Religious Songs That Speak To You

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Janie
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 07:22 AM

Finally having a chance to read carefully thorugh the thread. It sure is a good'n.

Great lyrics/poetry, Little Hawk. Would love to hear the melody.

As I contemplate the premise of the thread title, I find I make distinctions between songs that are favorites because of the associations they have with childhood or family significance, and songs that 'speak' to me spiritually. Anybody else notice that?

Janie

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 06:16 AM

There are several, but the one (very popular in the UK, I believe) my mum asked for at her funeral, and which I chose as one of the hymns at my husband's, is "How Great Thou Art". I believe it was originally Russian.
My husband wasn't a religious man, but he always said he had the feeling that there was a greater mind behind what he saw in the world on his many travels,which included a lot of walking up mountains and through woods and forests:

'How Great Thou Art'

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,etc

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, etc

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee, etc

There's another song by a female American singer that I have heard on the radio. I can't remember her name, or what it's called, but she wrote it after the death of her husband. It says something like "in my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky". I dissolve every time I hear it, and I always forget to listen to the name. To be honest, I'm usually not in any fit state to!

As for Christmas, it has to be "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear". So appropriate for these troubled times.

Andrea

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: sian, west wales
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 06:06 AM

Oh, yes. Definitely "His Eye is On the Sparrow", Azizi. And the choir version of "Jesus, Lover of my Soul" sounds slow to my ears, too. And they draw out the end notes which wasn't part of our 'tradition'. I have the music in a book, which I could scan for you if you wanted it - one I think Hollowfox sent me once. One of those 'old time religion' collections of great singable religious songs.

Joe F - "Capt. Kidd hymn"? Would that be a hymn with words on the measure of "Captain Kidd"? Maybe, "What Wondrous Love is This" ... which also deserves a mention in this thread.

sian

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: theleveller
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 04:52 AM

Slag, I agree with you about Suzanne. I must be missing something here. Why make the distinction between religious and non-religious songs? If a song 'speaks to you' what does it matter whether it's religious or not? Sorry, I don't get the whole god thing but intrigued to know what the attraction is.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: GUEST,SLAG
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 03:27 AM

OOPS!! Sorry, that last post is from Slag, currently in guest status!

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 03:25 AM

Yes to Angel Band. Cynthia Clausen does a remarkable job with that song and honestly, the banjo sounds like a heavenly harp in it. I can't recall who is on the banjo and mandolin but they are awe inspiring.

It's not in any hymnal I know of (nor will it probably ever be) but the theology is tremendous in Cohen's Suzanne. A great song from a great song writer and poet in his own time.

LH !!! Excellent! You amaze me at times. Are you sure Chongo didn't help???

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Padre
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 01:30 AM

My God, accept my heart this day, and make it always thine,
That I from thee no more may stray, no more from thee decline.

Before the cross of Him who died, behold I prostrate fall;
Let every sin be crucified, and Christ be all in all.

Anoint me with thy heavenly grace, and seal me for thine own,
That I may see thy glorious face, and worship near thy throne.

Let every thought and work and word to thee be ever given
Then life will be thy service Lord, and death the gate of heaven.

Words - Matthew Bridges
Music - Orlando Gibbons (Song 67)

Padre

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Joe_F
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 12:11 AM

Capt. Kidd hymn
Angel Band
Amazing Grace

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 10:55 PM

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW
[Civilla D. Martin; 1905]

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav'n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

-snip-

The complete lyrics to this song can be found at: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/His_Eye_Is_on_the_Sparrow/

**

Here's a YouTube video of this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gta4B1MBU0
Mahalia Jackson - His Eye Is On The Sparrow

**
Here's another You Tube video clip of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GsfCnBQGf4
Jennifer Holliday - His Eye Is On The Sparrow Part.1 (1986)

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 10:49 PM

You're welcome, Little Hawk.

Hopefully, we'll be able to hear that song sometime soon.

