Church Music

Geoff Bullock is channeling the great Jimmy Webb in his song, “Forgiveness,” which is No 47 in AOV NG.  There are hints of Come Saturday Morning as well.  It has a subtle tune and real emotion in the lyrics.  It has a heart and depth and suggests life experience of being broken hearted and needing healing himself.  It is a world away from the triumphalism of Hillsong, so I suppose he must have learnt something since he left.  The other songs on his website are pretty good too.

This is another song for a Mass of Forgiveness or a reflection for all of us. My backing attempts to mimic the solemn dignity of his arrangement.

Verse 1

Can we see the broken hearted, can we feel their pain?

Can we hear the cry of a lonely child?

Can we find the time for sorrow, can we be so brave?

Can we find the truth and the heart for grace, and a time for healing?

Chorus

Let forgiveness come, a new day now begun.

Let grace and mercy overflow us,

Heal this nation’s heart,

Forgiveness, forgive us.

Verse 2

Can we see the lost and lonely, can we stop the blame?

Can we dry their tears, can we bear their pain?

Can we leave our pride and wisdom ‘til our hearts are healed?

Can we walk as one, can we give our land, a new beginning?

Chorus 2

Let forgiveness come, a new day now begun.

Let grace and mercy overflow us,

Heal this nation’s heart,

Let forgiveness come, a new day now begun.

Let grace and mercy overflow us,

Heal this nation’s heart,

Forgiveness, forgive us.

Forgiveness, forgive us.

Forgive.

© Geoff Bullock 2008.

No 46 in AOV NG is another great Monica O’Brien/Gina Ogilvie song called “Forgiven.”  This gentle midtempo rock song, perhaps better at 108 than the 120 bpm suggested, is suitable as a penitential rite or a mass for forgiveness.  Sung by Jasmine Forsyth on the CD it’s as if the Carpenters wrote for liturgy – that would have been great.  This will have to do and is does well.

I was enjoying the song so much I decided my backing would repeat the first verse and I’d let Band in a Box have some fun soloing.

Verse 1

For the times when I was selfish, saw no-one else but me;

When I didn’t think of others and I was too blind to see;

For the times when I was silent and I should have spoken out,

When I was paralysed by fear and I was overcome with doubt.

Chorus

Forgiven for every hurt and sorrow, touched by the grace of God.

Forgiven to be free and restored, forgiven made whole again.

Verse 2

When my choices have been influenced by what others say and do;

And I’ve turned away from what my heart and soul knows to be true;

When I stop and I remember I’m worthy in God’s sight.

The darkness that surrounded me is transformed by healing light.

Chorus

Forgiven to be free and restored, forgiven made whole again.

© Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie 2008

Robert Galea (now Father Robert Galea) wrote “Fill Us Up” with Bettina Cassar and it is No 45 in AOV NG.

You can listen to the song on Fr Galea’s MySpace page.

I had to listen to it several times to get the hang of it.  It grew on me and I’m a fan.  It’s a great reflection song and could replace a Vene Sancte with style.  My backing is a little on the jazz side but still has his style.

Verse

You are all we need, Your presence in this place.

We are your own, Yours alone.

Fill us up we pray, Fill us up we pray.

Chorus

Fill us up ‘till we’re overflowing,

Fill us up, fill us up.

Fill us up ‘till we’re overflowing,

Fill us up, fill us up.

Verse

Chorus

Chorus

Bridge

Fill our hearts and our minds

Fill our lives

Fill us up Rpt

Chorus

© Bettina Cassar and Robert Galea 2007

“Feel the Spirit” by James D’Arcy and Jo Kenderes is No 44 in AOG NG.  This is a standout track if only because it dares to jump out of the boring straight 4/4 into a swing rhythm.  It has a dynamic pre-chorus that reminds me of Tim Finn’s “Dead Man” (that’s good).  It has some clever wordplay that you don’t often see in this sort of song. (see “Own” and “Peace”)

I see no reason this couldn’t be a gathering song.

On p137 top line the B over spir (-it) is a Bflat.

Verse 1

The time has come to make a change for the future.

Look around and rearrange.

There’s injustice everywhere, it’s always close to home.

Ev’ry change begins with me, but I’m not on my

Own the future and we can make a stand

Follow your plan and we can get things right.

The spark of love is ready to show, let’s light the fire and watch it,

Watch it grow

Chorus

I hear the power in this place,

I see the power in Your love.

I feel the love within my heart,

I know, I know, I know it’s true.

I hear the power in this place,

I see the power in Your love,

I feel your love within your heart,

Feel the spirit too.

Verse 2

Spirit always in the world before the start of time.

I see anger all around but the future now is mine.

Making constant acts of love so all the fear will cease.

There is anger here but we were made for making

Peace is the answer and love’s the only way.

Speak from the heart and listen to what we say.

Feed the hungry and love the poor welcome all the children at our

At our door

Chorus

The spark of love is ready to show

Let’s start the fire and watch it

Watch it grow

Chorus (“We” instead of “I”)

© James D’Arcy and Jo Kenderes 2008.

