"Forgiveness" is a song written and performed by

Contemporary Christian music Contemporary Christian music (CCM), also known as Christian pop, and occasionally inspirational music, is a genre of modern popular music, and an aspect of Christian media, which is lyrically focused on matters related to the Christianity, Chri ...

ian,

Matthew West Matthew Joseph West (born April 25, 1977) is an American contemporary Christian musician and singer-songwriter. He has released five studio albums and is known for his songs "More (Matthew West song), More", "You Are Everything (Matthew West so ...

. It was released as the first single from his 2012 album, '' Into the Light'', on July 10, 2012. The song peaked at No. 2 on the US

Hot Christian Songs Hot Christian Songs is a music chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. It ranks the popularity of Christian songs using the same methodology developed for the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the magazine's flagship songs c ...

chart, becoming his eleventh Top 10 single from that chart. The song spent 40 weeks on the overall chart. The song is played in a

C major C major is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and its parallel min ...

key, and 89

beats per minute Beat, beats, or beating may refer to: Common uses * Assault, inflicting physical harm or unwanted physical contact * Battery (crime), a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact * Battery (tort), a civil wrong in common law of in ...

Background

The song was inspired by the true story of Renee Napier, who chose to forgive Eric Smallridge, a drunk driver who took the life of her 20-year-old daughter. As West explained to

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, "the story made me take a look at my own life and ask myself if I'd be able to do the impossible, just like she did." The song was used in a promotional trailer for the release of

Karen Kingsbury Karen Kingsbury (born June 8, 1963) is an American Christian novelist born in Fairfax, Virginia. She was a sports writer for the ''Los Angeles Times'' and later wrote for the '' Los Angeles Daily News''. Her first book, '' Missy's Murder'' (19 ...

's 2013 novel ''The Chance''. The song is referenced at a key point in the novel, after one of the main characters realizes his harsh, judgmental attitude has left him estranged from his wife and daughter.

Track listing

;CD release #"Forgiveness" – 4:26 #"Forgiveness (Vocal Demonstration)" – 4:26 #"Forgiveness (High Key With Background Vocals)" – 4:26 #"Forgiveness (High Key Without Background Vocals)" – 4:26 #"Forgiveness (Medium Key With Background Vocals)" – 4:26 #"Forgiveness (Medium Key Without Background Vocals)" – 4:26 #"Forgiveness (Low Key With Background Vocals)" – 4:26 #"Forgiveness (Low Key Without Background Vocals)" – 4:26 *Digital download #"Forgiveness" – 4:27 *Digital download (acoustic version) #"Forgiveness" – 4:03

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Matthew West on stage with Forgiveness inspiration Renee Napier

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forgiveness 2012 singles Matthew West songs Songs written by Matthew West 2012 songs Sparrow Records singles