**

sian, thanks for posting that link to the South African mass choir. I think that tune may be the basis for the "Jesus Lover Of My Soul" song that I'm looking for. However, the recording I remember had a faster tempo and the arrangement was somewhat different. I'm still on the lookout for it, and will post a link here if I ever find a video tape or audio tape of that version.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:21 PM

Thanks, Azizi and sian. It means a lot to me every time I sing it. As you can probably see it's non-denominational. I would call it a universalist song, I guess.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: MaineDog
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:09 PM

Thank you, Guest TJ,
That was the first hymn at Gail's service, and one of our favorites. She was a "Navy Brat", and her dad was sent off with the same song. Our variant in a Baptist Hymnal also has verse about perils in the air, and so covers all the services.
MD

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:03 PM

"He Turns The Water Into Wine"
How could anyone not stand up and join in?

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: sian, west wales
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 06:28 PM

Azizi

I hadn't heard the Darlene Zschech one before. Sounds like someone has written a praise song based on the Charles Wesley idea. It isn't the one I was thinking of, though. 'Mine' is the one at the cyberhymnal site ... and pretty much the only tune you'll hear sung by the Welsh. It was written by Joseph Parry who was a major force on the Welsh music scene in the mid/late 1800s (spent a lot of time in N.E. United States too.)

The other tune, which would have been popular with my mother's family (Canadian Methodists) is on the same cyberhymnal page. Look for the tune name, Martyn, by Simeon B Marsh. Is that the one you're thinking of? It's also sung in a medley on youtube by the South African Mass Male Choir

Little Hawk - lovely piece!

sian

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: GUEST,Janie
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:31 PM

Another of my favorites.




"Open My Eyes, That I May See"
(Clara H. Scott) public domain
First published 1895

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Refrain 1:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Refrain 2:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Refrain 3:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

midi from cyberhymnal

I'm surprised to not find this one in the DT or in a thread. (There is a snippet with a rewrite of the lyrics except for the refrain, but no credit to Clara Scott, who wrote the anthem. (She also published the first book of anthems by a female in the USA.)

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:05 PM

Eternal Father, Strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty Ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
and calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

"Eternal Father," also known as the Navy Hymn in the U.S. I am related to three generations of Naval officers, many now gone. No matter how many times I hear the first verse, especially when sung by a choir or played by a Navy band with great reverence, I get a lump in my throat. Above is one of several slight variants I have seen.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 03:21 PM

Little Hawk,

Thanks for posting the words to your song. Kudos in particular to your refrain:

You are the hands of individual creation
You are the silent witness of the raging sea
You are the vision that gave birth to every
nation
You are the love that lives beyond eternity

-snip-

I'd love to hear it sung.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 02:29 PM

here is something for Hail Holy Queen http:// http://youtube.com/watch?v=muP6Xb5jlmo

Filipino prisoners have somehow choreographed it..mg

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 02:21 PM

Praise My Soul The King Of Heaven especially when it has this verse (often omitted):

Frail as summer's flower we flourish,
Blows the wind and it is gone;
But while mortals rise and perish
Our God lives unchanging on,
Praise Him, Praise Him, Hallelujah
Praise the High Eternal One!


Also:
Love Divine All Loves Excelling
The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended
Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
O God Our Help In Ages Past

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Emma B
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 01:55 PM

Hail Shining Morn

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 01:44 PM

Well then, here's one I wrote myself:

You Are

I see the sun rise in the East
And I thank you
I hear a thousand birds
Singing out your name
All I am
And all I have
Was given me by you
My Life, my Love, my Everything

With each new breath I think of you
And I remember
I see your face in all the fabric
Of the World
All that is
And all that shall be
Held in your embrace
My Life, my Love my Everything

You are the hands of individual creation
You are the silent witness of the raging sea
You are the vision that gave birth to every
nation
You are the love that lives beyond eternity

I watch the passing of the parade
Of pomp and circumstance
And am not touched nor drawn away
From the life within
I am you
And you are me
And evermore shall be
My Life, my Love, my Everything

I slip away, lost in the mirror of mortality
But I return to find you there within my
heart
You are still
And you endure
When all else falls away
My Life, my Love, my everything

