An arguable pre-cursor to Lauren Daigle's popular new song "You Say" is Mandisa's "The Truth About Me." While both are songs that encourage the felt depravity of man with the truth of identity in Christ, Mandisa's song was released seven years prior to "You Say." It was requested to be sung at a church I served in Wisconsin by a good singer and passionate worshipper who actually introduced me to Mandisa's work. "The Truth About Me" is underrated, compared to her more popular works (e.g. "Overcomer," "Stronger," and collaborations with TobyMac).
"The Truth About Me" plays like pop ballad with a strong hip-hop flavor. The chord progression is simple, and the song can be sung with just a piano and/or guitar accompaniment (no percussion necessary), like we did at a church in Wisconsin. Lyrics are below:
If only I could see me as You see me And understand the way that I am loved Would it give a whole new meaning to my purpose? Change the way I see the world?
Would I sparkle like a star in the night sky? Would I give a little more instead of take? If I understood I'm precious like a diamond Of a worth no one could estimate I'm a worth no one could estimate
You say lovely, I say broken I say guilty, You say forgiven I feel lonely, You say You're with me We both know it would change everything If only I believed the truth about me
I wish I could hold on to the moments When my life is spinning but I'm peaceful still Like a wind You whisper into silence And tell me things this world never will You tell me things this world never will
You say lovely, I say broken I say guilty, You say forgiven Oh, I feel lonely, You say You're with me We both know it would change everything If only I believed the truth about me
I would sleep better at night Wake up with hope for another day I would love even if it cost me Take a chance and know I'm gonna be okay I would dare to give my life away
Oh, I feel lonely, You say You're with me We both know it would change everything If only I believed, if only I believed the truth about me