FBT Song Stories vol. 2 - Broken Record

Howdy frans! Years ago, I did a “Song Stories” series for the Stages EP and thought it’d be fun to revisit that idea for the upcoming Falling Back Together album! Maybe “fun” isn’t the right word… cause the album is a wee bit melancholy... It’s a depiction of where I am in life right now. It may be sad, but there is a smattering of hope and nostalgia as well. And I hope others going through a similar season might see themselves in the music.

Track #2: Broken Record
Written: May 24, 2024

Have you ever been going through a thing? A really hard thing? And you don’t know what to do… but you keep praying and hoping for something to change and nothing ever does? That’s what Broken Record is about.

For years my family has been really longing for a specific outcome. Something is broken that we desperately need fixed. We’ve prayed the same prayer every day, over and over again, with seemingly no response. This has been one of the most difficult experiences of our lives.

Below is a picture of my lyric book, where I’ve hand-written the lyrics to every song I’ve ever written.

• Phillippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
  
  
• Colossians 4:2 says “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

I’m a Christian. And the second verse of the song really encapsulates how I’ve been feeling for a long time now:

As best as I can figure it’s the timing of it, but consider - I’m just doing what you asked. Maybe it’s just hard to tell… Maybe you’re not a wishing well… Maybe you’re not hearing me at all.

I wonder if you can relate?

But I can say that God has been faithful to me and my family in some amazing ways over the years. But in this one thing… it’s like I’m starting from square one, and trust is hard to come by. I know this thing we are hoping for is important, but it shouldn’t negate all the ways in which I know God is good already. In the bridge I allude to this idea:

I’m feeling like a broken record. A broken record, maybe… but I will never skip a chance to talk to you and know you better. My broken record, maybe it’s still making a sound?

I hope and pray that it is.

Lyrics:

I’ve talked to you a time or two
Well really, more than just a few
I’m at a loss for words these days
In fact, there are no words to say
the things I’m feeling every day
So don’t you think it’s time for a chat?

Our conversation is one-sided
I wish that I could hear you better
It’s getting harder to confide in you
I’m feeling like a broken record

As best as I can figure, it’s the timing of it
but consider - I’m just doing what you asked
Maybe it’s just hard to tell
Maybe you’re not a wishing well
Maybe you’re not hearing me at all

Our conversation is one-sided
I wish that I could hear you better
It’s getting harder to confide in you

I’m feeling like a broken record
A broken record, maybe…
but I will never skip a chance to talk to you
and know you better
My broken record, maybe
it’s still making a sound

Our conversation is one-sided
I wish that I could hear you better
It’s getting harder to confide in you
I’m feeling like a broken record
I’m feeling like a broken record

About the “Falling Back Together” album:

Falling Back Together takes Matt back to his singer / songwriter roots. It will be a collection of 6 brand new tracks, featuring the Matt Adler Band’s first recordings in 10 years! The songs are authentic and raw, with themes of love, regret, nostalgia, hurt, hope, and everything in between. They are a time capsule of where he is right now.

“I’m excited and nervous to share these songs with the world. They’re more real and vulnerable than anything I’ve ever released up to now. But I am so happy with how the songs are shaping up! I hope that others can see themselves in the lyrics and know that they’re not alone - and that they’ll be okay.”

- Matt Adler