Church Music

Has anyone heard a church sing this?

The excerpt at AOV is very reverent, but this is a heart felt protest song and I suppose we’ll all be singing it at church soon. The song has a complicated genesis and labyrinthine copyright as you can read at Wikipedia. As the anthem of the civil rights movement the lyrics have varied and you can find all sorts of versions on the net. These are the lyrics in AOV. Listen to Pete Seeger’s version! This gospel version shines too.

1. We shall overcome

We shall overcome

We shall overcome some day

 CHORUS:

Oh, deep in my heart

I do believe

We shall overcome some day

2. We’ll walk hand in hand

We’ll walk hand in hand

We’ll walk hand in hand some day

 CHORUS

3. We shall all be free

We shall all be free

We shall all be free some day

 CHORUS

 4. We are not afraid

We are not afraid

We are not afraid some day

 CHORUS

 5. We shall stand together…

 6. The truth will make us free…

 7. The Lord will see us through…

 8. We shall be like him…

 9. The whole wide world around …

© Abingdon Press 1983.

A song based on Ephesians 4:5 by Owen Alstott. The verse is mean to be faster than the refrain and that is a difficult trick to pull off without a cantor so good luck. A snippet at AOV will give you the idea, or you could listen to the whole song here.

It can be purchased for download at OCP.

Refrain

There is one Lord. There is one faith.

There is one fountain flowing with the waters of rebirth.

Verse 1

As the dew from heaven falls upon the earth,

so the love of God descends upon us.

Refrain

Verse 2

See the water flowing from the temple wall,

from the side of Christ renewing all the earth.

Refrain

Verse 3

Like a thirsty deer that longs for running streams,

so my spirit longs for God, the living God.

Refrain

Verse 4

In the roar of waters deep calls out to the deep.

In the surging waves the voice of God is heard.

Refrain

Verse 5

Blest beyond all measure by the love of God,

all creation sings the glory of his name.

Refrain

© OCP 1984,1994.

This is a song by David Light that has odd time signatures in the chorus  4/4, 6/8, 4/4, 2/4 etc. The sample at AOV will give you the tricky timings. It is in AOV for Kids as well and I think its a bit tricky for kids and much too wordy.

Refrain

We are an Easter people, and alleluia is our song!

We are an Easter people, and alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

is our song!

Verse 1

Today is the day so long foretold

in the books of the prophecies of old,

that a Saviour who died would rise again

so that we who believe might rise with him!

Refrain

Verse 2

Today he has come to shed his light

on a people who wandered in endless night.

Now together we live in him and raise

a joyful sacrifice of praise.

Refrain

Verse 3

Today he has conquer’d death and sin,

and the powers of darkness cannot win

over any who give their lives to him!

Let us open our hearts and let Jesus in.

Refrain

Verse 4

Today he has opened up out eyes.

In the morning, he said, the Son would rise!

May we know in the breaking of the bread

the one who is risen from the dead.

Refrain

© David Light 1985.

This one is in high rotation at our church.  It has words by Monica O’Brien and Trisha Watts and music by Trisha Watts. The sample at AOV is sort of new age funk if you can believe it. I love the lyrics of this song and I try to remember that every time I stumble over the introduction. Trisha Watts music is never ordinary, even in something that works as well for children as adults.

Chorus

There is one Body, one Spirit, the peace that binds us all.

There is one Lord, one living faith and one God, the maker of all.

Verse 1

Bear with one another in charity, with gentleness and care.

Preserve the unity of the Spirit that we share.

Chorus

Verse 2

Jesus who descended is He who rose above.

To each he gave his gifts to reach the fullness of His love.

Chorus

Verse 3

Living by truth and justice we’ll grow to be like Christ.

In service give our lives, as a body we will rise.

Chorus

© Trisha Watts and Monica O’Brien 1989, 1995.

We have used this Fr Frank Andersen song as an entrance in the past and it is lively enough to get away with it. Listening to it now, I suppose it is also a funeral song.

It has a disturbing similarity to “Bless ’em All” that I am trying to ignore.

The sample at AOV doesn’t work for this one but you could listen to this slowish guitar version.

My backing is fairly country.

Chorus

Welcome home! Welcome home!

Welcome home to the land of your freedom and joy!

Welcome home! Welcome home!

Be at peace in the arms of your God!

Welcome home!

Verse 1

“This is my body now given for you!”

This is the gift you have lived!

And just as the Father embraces the Son,

So do we embrace you! Welcome home!

Chorus

Verse 2

We come to thank you, the people you loved,

For us you have been living word!

The Word you have spoken has nourished our hearts;

Now the Word comes to you! Welcome home!

Chorus

Verse 3

Deep in the Godhead the Mystery you know;

In the love-span of God do you live!

So now shall your prayer be effective and free;

Pray for us now that you’re welcome home!

Chorus

Verse 4

Let there be music and let there be song,

For the triumph that your life has been!

Hear how God’s angels and saints in their joy

Join with us as we sing, Welcome home!

Chorus

© Frank Andersen. 1992

Published by Spectrum Publications.

http://www.spectrumpublications.com.au/

A song designed for a child’s baptism by the folk laureate of Australian liturgical music, Peter Kearney. AOV have an excerpt to listen to.

Peter has put the text up here. You can also visit his website.

My backing does it no favours but it should be fine with guitar and voice.

The perfect storm for haters of their genre, a setting Ps 98 with words by David Haas and music by Marty Haugen. There is a sample to listen to at AOV. We use Bob Dufford’s setting usually and have never sung this one.

The text is here. It can be purchased in a collection of psalms at GIA.

You can hear a church use it here.

A Taize chant by Jacques Berthier available in twelve languages in the AOV version. You can hear it here.

My backing is at 76 bpm.

 Bless the Lord my soul, and bless God’s holy name.

Bless the Lord my soul, who leads me into life.

© Ateliers Et Presses De Taizé

Sr Marianne Misetich wrote this charming advent song that I assume is aimed at children as in this clip.

Listen to a sample at AOV  here.

My backing’s tempo is 102 and the intro was made up by Band in a Box.

Verse 1

We’re waiting for Jesus like Mary,
We’re waiting for Jesus the Lord.

Refrain

Come down, Lord Jesus!
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
The whole world is waiting for Love,
The whole world is waiting for Love.

Verse 2

We’re laying a manger for Mary,
A manger for Jesus the Lord.

Refrain

Verse 3

We’re making it lovely for Mary,
So lovely for Jesus the Lord.

Refrain

© Marianne Misetich SNJM 1977.

This carol didn’t make the cut in AOV 1 and turns up here. There are more verses and variations on the net but these are the lyrics in AOV.

Hear it get the full symphonic treatment here. Andrea Bocelli’s version is here.

After those, my backing is not entirely serious as everyone knows how to sing this already.

Verse 1

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Verse 2

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain

Verse 3

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain