I tried money
I got as much as I could and I went to the store
And I bought it all
But it wasn't enough 'cause I wanted some more
But my house was full
So I bought a bigger house and filled it up
And there I was with all that stuff
And empty

CHORUS
Nothing else can take the place of You
Nothing else can take the place of You

Still I try friendship
I called everyone I knew
And invited them over for a party
They ate all the free food
And they told me how much they loved me
But when the food was gone
My friends were gone
And there I was all alone
And empty

So take the place
The place of You
And fill this space
The way You do
I'm tired of searching
Those days are through
So take the place
It's made for You
Not friends or money or alcohol
None of these things, believe me
You can try them all
Not status
Not success
I know none of these things will ever bring true happiness

by Matthew West / (c) 2005 Word Music, LLC/Westies Music Publishing, admin. by Word Music, LLC (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission. International copyright secured.

Behind the Song:
"I remember in high school, I would’ve given anything to be the most popular kid in school. Then one day my senior year, it happened! I was voted Homecoming King! The trumpets roared royally, and I was crowned king of the school. Well, actually it was the out-of-tune marching band, but it was a glorious occasion in the high school gymnasium! Fast forward to my first day as a college freshman. All of a sudden it felt like I was a million miles away from any of the achievements that had defined who I thought I was. Now I was living in a college dorm and nobody cared if I was the homecoming king in high school. I remember feeling like I was going to have to find a new identity, a new “something special” about me so I could again rule the school… That’s just one story in a long journey of learning that all the things we try to use to fill up the emptiness inside will only leave us empty. Nothing I try, no successes on my own, no amount of money—none of those things define who I am. Nothing can take the place of You! This is a daily struggle, and I am a man in need of a daily reminder." - Matthew West