You are the hands of individual creation
You are the silent witness of the raging sea
You are the vision that gave birth to every
nation
You are the love that lives beyond eternity

This play will end, and when it's done
We'll have a curtain call
And take a bow, and then, my friend
We'll go back home
Home to the heart
That stood apart
But never far away
My Life, my Love, my Everything

And we can laugh, and we can live
Beyond the hands of time
And walk the hills and stand together
In the sun
I am yours
You are mine
And you are all that is
My Life, my Love, my Everything

You are the hands of individual creation
You are the silent witness of the raging sea
You are the hidden heart that beats in every
nation
You are the love that lives beyond eternity


Copyright   ©   2005   George Coventry
Words & Music by George Coventry

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: theleveller
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 01:24 PM

I like what Martin Simpson did with 'When A Knight Won His Spurs' on the Prodigal Son CD; he took out all references to God because, as he said, anyone who is on first name terms with George Bush doesn't deserve such a good song.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Goose Gander
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 12:59 PM

Never Grow Old by James Cleveland Moore.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 12:51 PM

sian, when you mentioned the title "Jesus Lover Of My Soul", I went looking for it on google and I found this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8BA-82kVR4
Darlene Zschech - Jesus Lover Of My Soul

Is this the song you were referring to? I like it.

However, there's another song that I've been trying to find with that same title. It was sung by a Black gospel choir {The Edwin Hawkns Singers?} and was faster in tempo than that Darlene Zschech song.

I found the words for Jesus Lover Of My Soul {Let me to thy bosom fly} on this website http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/l/jlmysoul.htm

At least the first verse sounds familiar, but the tune is very different than what I remember.

Btw,imo, midis=Ugh!! They just go on and on and on. But they do give a sense of how a song sounds. So I guess folks have to be thankful for small favors and just grin and bear it.

The website does mention that there are alternate tunes for this song. The version I'm seeking definitely had another tune.

JESUS LOVER OF MY SOUL
{Charles Wes­ley, Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems, 1740.

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand, dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find;
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name, I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 12:32 PM

Can't Get Away From My Love
Pierce Pettis

There's no way you can lose it
There's no way you can lose
You may choose to abuse it
If that's what you wanna do
There's no way you can earn it
I does not come from a store
And if you try to return it
You will only get more

you can't get away from my love, can't get away
you can't get away from my love, can't get away

There's no way I can hide it
There's no way I can hide
I'm exposed like a photograph
And you know pictures don't lie
You have no choice in the matter
This is beyond your control
This is bigger than both of us
It has a mind of its own

you can't get away from my love, can't get away
you can't get away from my love, can't get away
Get away

You can't outrun a bullet
You can't outrun a prayer
Pray the bullet won't find you
While you sleep unaware
You know you're constantly protected
Gonna let no evil intrude
Like a guardian angel
My heart will watch over you

you can't get away from my love, can't get away
you can't get away from my love, can't get away
Get away

Bridge:
I'm not sure you deserve this
God knows what you deserve
Complaining about the service
You've got one hell of a nerve

Go ahead—you can let out your anger
'Til you're beside yourself
You can sleep all alone at night
Or beside someone else
But there's no way you can lose it
Oh, you would if you could
You'll come back by your own free will
Just like I knew that you would

you can't get away from my love, can't get away
you can't get away from my love, can't get away
Get away

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 12:18 PM

God Believes In You
Pierce Pettis
When you start to doubt if you exist
God believes in you
Confounded by the evidence
God believe in you
When your light burns so dim
When your chances seem so slim
And you swear you don't believe in Him
God believes in you

When you rise up just to fall again
God believes in you
Deserted by your closest friends
God believes in you
When you're betrayed with a kiss
And you turn your cheek to another fist
It does not have to end like this
God believes in you

Oh, everything matters if anything matters at all
Everything matters, no matter how big, no matter how small
Oh, God believes in you
Oh, God believes in you

When you're so ashamed that you could die
And you can't do right even though you try
Blessed are the ones who grieve, the ones who mourn, the ones who weep (bleed/plead)
In sorrow you sow but in joy you will reap
Blessed are the ones who grieve, the ones who mourn, the ones who weep
In sorrow you sow but in joy you will reap
Oh, God believes in you
Oh, God believes in you

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: sian, west wales
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 12:16 PM

If it's the one that Azizi linked to, that's the one I like the best. Very folky.

