7th song of the 20/20 project…
Here’s the 7th song of the 20/20 project. (Hey, I’ve just realised that I’m uploading in on 07/07/07! A significant day on lots of levels - I’m hearing great reports from ‘The Call’ in Nashville.
Infact let me ramble here for a minute or two before I get to the this week’s song because I just remembered something. Earlier this year I was invloved in a short tour that ended up in Nashville. On my final night before returning to Ireland my hosts, Jeff & Kim Balding invited some friends including Don and Christine Potter, John Ragsdale, my good friends Neil & Susan Andrews and others round for a party. It was a great gathering of creative and prophetic folks and we had a blast.
At the end of the night we had a prayer/ministry time together and in the midst of that I felt the Lord give me a picture. It was the scene from the classic CS Lewis story The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe were all of a sudden both the children and the white witch hear the sound of a stream flowing and realize that the snow and ice that covers the whole land is melting and the endless winter has just started to end.
In the story it inspires both hope in the Narnians and fear in the evil witch’s camp. My understanding was that the yearnings of the intercessors, worshippers and God seekers in the Nashville/Tennessee region’s were soon to be realised and the enemy’s grip was melting like snow in the spring.
Perhaps we’re seeing that happening today?
Anyway, on with the song. This one has been in my rewriting pile for a while. I used it in it’s current form on a few occassions live but feel it could be made more accessible for congregations to sing.
It’s based on the account in Revelation when John, who has known Jesus very closely during his time on earth, is completely undone when he experiences his unveiled splendour.
Let me know what you think. Click here if the video doesn’t show below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCgZFuk2gZo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License.
July 8th, 2007 at 01:38 am
Very good. I love the lyrics. Are you considering adding more in the future than just the acoustic guitar? I’m not a musician, but maybe some percussion and keyboard for a flair or keep it toned down and use an amplified acoustic and a piano. Again, excellent song, thanks for sharing it with us!
July 8th, 2007 at 07:12 am
The words to this song are wonderful - they really capture that sense of awe in God’s Presence.
There’s no problem with the tune, really, but I had a sense that the rhythm doesn’t quite “fit” the feel of the words. A very unusual rhythm may be needed, perhaps.
I am very impressed with the words, though.
Thank you for your willingness to share this process. This is a pretty exciting project!
July 8th, 2007 at 03:09 pm
This will make a good worship song with, as you say a bit of tweeking. The lyrics are good, but the melody just needs a bit of ‘oomph’. Perhaps a change of key somewhere?
Good work Andy.
July 8th, 2007 at 04:50 pm
Hey Andy
Like this song a lot, the pictorial language helps capture a sense of wonder.
It reminds me of a line I once wrote in response to an amazing sunset; ‘the splendour of your majesty captures my heart and beckons me’.
I can imagine this song with a big emotive electric sound to express some of the energy in the lyrics.
I like the 1st chord, it creats a nice tension which could lend to a build in the verse before exploding into the verse after the break!
Just one wee thing I noticed; to my ears the timing bewtween the 2nd and 3rd lines of the verse seems a little too long.
Great blog Andy
All the best for Sligo
July 9th, 2007 at 04:23 am
I like this song Andy. Good Work I really like the lyrics. Good worship song. As far as the melody goes I like it but just as jean says maybe it just needs a little somthing. I don’t know what though. Thanks again for sharing.
July 9th, 2007 at 06:11 pm
The strumming on the verses is to much for the singing. The chorus gets a little better on the strumm speed. I like the chorus and its words, the rest is a little vague. I think the whole song would sound better if you did it like the chorus but it won’t change the need something more in the verse. God bless you. Ben
July 9th, 2007 at 07:22 pm
WE like it. Toadie and Shaz
July 9th, 2007 at 09:14 pm
The truth in the words is apparent. However, what this song lacks most is repetition lyrically. It’s as though you’ve taken a beautiful prayer and put it to music, which is great, but a strong song will leave the listener with something to “hand his hat on”, so to speak (either lyric or melody repetition, and may include a hook) . For instance, its title is You are so Beautiful, yet it’s only said once. Lyrical suggestion: replace “In Your mouth the words of life” with “From your lips the words of life”. Unlike the other commenters, I like the beat and I can hear a gently thumping bass, a la “I . But that constant thump without building in pauses could wear out the listener pretty quickly. An option might be to write a pre-chorus that breaks into half time. Finding spots for breaks and building the song to a climax like a top-pointed triangle combined with your lyrical imagery will give strength here. And that’s what I think!
Blessings, Faye
July 9th, 2007 at 09:16 pm
Well, I was going to give an example, but I can’t remember what it was, so that’s why the a la “I…” ! Sorry about that! -Faye
July 9th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
I am no writer nor a musician however I enjoy listening to music, this tune doesn’t grab my attention its a bit same-ish. words are fine, I think it needs a lift with the sounds but don’t ask me how!!
July 10th, 2007 at 12:38 am
I like the lyrics but would like to hear a mix on the music. Maybe have 2 guitars.
July 21st, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I quite like this. I think using John’s Revelation is quite a good and more original construct for a lyric and I felt the song generally does build well and gives the sense of wonder and awe John is experiencing that leads him to ‘fall down’. I would like to hear a full band on this, especially a nice counter melody on keyboards.
Incidentally, like the little introductions. Perhaps you could use these to make pithy political or social comments like them there Christians in the US?
(Just kidding)
July 22nd, 2007 at 07:58 am
I agree with some of the other comments-I like the song a lot but it needs something…I thing a transition to another tune would be great if you have another song that fits with it. I’m not a musician at all so forgive my phrase-ology but if you find a phrase that repeats and then goes up a half step to change the key for the new song it will give the worshippers a feeling of increased energy and bring the worship up a notch.
My favorite songs to sing in church either bring the worship up at the end (we call it going vertical!) or they turn into an acapella of praise (repeating a key phrase over and over without music).
That’s what I think!
I like what I hear so far-keep it up!
November 24th, 2007 at 01:10 am
I was playing around with a Travis picking style with the chords and it had a nice sound that goes with the sentiment of the song. I don’t know I like it. What do you think Andy?
Kind of like this (I’ll tab it)
E 2–2-0–0-3–3-
B -3—-2—–0—
G –2—-2—–0–
D 0–0-2—-0—-
A ———0—-2-
E —————-3