(Everything Is) Broken

Posted on January 19, 2011 by mattblick

If God were only strong not kind
Or God were only kind but weak

(Everything Is) Broken is a head-on collision with the problem of suffering in the form of an odd-time signature heavy metal folk song. Imagine if C.S. Lewis grew up listening to Iron Maiden. Imagine if Billy Bragg was being discipled by Derek Webb.

Shattered frame, photograph all torn
His Daddy doesn’t live here anymore
And the lawyers are the only ones on speaking terms.
I try to tell the boy he’s not to blame
For the vows that Mum and Dad unmade
But words can wound in ways no words can ever heal.

She’s drinking coffee from a mug that’s chipped
Warms her hands, cuts her lip
As she tries to give birth to all the pain within.
Pours out her heart, staring at her feet
Staccato sentences each incomplete
The baby she was carrying in her womb is gone.

If God were only strong, not kind
Or God were only kind but weak
I wouldn’t have to try to find
Words I’m not afraid to speak
When answers sound so trite and incomplete but…

Everything…every thing is…
Everything is broken.

Take a drive try to clear my head
The news is on ‘cos the CD’s dead
They say another peace treaty was torn up today.
Must be a hairline fracture in the universe
The Earth is cranky and she’s getting worse
300 dead, a city split just like an open wound.

If God were only strong, not kind
Or God were only kind but weak
I wouldn’t have to try to find
Words I’m not afraid to speak
When answers sound so trite and incomplete but…

Everything…every thing is…
Everything is broken.

I search for clues in a freezing Church
The boiler’s dead, the pipes have burst
The priest flinches as the choirboy’s voice begins to crack.
I start to understand as he breaks the bread
Red wine burning deep into my chest
You said, “This is my body”

And your body, just like everything…
Just like every thing was…
Just like everything was broken.

Download the free (Everything Is) Broken mp3
Read the (Everything Is) Broken lyrics

And please – if you like the song – leave me a comment. Thank you so much!

Related Posts: The Soundcheck Song – for free
Great High Priest
Other free songs by Matt Blick

About mattblick

Singer Songwriter from Nottingham, UK currently recording a mini album called Let's Build An Airport. He's blogging his way through the entire Beatles catalogue over at Beatles Songwriting Academy. In his spare time he wishes he had some spare time.
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  • Mat

    I see the lyrics of the pre-chorus has changed from Ashamed to Afraid.

    Fantastic song! :D

  • Mat

    ..and in the 4th verse Breaks -> takes the bread

  • Ali Smith

    I'll be honest, when i read "heavy metal folk" song, a (very) small part of me was imagining some growling vocals and a pointless breakdown at around the three quarter mark! I really like this song, it's a great set of lyrics and I particularly like the abrupt ending. It doesn't just fizzle out and let you forget what you just listened to.

  • Matt Blick

    Well spotted Mat – I think one is something I changed and forgot to update on the lyrics sheet and the other is one I changed after I recorded. Not sure which is which! Will have to check.

    Thanks Ali – I thought that having a 'broken' ending would be appropriate!

  • Andrew Barden

    Great song, Matt! Nice work as always :-)

  • Matt Blick

    Thanks Andrew, glad you liked it.

  • Dan Rodger

    I enjoyed the song Matt..great sounds on the guitar and I enjoyed the lyrics, just reading them again now.

    Thanks

  • Matt Blick

    Cheers Dan

  • Rob From Amersfoort

    Super! I like a lot: the time-signatures, the insightful lyrics, the guitar chords, and not to forget your powerful (don’t you have neighbours?) singing voice (I am jealous). I enjoy the quite ‘everything is’ part just before the climaxical (is that a real word) chorus starts. And if there is not much difference in meaning to you you could alternately use ashamed and afraid.

  • Matt Blick

    Thanks Rob – I like climaxterating! I record at Shabby Road my little industrial unit/studio where the guys with the car spray garage and my friend with the giant loom make as much noise as I do!

  • Sam Parfitt

    Hi Matt,
    I really like this one!! Very passionate and makes me want to join in singing. If I listened to it too much I might get a bit down though. I need to hear more about when it will all be fixed—I'm a sucker for happy endings though!
    Sam

  • Matt Blick

    Thanks Sam – I really appreciate you taking the time to search out the song. I think we need to hear about the happy ending but I'm trying to resist the temptation to wrap it all up neatly at the end of every 4 minute song!

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