9th song of the 20/20 project…
Folks, thanks so much for your comment, emails and feedback on the the songs so far. You’ve no idea how helpful it is in the overall process - thanks again.
Here’s the 9th song in the series (almost half way - can you believe it!).
This week I’ve done something a little different, inspired by some of your comments and feedback so far. I’ve uploaded a song loosely based on some of the words of Psalm 8, however I think it needs a 2nd verse - what do you think?
If you have any ideas please let me know.
If the video isn’t visible below click this link http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ7Jt319sLc
Cheers - Andy.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License.
July 21st, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Simple and beautiful song, Andy. I went a simple route with the words.
When I consider the heavens
The way you died for me
May my life reflect you
So that others may see
I was thinking of a bridge, too:
Your glory reaches into my heart
Your death’s my witness to grace
This depth of love reminds me
to seek your face
The chorus is really lovely, btw.
July 21st, 2007 at 10:25 pm
This is a beautiful thought-provoking song. There is a gentleness and awe pouring forth from it . . .
However, I don’t think that I’m going to be much help here because I don’t have thoughts on a second verse except from another section of Ps. 8:
“From the lips of your children . . . you have ordained praise . . . ”
Certainly we have reason, upon reason, upon reason, to be grateful for God - Who He Is - and for all He has done and will do.
This my favourite overall (and I have liked all of them) & I hope it makes it into the CD.
It will really feel like a connection when the CD is produced and I buy it, now, to have seen some of the inside workings. Thanks again, Andy.
July 21st, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Hi Andy,
I think you DO need another verse and came up with this from v1 of Psalm 8:
THE EARTH IS FILLED O LORD MY GOD
WITH THE GLORY OF YOUR NAME
YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME HOW TO PRAISE
AND WIPED AWAY MY SHAME
Give it a try - I think it works quite well.
Peace and grace,
Pete
July 22nd, 2007 at 12:23 am
a love beyond all ……. (cant think of that word)
a love beyond all compare
my strength in times when im weary
you change my darkness to light..(could work on that line a bit too but only an idea)
i dunno if its what you after andy but i thought i’d maybe add my wee bit!! love the simplicity bro sweet!! see you soon!! mark
July 22nd, 2007 at 06:58 am
Hi Andy,
This is my first time listening to your music and I love what you are doing! Here is a suggestion for the second and third verses of Psalm 8:
Psalm 8
When I consider the heavens
The sun and stars in the sky
Your love for me I can’t measure
You even give up your life (I think it would sound better to say “gave”)
And this one thing I know
And this one thing I see
Great is your love
For me
And this one thing I know
And this one thing I see
Great is your love
For me
When I consider creation
The birds and fish of the sea
We’re crowned with glory and honor
You placed them all under me
And this one thing I know
And this one thing I see
Great is your love
For me
And this one thing I know
And this one thing I see
Great is your love
For me
I know that you’re my Jehovah
You keep me safe and secure
I sing my praise to your heavens
Your name is music to me
And this one thing I know
And this one thing I see
Great is your love
For me
And this one thing I know
And this one thing I see
Great is your love
For me
Keep it up-God bless!
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:32 am
Lovely song Andy.
May I suggest:
When I consider your glory,
Your grace and your majesty,
How excellent is your name Lord,
And yet you choose to love me.
Don’t know if anyone else has said this, but I can visualise this song being sung by a female worship leader, i.e. Geraldine Latty, Sue Rinaldi, Kate Simmonds.
Good work Andy
July 23rd, 2007 at 08:51 pm
I love the way Stephanie’s verse and bridge fit in. I’d just add a few words here and there so that the rhythm flows a bit easier.
When I consider the heavens
The way that you died for me
Please Lord, let my life reflect you
So that all others may see
You’ve written a lovely worship song. I’ve already worshipped to it some today.
Thank you for involving others in this neat process.
