Journal Entry 7.27.23 - Fingerprints

Hi guys! Here's another song I wrote awhile ago. This one took several rewrites and some outside input to reach this final draft.

The concept of this song started with the idea of how we are made in God's image, but also made by Him, made by His hands.

Sometimes you meet a person who you know soaks as much of God in as they can get and you see that because it just radiates out of them. That's what I'd compare the fingerprints to, all the places a person lets God in and all the healing from the broken parts which creates this beauty that can only be seen because there were imperfections.

What I struggled with when writing this song was finding a way to put to words what I was picturing in my head. When I thought of fingerprints originally, I thought, instead of His fingerprints making impressions and indentions in me, that His fingerprints left a kind of dust that shone around all the outside. My perspective changed when I was struggling to find the right words so I showed this to a friend, and they mentioned how it seemed like I was not very detailed in the picture I was trying to paint.

My friend told me it almost sounded like I was talking about a potter and clay, like a broken piece of pottery. This totally changed my perspective and gave me a new light to try and take the verses I already had to be more descriptive. 

So I took that and wrote the lyrics you now see below, but then there was actually being able to play the song itself. Recording these videos is sometimes the more discouraging part for me because, after I've written the song, I just want to be able to record it and show it to ya'll. But this song took several, several recording sessions to get the one that is linked at the very bottom of this video. (taking the videos is worth a whole other blog post in and of itself so I'll save that for another time haha)

All that being said, here is the final draft: 

Fingerprints the holy maker up above once held you And he formed you out of dust with one living breath he drew you with his image in your eyes he knew you as his own as his own he left his fingerprints On your broken heart So you won’t forget He’ll finish what he starts So when you don’t have what it takes Lift up the cracks and scars Here comes the light To flood and finish his work of art You’re his work of art when he held you in his hands he molded you for many plans Made for a purpose which demands refining intentions so grand there’s no denying he left his fingerprints On your broken heart So you won’t forget He’ll finish what he starts So when you don’t have what it takes Lift up the cracks and scars Here comes the light To flood and finish his work of art You’re his work of art Each day, he shapes Your heart, your soul, your mind Each day, he mends The broken to be beautiful And each day he’ll place Another fingerprint In bold To call you his own For you are his own. This signature divine Looked darkness in the eyes And claimed you as his child He said, “ you are mine”

This song was a harder one to finish, and rewriting is probably my least favorite thing to do when it comes to songwriting. But, because of that extra work and the time practicing this song, I think it makes me value the song even more.

Special thanks to my friend that helped with the words on this one, and shout out to my voice teacher who helped me practice and shape the musical side of the song!

"Christ-centered community - nourishes art, and art nourishes community." (174  Andrew Peterson, in his book Adorning the Dark)

I hope ya'll enjoy! Please share with all your friends, like, comment, and subscribe!

"You hem me in, behind and before,

and lay your hand upon me."

Psalms 139:5

God bless ya'll,

Emmaline Albers