Ryan Stevenson - When We Fall Apart Lyrics
Lyrics
Verse 1
You were 43 when you got the news
Life will be changing, nothing we can do
The clock is ticking now, all I can think about
Is knowing I have to move on without you somehow
And I just can't believe that you're the one who's keeping it together
As you hold my hand and say
Chorus
It's okay to cry, it's okay to fall apart
You don't have to try, to be strong when you are not
And it may take some time to make sense of all your thoughts
But don't ever fight your tears 'cause there is freedom in every drop
Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart
Is when we fall apart
Verse 2
You ask me to sing some songs that I wrote
But I can barely speak, can barely play a note
All my tears rush in, falling on my strings
And make the sound of these progressions have a different ring
And I hate to say goodbye, knowing this will be the last time we're together
As you close your eyes and say
Chorus
It's okay to cry, it's okay to fall apart
You don't have to try, to be strong when you are not
And it may take some time to make sense of all your thoughts
But don't ever fight your tears 'cause there is freedom in every drop
Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart
Is when we fall apart, oh
Bridge
And you've got the gift of mercy, don't ever think it's strange
Not a curse, but it is a blessing to feel other people's pain
And always love without condition and trust with all your heart
There's healing in the story of your scars
Verse 3
Well, it's been a while since you've been gone
Sometimes I still catch myself trying to call your phone
All the hopes and dreams we used to talk about
They're still alive in me and I just hope I make you proud
Now I'm your legacy and it's your love still holding me together
And I still hear you say
Chorus
It's okay to cry, it's okay to fall apart
You don't have to try, to be strong when you are not
And it may take some time to make sense of all your thoughts
But don't ever fight your tears 'cause there is freedom in every drop
Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart
Is when we fall apart (Yeah, yeah, it's okay to fall)
Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart
Is when we fall apart
Video
Ryan Stevenson - When We Fall Apart (Official Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on June 5, 2020, as part of his album *Wildest Dreams*, Ryan Stevenson's "When We Fall Apart" offers a profound exploration of grief, vulnerability, and the transformative power of authentic sorrow. The song draws from Stevenson’s personal experience surrounding the loss of his grandfather, a man who, at 43, received life-altering news. This deeply personal narrative provides the foundation for a message that resonates with anyone navigating significant loss, speaking to the raw, unfiltered emotions that accompany saying goodbye and the journey of healing that follows.
The core of "When We Fall Apart" is a tender permission slip to human brokenness. The repeated chorus, "It's okay to cry, it's okay to fall apart / You don't have to try, to be strong when you are not," directly confronts the societal pressure to maintain composure in the face of pain. This message finds deep resonance in Scripture, which consistently portrays God as intimately close to the brokenhearted. Psalm 34:18 assures us that "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit," demonstrating God's presence not despite our pain, but within it. Jesus himself wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35), legitimizing grief as a natural, even holy, human response. The song encourages us to lean into this truth, allowing ourselves to be fully seen in our weakness, believing that divine comfort awaits.
Stevenson further expands on this concept by stating, "Don't ever fight your tears 'cause there is freedom in every drop." This line is a powerful affirmation that tears are not a sign of weakness, but a release, a conduit for healing. Biblical passages frequently acknowledge the therapeutic nature of weeping. Psalm 126:5-6 speaks of those who "sow in tears will reap with songs of joy," illustrating the progression from sorrow to restoration. Moreover, Psalm 56:8 portrays a God who is so intimately involved with our suffering that He collects our tears in a bottle, signifying their preciousness and value in His sight. In "When We Fall Apart," this freedom found in tears is not merely emotional catharsis but a spiritual liberation, shedding the burden of pretense and allowing the soul to begin its arduous journey toward wholeness.
The bridge offers a particularly insightful moment, revealing lessons learned from the departed: "And you've got the gift of mercy, don't ever think it's strange / Not a curse, but it is a blessing to feel other people's pain / And always love without condition and trust with all your heart / There's healing in the story of your scars." This passage elevates empathy, framing the capacity to feel another’s pain as a blessing rather than a burden, echoing biblical calls for compassion and bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). The instruction to love without condition and trust with all one's heart aligns directly with the greatest commandments, to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39), and to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Crucially, the idea that "there's healing in the story of your scars" transforms perceived imperfections into testimonies of resilience and God's faithfulness. Just as Christ's scars are a testament to His redemptive work (John 20:27), our own wounds, when embraced and offered, can become powerful narratives of God's ability to bring beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3).
Ultimately, the song's central paradox, "Sometimes the only way to heal a broken heart is when we fall apart," beautifully encapsulates a profound spiritual truth. It is in our surrender, in acknowledging our utter inability to fix ourselves, that we open the door for God’s transformative grace. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, God's "power is made perfect in weakness." Stevenson’s poignant narrative culminates in the understanding that the love of those we've lost, anchored in the steadfast love of God, continues to sustain us. The final verse, "Now I'm your legacy and it's your love still holding me together / And I still hear you say," reinforces the enduring impact of cherished relationships and the spiritual inheritance passed down through faith and love. "When We Fall Apart" is not merely a song about sadness; it is an anthem of hope, an invitation to experience God's comfort in our deepest valleys, and a powerful reminder that true strength often emerges from our most vulnerable moments.