Forgiveness (Matthew West song)
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| "Forgiveness" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Matthew West | ||||
| from the album Into the Light | ||||
| Released | July 10, 2012[1] | |||
| Genre | CCM, pop rock | |||
| Length | 4:26 (album version) 4:00 (radio edit) | |||
| Label | Sparrow | |||
| Songwriter | Matthew West[2] | |||
| Producer | Peter Kipley | |||
| Matthew West singles chronology | ||||
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"Forgiveness" is a song written and performed by Contemporary Christian musician, Matthew West. It was released as the first single from his 2012 album, Into the Light, on July 10, 2012.[1][3] The song peaked at No. 2 on the US Hot Christian Songs chart, becoming his eleventh Top 10 single from that chart. The song spent 40 weeks on the overall chart.[4] The song is played in a C major key, and 89 beats per minute.[5]
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.[6] As West explained to CCM Magazine, "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."[7]
The song was used in a promotional trailer for the release of Karen Kingsbury's 2013 novel The Chance.[8] 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.
