Broken Soul

Backstory

Broken Soul | Story Behind the Song

No matter what you have been through no soul is too broken for God’s redemptive healing.

Everybody Has a Story

Several years ago I met a person while ministering at a church who had really been through it. In contrast to my life, their previous life was completely awful. But, this person had so much joy! Most people probably couldn’t guess the level of horror they survived. In fact, this person grew up in abusive terror. Sexual abuse, physical abuse, and verbal abuse were normal everyday occurrences from their own Father. What kind of parent pimps their child for drugs?

Undoubtedly you would think the Mother of this person would have defended her child from the evil committed by their very own Father! When this person I will call our “Hero,” informed their Mother of the abuse, she did not believe them. Both parents were addicted to substances legal and illegal. My hero in this story ended up pregnant, by her own Father and in was placed in foster care. Now a teenager with a child, she ultimately ran away and ended up on the streets.

In like manner, often is the case with people who suffer from such terrible and traumatic events, this person’s life started down the same trajectory. “Sometimes when pain is all you know it is all you can give,” she shared with me. Drugs, prostitution, and now the responsibility of her own child, her life spiraled out of control. After being high she accidentally killed her child, the “trapped sentence” of prison became her prize. Subsequently she felt like her own death was imminent.

But prison was a blessing in disguise because there in the trapped walls, she found out Jesus loved her. He set her free. In the meantime, in my brain as I was listening to this deeply personal story I kept hearing the words “Broken Soul.” After church my family and I headed home and the Lord gave me her story in song. This is how “Broken Soul” was born.

Production Notes

Broken Soul was one of the easiest songs I have ever written because the Lord just downloaded it into my brain. He even placed my fingers on the exact chords for the song. Up until this point in my songwriting I mostly used the standard three cords but this experience exposed me to more chords.

I purchased a concise and condensed chord guide which is still my go to today called “The Chord Wheel.*” This has really expanded the chords I use when writing songs. To clarify, this tool is like a circle of 5th’s on steroids. Furthermore, any musician no matter what instrument you play can use it.

Producing “Broken Soul,” was more challenging because I actually loved the simplicity of just a voice and piano due to the story and powerful message of the song. It took me a while to discern how this one was going to develop into a final production. So, I kept it simple, very few instruments, very few background vocals. The few na, na, na’s are my way as saying to the devil ha -ha, devil you can’t stop the Lord from setting people free.

Hope for a Broken Soul

In conclusion, I call this person a hero because they found redemption. In God’s eyes He see them as a beautiful creation made in His image that the devil tried to destroy. This story and principle holds true for anyone that needs a miracle. I often sing this song when I am blessed to share my gifts and talents with the homeless. God changes lives, gives you hope, shows you His love, and just like God did for my hero – sets you free!

If your curious and longing for the only freedom there is here is a resource you can download. God takes broken spirits, heals broken souls, and sets broken people free. He did for me!

Broken Soul, featured on the Album Bigger Than Me | © 2008 Judith Baker (ASCAP) | Publisher LeBaker Music (ASCAP) | Music, Lyrics, Background Vocals, Production and Sound Recording by Judith Baker | All Rights Reserved