Church Music

The last song in the music folio, We Follow Jesus, is the title track.

Like the rest of the collection it is a fine pop song that will find a use in schools, but would also work as a recessional.

The sheet music is available at his site for $A20, but many schools just purchase the intranet licence to access all his songs.

It would be more singable in a lower key – F down to D at least – all these songs are in a good key for John Burland to sing, but us groaners are going to struggle.

1 Jesus with your arms open wide
I know that you’re always there through the night
Jesus with your arms open wide
Yes I know you reach out to invite
Even when I’m on my own
I will never feel alone
You are always here
You are always here

Chorus

We follow Jesus through the night and day
We follow Jesus and live in His way
We follow Jesus and we can say
We believe we belong in His love
We follow Jesus Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
We follow Jesus Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
We follow

2 Jesus with your arms open wide
I know that you’re love for me will never end
Jesus with your arms open wide
Yes I know you are always my friend
Even when some days are bad
You’re with me and I’m so glad
You are always here
You are always here

Chorus

We follow Jesus through the night and day
We follow Jesus and live in his way
We follow Jesus and we can say
We believe, we belong in His love
We follow Jesus Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
We follow Jesus Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
We follow Jesus Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah
We follow Jesus Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah

© 2023 John Burland and Phil Anquetil

I am looking at John Burland‘s latest offering, the collection, We Follow Jesus.

So far I’m finding the usual professionalism and application for schools and parishes doing First Communion classes. For parish assemblies, the keys are often too high at performance levels and would need to be lowered, but many follow liturgical readings and will have an application in masses.

This one is certainly going to fit the liturgy with the Emmaus reading (eg 3rd Sunday Easter Year A) and certainly would need to be transposed down from F (I’d take it to D at least).

I’ve made my backing gentler than his version for a change. I thought the heavy percussion unnecessary and that the song sounded better with some delicacy.

Chorus

On a Journey to Emmaus friends talking as they go,
The questions and the sorrows seemed to show.
Jesus joined them for the day
Hearts burning on the way,
On the journey to Emmaus they would know.

Chorus

1 They walked and talked with him on the road along the way
They talked of all the news up to today.
This morning they had heard of the tomb the women found
It was empty as the Prophets had foretold.

Chorus

2 They reached the journey’s end at the closing of the day.
They gathered around the table for a meal.
In the breaking of the bread Jesus was revealed.
He is risen and alive they could see.

Chorus

3 They decided to return to Jerusalem that night.
They found all the Disciples gathered there.
They told them all the story meeting Jesus on the way.
It’s true he is alive alive today.

© 2023 John Burland Stephen Leiweke

This is a song of praise to God that foregrounds social justice, suitable for old or young. It is from John Burland‘s latest collection, We Follow Jesus.

The sheet music for the collection costs only $A20 from his website.

It is a singable enough mid-tempo rock/pop song, apart from the extreme range required to sing it – from low Fs to high Gs. There are nifty triplets in the last line of the verses to keep you interested.

1 Look around and you will see
The many things that shouldn’t be
Those living without hope and dignity
They long to be set free
Open your heart and let God clear your mind
Tell everyone that it’s time

Chorus
Raise your voice
Fill Your heart
With God’s love that’s where you start
Come rejoice and light the flame
Lift your hands and praise God’s name
Raise your voice ahhhh
Raise your voice ahhhh
Raise your voice

2 When you look with Jesus’ eyes
You’ll see and you will hear the cries
Of people calling out in suffering
Lost in a world of lies
Open your heart and let God clear your mind
Tell everyone that it’s time

Chorus

© 2023 John Burland and Phil Anquetil

We Follow Jesus, the latest John Burland collection, has songs for lots of circumstances that would come up in First Communion and Reconciliation preparation.

This song would be also useful for a Second Rite, or in Lent, or when the reading of the Prodigal Son comes up.

My backing has a mildly soul feel.

1 He left his father’s house
To live a life his way
All lost and alone
No money and no friends
He was on his own
now longing for home
With love so great
his father waits
for him with endless love

Chorus
Forgive me, forgive me Lord
I’m sorry for what I’ve done
Forgive me, forgive me Lord
Your love I cannot outrun
Forgive me Lord
Forgive me Lord

2 Jesus you’re the way
Jesus you’re the truth
You are the life
But when I’ve turned away
hear my heart it cries
Lord I pray to you
With love so great
our Father waits
for us with endless love

© 2023 John Burland

This is from John Burland‘s We Follow Jesus. I can’t see any changes in the sheet music from the version in “Into the World”, but I will include it here for completeness. It makes sense to include a Beatitudes song in a collection that is ideal for First Communion classes.

I already blogged the song here.

Blessed are the poor in Spirit
For theirs is the Kingdom of God
Blessed are all those that mourn
For they will be comforted
Blessed are the humble
For they will inherit the earth

Blessed are you
Blessed are you
When you stand in love
And speak as one
Blessed are you

Blessed are all those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness
Blessed are those who are merciful
For they will see God’s mercy
Blessed are the pure in heart
For they will see God’s face

Blessed are you
Blessed are you
When you stand in love
And speak as one
Blessed are you

Come rejoice and be glad
For the Kingdom of heaven is yours
Come rejoice and be glad
For the Kingdom of heaven is yours

Blessed are the peacemakers
For they will be children of God
Blessed are those who are treated unjust
As they live and love in God’s way

Blessed are you
Blessed are you
When you stand in love
And speak as one
Blessed are you

I’ve been looking at John Burland‘s latest collection, We Follow Jesus.

This one is an uptempo song teaching about the Kingdom. The text makes it suitable for liturgies with readings about the Reign of God, and it is easy to sing for young people to participate. Even if it is sung it the original key, lazy guitarists like me are going capo 1 in G.

