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It’s funny how God works sometimes. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised – that’s what He does! A few weeks ago, I was listening to a sermon which mentioned ‘The Seven Ones’ in Ephesians 4. This immediately struck me as material for a song, so I drafted out a chorus and part of a verse, to finish at a later date. Then I came to the retreat in The Gambia this week (to lead worship) and what should be one of the main readings but Ephesians 4:1-16!! The very same bit! So, I quickly finished off the song and we sang it a couple of times at the retreat – it went down pretty well.
The song is in a slightly 80′s style, but with some more recent features (ie the Bm chord at the end of line 2 and the unresolved Esus4 chord). Remarkably, the entire song only contains six notes (D, E, F#, G, A and B). Yet it has eight basic chords! Unusual to have more chords than notes in a song, but there you go. Here it is: Walk a Walk that is Worthy Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. (Based upon Ephesians 4:1-16) ______D________D/F#_______G___________D Bridge: Someone recently noted that many of my songs are more to do with encouraging Christians to live lives closer to God, and to reach out to others. Nothing wrong with that, but there’s also a need for songs which purely worship the Lord for who he is. That’s what this song does. The melody is not as original as I’d like, but it is certainly singable (and it will stick in your head!!) The last line, of course, is from Henry Twells’ lovely song “At evening, when the sun had set” (1868). Click here to see all the words. Now, whilst my piano came with me to Senegal, it has now gone off (by road) to The Gambia! However, I had the foresight to record the accompaniment for this song over a week ago, before the instrument disappeared! Here it is:
Jesus, you are everything to me Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. A__________E___________F#m___F#m/E Chorus: Yes, Song of the Week is back! Having ‘escaped’ from Mali, I’m currently in Senegal and finally have the chance to compose some more songs! It’s funny where the inspiration for song words comes from. In this case, I was in my wife’s classroom in Bamako (before the coup) and saw Deuteronomy 31:8 on the board. The words immediately struck me as being good song material, so I made a note of them. Here’s it is:
“The LORD himself will go ahead of you, He will be with you; He will never leave you, He’ll never desert you. So don’t be afraid; don’t lose hope.” Of course, at the time I had no idea how significant these words would be to me and the whole family in the days to follow, but the verse is certainly true and God was with us throughout the curfews, the gunfire, the powercuts and the constant fear of what may or may not happen next. Here’s the song (it works in a round): Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Dm Dm________Gm7 The melody is a bit ‘mainstream’ for my liking, but the words are – I hope – challenging and powerful. The Church of the West has been described as ‘asleep’ in other parts of the world. Is it not time we all became more open and radical about our faith?? The opening lines are inspired by J.B.Phillips’ New Testament translation of Romans 12:2, where it says: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within”. Living Every Moment for You Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Em______C_______________G ____________G____________C At Pentecost, in awesome power We need to share your Gospel now Recylced hymns have become quite popular in the last couple of decades. Be it ‘Amazing Grace’, ‘When I survey’ or ‘The Lord’s my Shepherd.’ But here comes a recycled hymn with a difference! Firstly, the words to verse one (and the inspiration for the other verses) come from this song by Ada Anne Whiddington, which was written in the 19th Century! The tune is then mine, but I composed it to fit in with the chorus of ‘All to Jesus I surrender’ by Judson W. Van De Venter – also a pretty old song from the 1900s! So, three song-writers from three different centuries have combined to form this song, which I hope you’ll like. Making the multi-track recording was a bit of a nighmare, so I hope you’ll excuse the minor timing/pitch issues! You could use this in your church next Sunday and folk would love it! Here you go: Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Best order: Ladies begin with verse 1, men enter with verse 1 as ladies begin chorus. Not I but Christ ________D______________________Em Chorus: Not I but Christ, my strength in times of sorrow And Christ alone will be my hope and vision Right now, I’m entering one of the biggest transition times of my life: returning to the UK after 7 years in Africa. I guess that’s where some of the sentiment of this song comes from. However, I think there’s something in it for everyone; life is tough in this day and age. Yet the good news is that help is at hand! This song is a call to perserverance, but also to trust in God, whatever the situation. I found the words to the chorus in this daily reading from ‘Our Daily Bread’ and was immediately drawn to them. Written by someone called ‘Fitzhugh’. I’m guessing many years ago, and yet the words are just as powerful and meaningful today. Although I’ve googled Fitzhugh over and over, I cannot find out any more than his/her surname! If anyone knows any more, please do let me know! For me, this is one of the most beautiful tunes I’ve composed (discovered?). It’s a lovely chord sequence, but had not been used in any recent songs I know. Sorry my voice is sounding a bit dodgy this week! In a world gone mad we look to you Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Intro/interlude: Em__Am__Bsus4__B7__Em _____Em_____Am7___D_____Gmaj7 Chorus: Though trials and temptations come We need you more than ever now There are not enough songs about the importance of the Bible. And yet it is a huge need in the Western church today. This website states: It goes on to say that 35% of Christians in the USA never read the Bible. Shocking indeed! Yet this one says that “Half the books of the Bible can be read in 10 to 45 minutes each, and many of them can be read in less than 20. The entire Old and New Testaments can be read aloud slowly and with expression in less than 71 hours.” Wow! So, here’s my latest song on this subject: Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Your Word ____Bb_____Eb________Fsus4 Eb____________Bb It fills the tired and weary It tells of how You made us Inspire us through its pages If you use this song in your church, do let me know how it goes! The message is very important, as I’m sure you can see! A simply a capella song based upon the words of the famous prayer by Walford Davies. Hints of Taize in this one and it also works as a four part round (if you listen all the way through, you’ll here the effect). I think the Anglicans will like this one! I recorded this in my bathroom to get a ‘cathedral-like’ sound. (PS Sorry about the dodgy voice in places!) Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. God be in my Head A capella. God be in my head God be in my mouth I like a bit of Latino music, don’t you? So, this song is in a typical generic South American Latin style (not sure what you’d call it besides that!) It would normally be accompanied by plenty of percussion, guitars, trumpets etc, not just piano. Special thanks to my daughter, Mads, for singing the ladies lines. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Salvador del Mundo Intro: Em_______C___B7 Em_______C___B7 Chorus: ____Em__C_B7__________Em__C_B7 He grew up On the cross Once again, this song speaks about the world’s need for Christ. However, rather than focussing on social needs and difficulties (like Song no.4), this one is to encourage us to spread His message to those who do not know Him. The tune has hints of 1970s harmonies in the chorus, but a rarely used chord sequence in the verses is used. The whole song could be played a tone lower (in G major) but I like it better in A! Cheers! Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. We want to tell the world . A________C#____F#m___F#m/E You made us in your image Money, fame, prosperity, |
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