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Bless the Broken Road
Words and Music by Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd and Jeff Hanna.
Performed by Rascal Flatts
Also covered by Selah, Carrie Underwood and originally by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
© 1994, Careers–BMG Music Publishing Inc./Jeff Diggs Music
Youtube video uploaded by rascalflattsofficial
I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn’t see how every sign pointed straight to you
Every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
I think about the years I spent just passing through
I’d like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You’ve been there you understand
It’s all part of a grander plan that is coming true
Every long lost dream lead me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you
How can lost dreams, breaks in the road, wandering, and lost time all be signposts leading to God? Where is your broken road leading you?
In 1994 after returning from his honeymoon, friends Bobby Boyd and Marcus Hummon got to talking about the circuitous route you take in life and how sometimes you think things are horrible and are never going to get better, but they lead you to something that ultimately is a lot better, whether it’s a relationship, spiritual path, business or whatever.
Out of this conversation singer-songwriter Marcus Hummon co-wrote the song with Jeff Hanna (of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) and Bobby Boyd. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded it for the 1994 album Acoustic. Late winter of ’94, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was doing the record called ‘Acoustic’ in Colorado, and we recorded this simple, little song and we have played it almost nightly since we recorded it. Rascal Flatts toyed with recording it on their first album and they put it on hold for their second album. It had over 150 holds, and it got to be a running gag with us. In 2004, Brooks and Dunn had it on hold and they were about to cut it and I found out Rascal Flatts finally cut it. Then we got a call that said, ‘Not only did we cut your song, but it’s the next single!’ I’ve been involved in songs that were fun little ditties that went up the charts, but the permanent impact of this song has been amazing. The favorite songs that you write aren’t always the ones that also become the highest profile, so it was a total thrill for us.
Since then, many artists have recorded the song with Rascal Flatts’s version being the highest-charting, becoming a #1 hit on the Billboard country music charts in 2005 and earning the songwriters a Grammy Award for Best Country Song.