I've been listening (a lot!) recently to the Maddy Prior album, "Paradise Found" - hymns of Charles Wesley. I was much struck by the cover notes which include a long quote from John Wesley's preface to "A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists", 1780.

"May I be permitted to add a few words with regard to the poetry? Then I will speak to those who are judges thereof, with all freedom and unreserve. To these I may say, without offence, 1. In these hymns there is no doggerel; no botches; nothing put in to patch up the rhyme; no feeble expletives. 2. Here is nothing turgid or bombast, on the one hand, or low and creeping, on the other. 3. Here are no cant expressions; no words without meaning. Those who impute this to us know not what they say. We talk common sense, both in prose and verse, and use no word but in a fixed and determinate sense. 4. Here are, allow me to say, both the purity, the strength, and the elegance of the English language; and, at the same time, the utmost simplicity and plainness, suited to very capacity. Lastly, I desire men of taste to judge, (these are the only competent judges) whether there be not in some of the following hymns the true Spirit of Poetry, such as cannot be acquired by art and labour, but must be the gift of nature. By labour a man may become a tolerable imitator of Spenser, Shaekspeare, or Milton; and may heap together pretty compound epithets, as 'pale-eyed', 'meek-eyed', and the like; but unless he be born a Poet, he will never attain the genuine spirit of Poetry."

It's interesting to hear these hymns sung by Maddy Prior in a folk, rather than ecclesiastic, style. You hear the words afresh. There are some cracking good verses, like:

When God is mine and I am his,
Of paradise possest,
I taste unutterable bliss,
And everlasting rest.

and another

Jesu, Lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life be past!
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh, receive my soul at last!

Those old Methodists new how to roll out an image!

sian

Subject: Lyr Add: COMET (Pierce Pettis)
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 12:07 PM

Comet
Pierce Pettis

A comet streaked across the sky while I was sleeping
Broke into a million pieces in the night
Missed us by so little, Passed us by so close
It was right there and we didn't even know

Doesn't God look out for children and for fools
Who can blindly stumble right into the truth
'Til all the pieces fit into a grand design
Brilliant accident we had coming all the time.

Oh, seek and you shall find it
That is what they say
Just give it time, don't get lost along the way
Well, I've been a long time waiting
Out here beneath this sky
As if love could find me like a comet in the night

Does a heart falling in the forest make a sound
Other than the pounding axe that brings it down
Or is it up to me to tell the forest from the trees
Does it matter if there's no one else around?

Oh, seek and you shall find it
That is what they say
Just give it time, and don't get in your own way
Well, I've been a long time waiting
Out here beneath this sky
As if love could find me like a comet in the night

Bridge:
I gaze about the stars and wonder
I can see the lights are on
Is anybody home?

Oh, seek and you shall find it
That is what they say
Just give it time, don't get lost along the way
Well, I've been a long time waiting
Out here beneath this sky
As if love could find me like a comet in the night

A comet streaked across the sky while I was sleeping.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Jim Krause
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:50 AM

sian asks:

Jim, which tune do you use for "In Christ there is no east or west"?

I don't know the tune name, but it's the one Leo Kotke learned from John Fahey. I believe the Kotke recording is on "Greenhouse." The chord progression goes from G to F, a nice mixolydian touch.

JimK

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Jim Krause
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:44 AM

Carol wrote:

How Can I Keep from Singing and for a Carol In The Bleak Midwinter

Yes! Those are two more songs I also find inspirational.

JimK

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:41 AM

Mine are all in the songbooks our band has produced. Most of the songs (and most of the songbooks' tables of contents) are posted already.