The whole collection is available for $A20 at his website.

In a mass setting, you probably wouldn’t go full New Wave like my backing.

Chorus
The Kingdom of God
We’re building the Kingdom of God Yeah
The Kingdom of God
We’ re building the Kingdom of God Yeah
With God’s Word in our Heart
We’re called to do our part
For the Kingdom of God
Building the Kingdom of God

1 Jesus came to bring Good News
God’s Kingdom has come near
Now it’s time for us to shout
There’s room (there’s room) for you (for you) and me

Chorus

2 Jesus taught us how to pray
Father let your kingdom come
Lord let your will be done
On earth (on earth) as it is (as it is) in heaven

Chorus

3 His Kingdom’s not just a place
So we never have to leave
His Kingdom’s in the hearts
Of those (of those) who do (who do) believe

Chorus

2023 John Burland Stephen Leiweke

John Burland has done a somewhat hip hop version of the Creed in his new collection, We Follow Jesus. It would suit schools and first communion classes in the parish.

The last line of each verse breaks the rhythmic convention of the melody to that point in a very creative way.

The sheet music for the collection is $A20 at his website.

My backing is hip hop.

Chorus
OOOOOOO
We believe AHHHHHHHHH
OOOOOOO
We believe AHHHHHHHHH
This is what we believe

1 In God the Father who made the earth and everything we see
In Jesus Christ the Saviour of the World
That Jesus is the Son of God who saved us from our sin
He died for us and rose again so we could live

2 Through the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ was born
and Mary the mother of God’s Son
In all the Saints united in the forgiveness of our God
That we will rise again to life eternally

© 2023 John Burland and Phil Anquetil

I am looking at John Burland‘s new collection, We Follow Jesus.

This song is about what Scripture means to us. It would have a place in any gathering before a reading from the Bible, especially in a school setting. I’m not sure it fits into a usual Catholic mass anywhere.

The sheet music collection costs only $A20 at Burland’s website.

My backing uses what I call the “My Friend the Chocolate Cake” cello setting.

1 Living Word of God
Words of Faith and love
The words of Sacred Scripture
Giving meaning to our lives

2 Living Word of God
Where God reveals to us
An unending love for all
As we encounter Jesus Christ

Chorus
God’s Word will always be the light that guides our lives
To show the way to live as we journey on our way
God’s Word will always be the light that guides our lives
Through every day God’s Word will burn in us

(Repeat the whole song with chorus twice at the end and the last line repeated.)

© 2023 John Burland and Phil Anquetil

This is a song from John Burland‘s new album, We Follow Jesus. (Buy the sheet music at his website for $A20)

So what do you with a title that sounds as exciting as a board meeting – make it a dance number of course! I suspect this one really is for schools, unless of course your assembly thinks on its feet – and why not on reflection? Like most of his material it is overwritten, in that there is more here than you expect for a song that kids will jump up and down to. Just look at the third line of the bridge for some melodic invention out of nowhere.

Fortunately, BIAB has lots of styles for dance music.

Preverse

You me everyone
C’mon you me everyone
C’mon you me everyone
C’mon you me everyone

1 It’s time to raise your voice
It’s time to make the choice
To care for God’s great world
Chorus
Be good stewards of creation
Good stewards of creation
As we care for what God made
We see His goodness in our world
Let’s be good stewards of creation
Good stewards of creation

Preverse

2 It’s up to you and me
To help each other see
To care for God’s great world

Chorus

Bridge
This gift from God we must care for and protect
By living responsibly and showing respect
To all be as one from the moon to the sun to the earth yeah you & me
It’s our calling to care for God’s great world

Preverse

Chorus

© 2023 John Burland and Phil Anquetil

I’m continuing with my return to Australian music, with John Burland‘s latest album, We Follow Jesus.

His website describes it thusly:

A vibrant and engaging album by Australian educator and composer John Burland.

Perfect for children and families, this collection celebrates the call to follow Jesus with faith, hope, and love. Designed to complement Religious Education programs in both school and parish settings, each song enriches understanding and deepens knowledge of our faith. Featuring a variety of musical styles, the album explores themes such as, forgiveness, the Kingdom of God, creation, justice, the Emmaus journey, the Creed, and the Beatitudes. “We Follow Jesus” is an essential resource for any faith community.

What you expect from John Burland is expertly recorded pop songs in a wide range of genres that are ideal for schools but have application beyond that. I am always interested in music for liturgy, but that is not always the first intention here. As I say repeatedly here, the most healthy section of the Australian Catholic Church is the school area and in music that is especially so, and happily much of the music that is designed for young people is fine for not so young people.

The sheet music collection is $A20 from his website, where you can also by the music album.

The first song is, appropriately, an enthusiastic song for welcoming that is fine for gathering for mass. It was written by John Burland and Philippe-Marc Anquetil. It is a well constructed pop song with an engaging change in tune for the second verse. I’m fine with the “oo”s but as with many of Burland’s songs the pitch is for performance and I would be lowering the key for an assembly, especially of you indulge him with the key change.

It’s interesting pitting Band in a Box against Nashville’s musicians and recording excellence, and it’s fun failing. I just like singing with a backing rather than a performance for learning purposes.

Chorus
Come gather here you’re welcome in this place
Where God’s great love is bringing endless grace
We gather with God’s loving family
We’re gonna celebrate that God is great together
You’ve welcome here OOOO (In God’s House)
You’ve welcome here OOOO (In God’s House)

1 Young and old we’re called to gather here
For we are loved and our God holds us near
We’re called to walk as Jesus did
Following in all his ways

Chorus

2 If we love like he does
And we give like he gives
Then we’ll know that there’s hope
If we love like he does
And we give like he gives
Then we’ll know that there’s hope
We can find

© 2023 John Burland and Phil Anquetil