I'm made new
One song
I would sing it for
Every song, every line
Every word, every rhyme
I'd sing it for you
I'd sing it for you
Every song, every line
Every word, every time
I'd sing it for you
Oh yeah yeah yeah
Video
Matthew West - 1 Song (Audio)
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on September 22, 2017, as part of his album *All In*, Matthew West’s "One Song" emerges as a profound and intensely personal declaration of ultimate purpose. The track immediately draws the listener into a candid reflection on a career spent crafting "words, chords, melodies," a journey that began with his first guitar and has encompassed countless compositions. Yet, this particular song is presented as a hypothetical final offering, a definitive statement about what truly matters if only one message could be conveyed to the divine. It is a testament to the singular focus that defines his faith and his ministry, stripping away all non-essentials to articulate the very essence of his relationship with God.
At its core, "One Song" is a spiritual testament, a deeply thoughtful exploration of devotion and gratitude. West’s central premise asks what he would sing if given only one last chance to communicate, and his answer is unwavering: it would be for God. This sentiment is imbued with an awareness of life's fleeting nature, a humility that acknowledges, "just in case it's my last." Such a perspective resonates with biblical wisdom, reminding us, as James 4:14 declares, that life is "a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." This understanding fuels a desire to make every moment, and every lyric, count eternally, aligning with Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 5:15-16 to "make the best use of the time, because the days are evil." The song isn't merely a reflection on mortality, but an active choice to orient one's entire being, and one's gifts, toward the Creator.
The substance of this singular song, as West articulates, would be pure worship and transformative truth. He envisions it as a "hallelujah," an unreserved outpouring of praise and adoration, echoing Psalm 150:6, which commands, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." It would be a "thank you Lord," acknowledging the countless blessings and, most importantly, the gift of salvation, a sentiment central to Colossians 3:17, "whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Furthermore, it would be an "amen, I'm made new," a powerful affirmation of the regeneration found in Christ, a truth beautifully captured in 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" This trio of expressions—praise, gratitude, and transformation—forms the bedrock of the Christian walk, demonstrating a faith rooted in God's grace and a life renewed by His Spirit.
West deliberately contrasts this profound simplicity with the temptation for performative piety or intellectual grandiosity. He muses about using "King James words / The kind you only hear in church" to "impress a lot of people," only to reject this notion emphatically. This artistic choice powerfully underscores a desire for authenticity over artifice, a heart-to-heart dialogue with God rather than a show for human approval. It calls to mind Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:5-6 against praying to be seen by others, emphasizing the sacred intimacy of a private communion with God. Paul, too, in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, speaks of coming not with "lofty speech or wisdom," but with the simple message of Christ crucified, relying on the Spirit's power rather than human rhetoric. For West, if he were "down to my last breath," the message would be "short and simple": "I'd just tell you 'I love you.'" This poignant line cuts through all complexity, articulating the core commandment to love God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37-38), and revealing the ultimate depth of his devotion.
Ultimately, "One Song" transcends its initial hypothetical premise to reveal a deeper, ongoing commitment. In the poignant conclusion, West declares, "Every song, every line / Every word, every rhyme / I'd sing it for you." This expands the singular hypothetical into a universal truth for his entire creative output. It’s not just one imagined song; it’s an overarching dedication of his whole musical vocation to God. This dedication mirrors the biblical principle found in 1 Corinthians 10:31, which instructs believers to do "everything for the glory of God," and Colossians 3:23-24, urging us to "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." "One Song" serves as a powerful reminder for all who engage with it to examine their own ultimate priorities and to consider how their gifts, talents, and very lives can be offered as a singular, devoted song to the One who gave them breath.