~S~

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:34 AM

Personal favourite is " The song of Hosea" sung to a tune similar to Tom Paxton's "Everytime" and based on the words of the prophet Hosea.
A very moving Hymn not widely known but I will post the words if anyone wants them
Here is the first verse as a taster

How can I forget and leave my loved one
How can I depart my love wounded is my heart
How can I forget that I'm compassion
How can I depart from her nearer to my heart

O Israel why have you pierced my heart why have you gone
see your love is melting like the dew drop
Dry and fallow lies your ground withered is your heart

Don't know who wrote it but has been a longtime favourite

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:21 AM

"Every Grain of Sand" - Bob Dylan
"I Believe In You" - Bob Dylan
"Halellujah" - Leonard Cohen
"Silent Night"
"O Come, All Ye Faithful"
"Amazing Grace"
And anything along a spiritual line by Enya...

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:07 AM

sian, this is not to take away from Jim's response to your query about the tune that he uses for the song "In Christ There Is No East Or West, but fyi, if you can get YouTube, there's a number of a videos of a guitarist playing this song. Here's one of them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0JGyMCWtfk
In Christ There Is No East Or West-Kottesque

Subject: Lyr Add: PRECIOUS LORD TAKE MY HAND (T A Dorsey)
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 10:54 AM

PRECIOUS LORD TAKE MY HAND *
{Thomas A. Dorsey, 1932}

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on,
Let me stand
I'm tired, I am weak I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near
When my life is almost gone
Hear my cry,
Hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When the darkness appears and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet,
Hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on,
Let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

-snip-

* {also known as "Take My Hand Precious Lord"]


"Words: Thomas A Dor­sey wrote this song in 1932 in Chi­ca­go,Illi­nois, af­ter his wife Net­tie died while giv­ing birth to a child (who al­so died short­ly there­af­ter). Dor­sey sang the song for his friend, Gos­pel sing­er The­o­dore Frye, and Frye's choir sang it the next Sun­day at the Eb­e­nez­er Bap­tist Church.

Music: Adapt­ed by Thom­as Dor­sey from the tune Mait­land, by George N. Al­len (1812-1877)"
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/l/pltmhand.htm l includes a midi file


Here's two YouTube videos of this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSHvUvlzznc
"Precious Lord Take My Hand-"Mahalia Jackson -

**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY2xIoNKXD8
"Precious Lord Take my Hand" - Etta, Chaka and Gladys

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 10:51 AM

Only Remembered

(but the MIDI there, while accurate, is way too slow)

Subject: Lyr Add: WHISPERING HOPE
From: sian, west wales
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 08:31 AM

All good stuff, above. I like "Peace be still" too, and a lot of others of that kind: "Since Jesus Came Into My Heart", "Jesus Saves", "The Ninety and Nine" and more. When I need to slow down, I'm a big fan of Whispering Hope.

Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.

Refrain
Whispering hope, oh how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.

Refrain

Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart.

Refrain

But I also like these F.W.Faber words, as we sing it in the North American Welsh hymnal to the Caradog Roberts tune, In Memoriam. I went looking for a blue-clicky, as I doubt if the tune is familiar to people here; interestingly, I only found it as Sacred Harp music (tune in the 'tenor' line) here. Faber wrote the words, I guess, as 4 line verses, but we double them up to be 8 line verses to fit the tune.

There's a wideness in God's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth's sorrows
Are more felt than up in Heaven;
There is no place where earth's failings
Have such kindly judgment given.

There is grace enough for thousands
Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.
For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.

But we make His love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify His strictness
With a zeal He will not own.
If our love were but more simple,
We should take Him at His word;
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the sweetness of our Lord.

I grew up also singing "Diadem" (the 'all hail the power" words) in the Welsh singing festivals – great stuff. One of many hymns that are big favourites with the ex-pat community.

Jim, which tune do you use for "In Christ there is no east or west"?

Rapaire, on an 'up' note, I've always felt that Stan Rogers' "Mary Ellen Carter" was a good 'un.


sian

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 08:27 AM

H/T {Hat tip} to this Mudcat thread for being the inspiration for the title of this thread:

thread.cfm?threadid=105603&messages=208
BS: Poems that speak to you.

**

Also, here's a related Mudcat thread that may be of interest to folks posting on or reading this thread:

thread.cfm?threadid=35179#1103897
Your Favorite Gospel Blues?

