Bruce Carroll was born on December 5, 1953 and born again in
1979. Throughout his life his musical
influences have included: Peter, Paul, and Mary, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and
James Taylor. His debut album SOMETHING
GOOD IS BOUND TO HAPPEN came out in 1987.
For fifteen years he was a worship leader at Hope Presbyterian Church in
Cordova, TN. He has won 7 Dove Awards
and 2 Grammys. He and his wife Nikki
teach marriage seminars. Back in 2005
Bruce released his latest studio album BIG WORLD (On The Grove).
The pleasant title track ‘Big World’ is up first. It is an adult contemporary song with the
influence of country music. It is one of
three songs penned by the duo of Bruce and Billy Sprague. Inspired by John Eldredge’s book ‘Wild at
Heart’, it features Jerry McPherson on electric guitar, and is a song of
spiritual determination: “Now I’m fiercely devoted, can’t lock me in/My heart
is free and dangerous again/It’s a big world/Battles to be won, adventures yet
to come/It’s a big world/Beauty to defend, faithful to the end/This is what
life is/I was meant for this big world/Give me strength to face the
dragons/Bigger dreams to imagine/Help me keep a heart of passion/God I
pray”. ‘Everything I Need’ is one of two
songs Bruce co-wrote with Kerry Connor.
It is a ballad of contentment regarding not having all the answers: “I
won’t get it figured out/I will wrestle with my doubt/But I know that You are
everything I need/You have led me to this ledge/You are with me on the edge/Of
the way things are right now and what will be/Life’s a mystery/But You’re
everything I need”.
David Shotsberger is responsible for string arrangements on
‘Ship out of Water’. Anyone who has ever
lost a loved one will be able to relate to these lyrics: “Memory is a country
where I can go to see your face/But where can I go when I miss your
embrace?/Like a ship out of water/You left me waiting here/Longing just to be
with you/The time will come when we cast off from the shore of all our
fears/And sail into the wild blue wonder of Heaven and you’ll be there”. ‘I Don’t Care What They Say’ is a catchy
country tune that reminds us not to live for the approval of others: “I don’t
care what they say/I don’t care what they say/When it’s all said and done/Everything
but You fades away”
.
‘The Story’ is a pretty gem that runs over six minutes
long. It is a family affair with Taylor
Carroll on drums, Bruce playing bells and acoustic guitar, and Nikki and Austin
Carroll on backing vocals. This song
seems to reflect on Christ: “Every story on every face/He could so easily
read/No one could hide from His wise, loving gaze/What is He reading in me?/He
was a boy and much more than a man/He died on a dangerous road/Bleeding the
hope of the world from His hands/So we could find our way home (2X)”. ‘Jealousy’ is a country song exposing a very
dangerous vice: “It takes a toll on my gratitude/Moves me farther away from
You/How many times do I have to learn/I’ve got more than I deserve?/Jealousy is
killing me/It’s living rent free in my soul/It’s plain to see that I won’t be
free/Till You deliver me from jealousy”.
Of the song ‘Letters I Left Behind’ Bruce writes: “A true
story about a man in my church whose father left him letters to live by,
because he knew he was dying of cancer and would not be around to see his son
grow up”. Tom Hemby plays acoustic
guitars. Here are some of the lyrics:
“The day I turned thirteen and the day I learned to drive/He found a way to
share those special times in life/Though I never heard his voice, I know him
well/And I’m finding out that I am so much wiser for/The truth his letters
held”. Kyle Matthews wrote ‘When We Fail
Love’. Donna Hauth plays piano on it and
Al Perkins plays steel guitar. It is a
song of both regret and hope: “Pick up the pieces, let’s see what’s been broken/What’s
become of us/How do we manage to do so much damage/To the ones we love when we
care so much?/When we fail love it’s hard to take/The expectations are so
great/We raise our hopes, we dream our dreams/And then we do some foolish
things/But love that comes easy will easily give up/When we fail love we’ve got
to trust the love/That won’t fail us”.
‘Halfway House’ offers a unique description of going to
church: “Down at the halfway house/Somewhere between/Total rehab and working
things out/The halfway house where I can come clean/Renew my faith and deal
with my doubt/Cause the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak/That’s why most
Sunday’s you’ll find me/Laughing and crying and hanging my laundry out at the
halfway house”. Jason Webb plays piano on
the last song ‘Shelter Me’. It is a
prayer: “Shelter me, shelter me/Let the thought of Your compassion be my
strength/Prince of peace, shelter me/From the tempest of my unbelief/Mighty God
who calmed the sea/Come and shelter me”.
BIG WORLD is a collection of ten poignant and thoughtful
songs about life. It is very much a
relational album. It is not preachy, yet
talks openly about faith, and yes, doubt.
Bruce writes: “Thanks be to God for His hidden secrets, mysteries, and
treasures of the unknown. Show me the
way of grace”. Musically, the album
combines country with adult contemporary sounds, and touches of the
inspirational genre are also present.
Fans of Wayne Watson, James Taylor, Ray Boltz, and Michael Card should
buy BIG WORLD. I’m rating it 88%. For more info visit: www.brucecarroll.com.