~Rebecca
July 24th, 2007 at 12:43 am
Hi Andy, I’ve been ‘off with a sore shoulder’ for a while but really wanted to comment here…..I love the melody and it reminds me of a beautiful day last week when I was visiting my friend at her cottage on a lake. As the sun was going down I was taking photos of the sky and commented ‘doesn’t it make you want to burst out singing “Joyful, joyful, we adore thee” - wouldn’t have been their choice of song but my heart felt like singing out loud - I guess my soul was declaring that He is God??? (song - the heavens declare you are God)!
God Bless and thank you
Jane
July 25th, 2007 at 05:36 am
Andy,
I really, really like this one! Very melodic, and I’m excited about what the final composition will look like.
Actually, staying true to the text in Psalm 8, Jesus isn’t here quite yet, so mentioning the cross and elements of Jesus seems, oh I don’t know… not quite right. Given this, I have a slight re-write for the 1st verse:
V1
When I consider the heavens
The moon and stars in the sky
Who is man that he cannot
Ever escape Your eye?
(chorus)
V2
When I consider Your glory
Given as a crown for my head
Who could imagine such favor
Given as my daily bread
Then… (the idea I love most…)
I think you should write a THIRD part of the song to be sung as a 2nd chorus that could be sung OVER TOP of the first chorus. So you’d sing V1 - chorus - V2 - chorus - chorus 2 (new), then have your bgv’s sing the first chorus behind you when you sing the 2nd chorus.
Because chorus 1 has long notes for “one thing I know”, the chorus 2 sung over top of it should be more wordy and slightly more passionately sung.
I’ll play around a bit more. Whoo-hoo…this is fun!
-Faye Smith
July 25th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Andy,
Here is my second verse:
Your love is stronger than granite
You are a lighthouse to me
Your love will outlast the ages
You love us permanently
I liked some of the others - maybe you could have 3 or 4 verses!
And a mandolin solo! (OK, now we’re REALLY pushing it!)
Peace,
Gary K
Cleveland OH
USA
July 31st, 2007 at 12:32 am
I think its important that a song tells a story and has consistency and flow throughout. The first verse speaks about God’s amazing creation and love which leads to crucifixion. (Chorus is ace by the way!)
Maybe you’re jumping too quickly from God’s love in creation to God’s love shown through crucifixion. Perhaps dedicate the first verse to creation and the second to crucifixion. I don’t know, are two ideas / themes being mixed togther here?
V1:
When I Consider the heavens
The moon and stars in the night (’sky’ is just so over done)
the wonders of creation
reflect your glory and love
Chorus:
And this one thing I know
And this one thing I see
Great is your love
For me
And this one thing I know
And this one thing I see
Great is your love
For me
V2:
A love that lives on forever
mercy that covers my shame
Your love for me I can’t measure
You even gave us your life
Chorus x2
Hope this helps??
August 6th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Firstly, I agree with Faye - I think that if you’re doing Psalm 8, let’s stick with that and not bring the crucifixion in. You’re writing 20 songs and if you can nail one good thought or truth (or opinion or feeling, if you’re feeling risky) in each song, then cool. Of course, Psalm 8 has that double meaning of God creating lowly mortal man in the midst of wonder and the prophetic sense of this pointing specifically at Jesus, so I think you’re probably just getting away with that.
If I were to submit something for verse two, I’d want to follow the psalm and try to grasp its ambiguity in some way. This probably doesn’t fit very well with the song as it is at the moment but perhaps you can catch what I’m trying to do here along with the Psalm itself:
Somewhere between dirt and angels
You formed a wonderful plan
You breathed into imperfection
Risked everything in this man
Of course, ‘man’ is a very loaded term and can only be excused by the ambiguity of it symbolising Jesus (otherwise we’re moving into very sexist territory and we wouldn’t want that, oh, no).
I appreciate that this is probably too complicated but I hope you catch the heart of what I’ve tried to do here. Some of the other suggestions are much more palatable than my own!
October 5th, 2007 at 07:17 am
I sent this to you in email, but here’s my attempt at it…
Though many times I have stumbled
Your hand has led me through
Your grace and mercy uphold me
My broken life You’ve renewed
Andy - I just discovered your songs today - wow! Thanks for letting us “listen in” while you work out what God is doing in your heart. Thanks for your openness - it inspired me today.
Sam - Bellingham, Washington, USA