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 08:19 AM

I'm not sure when I started doing so, but whenever I sing the first verse of "Lead Kindly Light", I sing the following gospel song right afterwards:

THANK YOU JESUS [FOR MY JOURNEY]
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
for my journey
You brought me
from a mighty,
ah mighty long way
ah mighty long way
Thank you Jesus
Thank you Jesus
for my journey
You brought me
from a mighty
ah mighty long way.

-snip-

Here's two interpretations of that gospel song that I found on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx71-hZqgZc
"Thank You Jesus" -Stephen Hill, Lillie Knauls,Jessy Dixon

**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFbgmHD0SZQ
"Thank You Jesus" - Donnie McClurkin

Fwiw, the first YouTube clip sounds more like the version that I sing, but the tempo those singers use is slower than the tempo that I learned, I guess from hearing it sung in church.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Carol
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 08:02 AM

How Can I Keep from Singing and for a Carol In The Bleak Midwinter

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Azizi
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:51 AM

LEAD KINDLY LIGHT
[Words by John Henry Newman in 1833; (4th verse by Edward H. Bickersteth, Jr.). Music by John B. Dykes in 1865].


Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

-snip-

Only the first verse of this song speaks to me. Since at least my teen years, when I'm in need of encouragement, this is one of the songs that I sing to myself.

The complete lyrics for this hymn can be found on a number of websites, including http://www.hymns.me.uk/lead-kindly-light-favorite-hymn.htm.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: mattkeen
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:15 AM

Under the leaves of life - sung by May Bradley on Voices of the People


A number of Sydney Carter songs including John Ball

Subject: Lyr Add: GREEN PASTURES
From: topical tom
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:15 AM

1. Will there be any stars in my crown?

2. Troubles and trials often betray those
On in the weary body to stray
But we shall walk beside the still waters
With the Good Shepherd leading The Way

Those who have strayed were sought by The Master
He who once gave His life for the sheep
Out on the mountain still He is searching
Bringing them in forever to keep

Going up home to live in green pastures
Where we shall live and die never more
Even The Lord will be in that number
When we shall reach that Heavenly Shore

We will not heed the voice of the stranger
For he would lead us to despair
Following on with Jesus our savior
We shall all reach that country so fair

Going up home to live in green pastures
Where we shall live and die never more
Even The Lord will be in that number
When we shall reach that Heavenly Shore

3.Over in the glory land

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Janie
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 11:27 PM

Simple Gifts
What You Give Me (Lori Lungren)

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Joe_F
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 11:14 PM

Abide with Me
The Battle Hymn of the Republic
Most of the Christmas carols
Almighty Father, Strong to Save
Ein Feste Burg
Weisst, wie viele Sterne stehen

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Beer
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 11:12 PM

Oups.
Not found in any church going books.
Sorry about that.

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Beer
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 11:11 PM

Although not found in any church going folks. My all time modern favorite, and which I hope would be sung at my passing is; "Every Grain of Sand by Bob Dylan".
Amen.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: GUEST,Slag
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 11:03 PM

Amazing Grace- Amen, it's my testimony also.
In the Cross- The cure for self-will and pride.
Rock of Ages- The Gospel story

Subject: Lyr Add: IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST NOR WEST
From: Jim Krause
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 10:58 PM

I haven't posted in a long time. And while I was looking for something else, I found this thread. The religious song that means very much to me happens by chance to be a church song, In Christ There Is No East or West preferably sung to the melody that John Fahey played.

IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST NOR WEST
(John Oxenham, 1908)

In Christ there is no East or West, in him no South or North
But one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.

In him shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find
His service is the golden cord close binding all mankind.

Join hands then brothers of the faith, what e'er your race may be
Who serves my Father as a son is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both East and West, in him meet South and North
All Christly souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.

Thanks for starting this thread, Azizi

Jim

Subject: RE: Religious Songs That Speak To You
From: Janie
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 10:53 PM

Oops! Shoulda looked a little further. Iris Dement singing "Let the Mystery Be" on YouTube