No 43 in As One Voice: The Next Generation is Brenton Brown and Ken Riley’s “Everlasting God.”  I recently noted my opinion that Hillsong does the best songs of the Hillsong variety.  No, Brenton Brown is better – I prefer his “Over All the Earth” to this song but it is still a pretty good pop song.

It is available to purchase for download at more than one site on the net but praisecharts have every version you could possibly want.

Verse

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon you Lord (x 2)
Our God, you reign forever
Our hope, our strong deliverer…

Chorus
You are the everlasting God, the everlasting God
You do not faint, you won’t grow weary
You’re the defender of the weak, you comfort those in need
You lift us up on wings like eagles…

Verse

Chorus

© Brenton Brown and Ken Riley 2005.

This is the ultimate sending out song – for school graduations it should ensure not a dry eye in the house.  It is Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie’s “Eternity” No 42 in AOV NG.  If the assembly needs an affirmation it would be fine as an ordinary sending out song as well, but I doubt it could be used often.  Nothing wrong with the advice, but it might not bear frequent repetition.

It can be purchased for download at As One Voice.

Intro

Don’t be fooled don’t be led astray,

Don’t let anyone ever say;

You can’t reach your dreams today.

Know that you are special,

Know that you’re unique

Reach toward tomorrow,

To the future that you seek.

Chorus

We lift you up, we lift you high,

To become all that you can be.

We hold you close within our hearts

For all eternity.

Verse 1

Tomorrow is before you with all its grand designs.

The world will be your oyster if you keep your dreams alive.

Be watchful on your journey for signs that offer life,

For people who will guide you and make your voyage bright.

Chorus

Verse 2

Surround yourself with friendships that know the gift of love.

Don’t be afraid of suffering, its mystery makes us strong.

When disappointment beckons cling to the power within.

Have faith in all that you’ve become, your life will be filled with love.

Chorus

Bridge

We let you fly to live your dreams, to soar beyond the sky.

We hold you close within our hearts for all eternity.

We lift you up, we lift you high,

To become all that you can be.

We hold you close within our hearts

For all eternity.        Eternity.

© Monica O’Brien and Gina Ogilvie 2007

“Emmaus” is a pretty song with an obvious subject matter so when that reading pops up it is a natural.  It is also No 41 in AOV NG and is by GIA artist Tony Alonso.  The indicated tempo of 120-126 is too fast – it is better <110/min.  The bridge is musically a surprise to go with their eyes becoming open to the presence of Jesus in the stranger.  The arrangement of the CD is awfully polite and my backing has been influenced by this I’m afraid.

The sheet music is available at GIA, along with extra instrumental music.

My backing is for people who have the music but can’t just see how it goes (ie basic strumming guitarists like me).

Further to my impatience with the new settings I’ve heard so far, here is a companion to the Gloria I posted last week.  With some tweaking it would would work with all three of the new sets of words.

* I’ve taken this down as it has been reworked*

No 40 in AOV NG is another Hillsong, this one by Raymond Badham.  This song contains everything wrong with Hillsongs.  It is merely a recitation of names for God set to the most overblown setting that has ever heard breath.  As Tom Booth says, “It’s more than raising our hands.”

There… that feels better.

I suppose I can’t agree with every editorial decision made by the fine people at Willow.  Otherwise this book has saved us all a lot of trouble.  In “As One Voice: the Next Generation” they have delivered the cream of the overseas crop, found new songwriters, given greater prominence to great established Australian songwriters and… included a few Hillsongs as well.  Any stray Hillsong fans who come across this blog may wish to let me know what I’m missing.

Incidentally, the sheet music is also available at Audiofaith.

Together in this place of worship
Your greatness we proclaim
We stand as one in giving You
All glory and acclaim
To You our hearts are open
To You our hands we raise
Come take the place of honour in our lives

Emmanuel
Our God is with us
Prince of Peace Mighty One
The Ever-living God

See the praises of our Saviour
Rise to open skies
With the dawning of redemption
Your glory will aries
For You alone are worthy
Here in Zion you are praised
Our Lord and King forever
You will reign

© Raymond Badham / Hillsong Publishing 2000.

I should be careful what I wish for – two Hillsongs in a row.  No 39 is Reuben Morgan’s “Eagle Wings.”  What can I say?   This is a somewhat more restrained praise and worship/start very quiet and swell to ridiculous proportions/then come back to a quiet coda song.  The freak out here is limited to the band’s brass section going mildly berserk on the CD.  Still not a Hillsong fan but they do whatever it is that they do better than anyone else going.

It is available for purchase and download at various sites including musicnotes.

Not having their enormous band, Band in a Box has tried the slow build with mixed results for my backing.

Here I am waiting
Abide in me I pray
Here I am longing
For You
Hide me in Your love
Bring me to my knees
May I know Jesus
More and more

Come live in me
All my life
Take over
Come breathe in me
I will rise
On eagles’ wings

© Reuben Morgan / Hillsong Publishing 1998.