Archive for the ‘Song of the Week’ Category…and sorry for the long delay. This was partly due to a bug in WordPress, which wasn’t allowing me to upload the audio correctly. I’m glad to say this is now rectified and I have at least three more songs to share with you before the end of 2012! So, here’s “We fix our eyes on invisible things”, which sounds like a contradiction in terms, but that’s what faith is all about. I just love the harmonies in the chorus! 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. D________Bbmaj7___Am7__D F__________C We shall walk by faith He works in all things We live every day The Harvest is Ready!” For all Christians out there – do you truly believe that: (i) There is a God If so, how can we not want to share this with the world at every possible opportunity? What’s gone wrong? Our culture frowns upon “discussing religion and politics” but we mustn’t let that stop us. Surely even most non-Christians would understand that anyone believing the four statements above would urgently want to share this (even if they themselves do not believe it)! So, what are we waiting for? Pray, then pray some more, then go out into the world and ooze Jesus in all you do! Here’s the song: 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/G# CHORUS: In every situation KEY CHANGE: ___F_______Bb The first four lines of this song were written by Dave Sper from Our Daily Bread. I liked the words, so added another four lines and then a ‘chorus’. Here’s the result: 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.
Tragedy into Opportunity F__________F/A____Bb___Csus__C Chorus: Go to All Nations! That’s what Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 28 (read it here). Now, fristly, apologies for the long gap since the last “weekly” song! The transition back to the home culture always takes a long time and I also find it totally zaps my creativity for a while. Not to worry – a new song is here! Thankfully, my faithful electric piano made it home safely, having been from Bamako to Dakar to The Gambia! In the previous two songs, you can see it in two of those locations. Now, here it is in my conservatory in England (and a jolly nice sunny day it is too!) So, it was high time two things happened in Western worship: (i) That a song be written which specifically presents Jesus’ command (and challenge) to all his disciples to GO. And (ii) That more songs in a reggae style be composed. Besides the old chestnut of “It is the cry of my heart” there are virtually no other songs in this rhythmic, accessible and enjoyable genre. Now there’s one more! Here it is: 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_C________Dm CHORUS: Only in my name Put your trust in me 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.
______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 |