Fr Frank Andersen wrote this very popular song. I hated it originally and had to be told that a lot of people who came to the church late in life found this song described their spiritual journey and so meant a lot to them. So it’s OK now with me. It’s not on the NLMB Yes list but that’s not likely to stop anyone singing it now.
This version is a fun update by James Maher’s band at last year’s AOV conference. It isn’t 100% faithful to the original but everyone sang along, which was great.
Frank describes himself as the Slim Dusty of Australian liturgical music so I’ve done a slower country version as a backing.
Verse 1
Deep within my heart, I feel voices whispering to me.
Words that I can’t understand; meanings I must clearly hear!
Calling me to follow close, lest I leave myself behind!
Calling me to walk into evening shadows one more time!Chorus
So I leave my boats behind!
Leave them on familiar shores!
Set my heart upon the deep!
Follow you again, my Lord! (rpt)Verse 2
In my memories, I know how you send familiar rains
Falling gently on my days, dancing patterns on my pain!
And I need to learn once more in the fortress of my mind,
To believe in falling rain as I travel deserts dry!Chorus
Verse 3
As I gaze into the night down the future of my years,
I’m not sure I want to walk past horizons that I know!
But I feel my spirit called like a stirring deep within,
Restless, ’til I live again beyond the fears that close me in!Chorus
© Frank Andersen and Chevalier Music 1993.
Wowwww!!! this is brilliant… Would it be a possibility for me to get the tabs?? Please.. 🙂
I’m glad you like Father Frank’s song, but I don’t put tabs up for copyrighted material.
The collection you needs costs $7.50 here:
https://www.mscmusic.com.au/fr-frank-andersen-msc
Contact Father Frank here:
fgamsc@bigpond.net.au
and I’m sure you can get what you need very cheaply indeed.
This is absolutely brilliant backing for one of my favourite songs. Some of these songs are spoilt because they are sung too slow or too fast. In my opinion you have got it perfect. I can not sing for peanuts but I like to give it a go at home when there is no one listening . Keep up the great work.
I’ve found this song very meaningful at times of major loss and transition, and have used it with others in the same situation such as returning missionaries. WE will all have to walk into shadows at times, and risk losing ourselves.
I would like to get the mp3 file of this, where would I be able to purchase it from?
G’Day Alice
It is available on I-Tunes.
https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/the-galilee-song/id437204358
cheers
Geoff
Hi there – the Galillee song is fantastic but it took me a while to work out what it meant. Did Father Frank Andersen have a scripture in mind that he based the words on. I have the Eagles Wings book too – some simple but brilliant compositions in it.
Many thanks
Merryl
G’Day Merryl
Matt 4:18-21 would be a start I suppose, but I suspect a life lived in the Spirit is reflected here.
cheers
Geoff
Thanks for posting.
Just one difference in lyrics I wanted to point out:
My copy (from AOV1) says that the third line in Verse 3 is
“But I feel my spirit called like a stirring deep within,”
not
“And I need to learn once more like a stirring deep within,”.
The “And I need to learn once more” only belongs to Verse 2.
I’ve listened to Fr Frank’s recording (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr4p-GhwPbM&list=OLAK5uy_lAiISeDQsvVh2TWSacOLY4jUljHo-uZIU&index=7) and this is what he sings on there too.
Sam
You’re absolutely right and I have made the correction.
thanks
Geoff
Also realised that the second line of V1 should be “meanings I can’t clearly hear” not “meanings I must clearly hear”. As a sign of how much this site is used and helps people, my church has been singing this wrong for years, I’m assuming because it was copied from here when we set up our new lyrics program 10 years ago! I’m only realising now that this lyric is different in AOV.
Take my comment with a grain of salt – despite AOV using “can’t” for both, I’ve just listened to the recording, which does indeed use both “can’t” and “must”. I also have an old book (published 1985) with a collection of all Fr Frank songs to-date, with all arrangements and notations handwritten by Erica Marshall. The book really is a gem and includes lots of commentary on both the songs and on liturgy more broadly. It includes Galilee Song and it lists them both as “can’t”, as in AOV. So now I don’t know which version we should be singing!
Sam
The 1985 version says “can’t”. The 1995 version says “must”. I got a second hand copy of Erica’s handwrtten arrangements years ago and you are right, it’s wonderful. The 1995 A5 melody line is the version I suspect I bought when Frank visited our parish in Queensland many years ago.
Please keep sending corrections when you find my mistakes – someone has to keep an eye on me.
cheers
Geoff
A very special song. We sang it at Mass today at Waihi, New Zealand. My children often sang it at School Masses thirty plus years ago. Where might I find the piano music?
G’Day Margaret
A lot of links on old posts here have gone stale I’m afraid.
However, you can still buy Father Franks sheet music at this site:
https://www.misacor.org.au/works-and-ministries/msc-music/msc-music-online-store-new
There are collections and downloads of single sheets including Galilee Song. They are lead sheets I believe. You might have to contact them about Erica Marshall’s piano arrangements, but I don’t think they come in single sheets.
cheers
Geoff