In the eighties Father Paul Gurr was quite the phenomenon in Australian Catholic music. His cassettes of music, usually written by Brian Boniwell, were suprisingly successful. I have often seen some of the songs he sang attributed him rather than the relevant songwriter and on some collections finding Boniwell’s name required considerable effort.
Father Gurr appears to be still active in the priesthood having recently left Queensland to return to Victoria.
I was recently lucky enough to pick up some out of print collections from Kay’s Books and Music, including the book, Come As You Are. The title track became famous and it’s writer, Deidre Browne rightly acknowledged. I blogged that song here.
This Paul Gurr album has songs written by Browne, Bruce Dynan, Peter Gagen and Leo Watt. Even though it is out of print, it is a source for some obscure Australian hymns and I will look at the ones I haven’t covered from other sources.
This is Gurr’s version of “Come As You Are” typically, and mistakenly, attributed to him. While he is an aquired taste, his sentimental Irish priest singing style was popular nonetheless.
“Morning Sound” was written by Bruce Dynan and is a sung prayer based on Psalm 9-10. I quite like this, but Gurr would have been better sticking to the music as written. Speaking of which, the bridge goes 4/4, 4/4, 5/4, 4/4, 2/4, 3/4, 3/4 and modulates all over the place. Dynan knew his stuff because it works really well.
1 All my days, I give you thanks, word and song I sing to you.
Rich your love, when mine is poor, all my days.
End of day, end of night, in the morning sound I hear
A word and song, young and new, all my days.
2 Have I seen the crying poor? In my need have I not heard
Their word and song once young and new? Have I heard?
In their fading voice I hear a word a song that calls me near
And the morning sound is there, all my days.
Bridge
Nothing can keep you distant, Lord,
Open my eyes, all my days.
3 All my days I give you thanks, rich and poor I sing to you.
All the morning sounds I hear, all my days.
Word and song of morning free, so your love has been with me.
Now in love my song is free, all my days.
Coda
Nothing can keep you distant, Lord,
Open my eyes all my days.
© 1986 Spectrum Publications.
You may be able to buy Father Gurr on CD at Spectrum, but I-Tunes download is suggested there. He is also on Spotify.
As for the sheet music, second hand is your best option, or track down elderly music ministers. I can’t find this song on One Licence. I usually suggest contacting the songwriter, but can find no way to do that.