Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set

Subject: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: MarkS
Date: 15 Jun 08 - 11:13 PM

Hi All

In a few weeks my church will be holding a service of healing. The music director has asked me and some others to prepare some entertainment for the service.
So - any advice about appropriate songs for a gig like this? I have been asked to do a half hour, and I figure to start with "Bound for Glory", and maybe "Green Green Rocky Road" for the kids.
Any suggestions about proper songs for this set will be appreciated.
Thanks
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 15 Jun 08 - 11:57 PM

Turning Toward The Morning, Gentle Arms of Eden, People Like you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 09:17 AM

Mi Shebeirach

Heal in the Wisdom

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: Rasener
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 09:19 AM

My Sweet Lord

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: PoppaGator
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 09:29 AM

How about a song specifically about healing?

Touch the Hem of his Garment ~ The Soul Stirrers with Sam Cook

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: Mark Ross
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 02:04 PM

HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING.

My favorite.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: cptsnapper
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 03:47 PM

Beth Neilsen Chapman may have songs that you would find appropriate.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 04:19 PM

"I Hope You Dance" Lee Ann Womack- a country radio hit, always seems uplifting to me.

"Forever Young" - Bob Dylan


You may or may not want to do Warren Zevon's "Don't Let us Get Sick", unless it's a mature crowd with an ironic sense of humor; but I once heard it played at a coffeehouse, and a woman I knew there who was a cancer survivor made a point of hugging the singer after she heard it. (On You Tube)



"The Sun Will Come out Tomorrow" from the musical: Annie

you MAY want to consider "Don't Laugh At Me." another country hit.Mark Willis, on You Tube


When I was sick years ago with a very painful ailment, for some reason, I found Miles Davis' music the only thing that could get my mind off the misery. "In A Silent Way" and "My Funny Valentine" by Miles
was the musical medicine that got me through it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 04:25 PM

How could I forget this pair of songs:

I don't know if you can do this at your church, but the two most spiritually uplifting and healing songs I know are:

1. Oh Heavenly Day by Patti Griffin


2. Beyond the Blue Horizon - by Lou Christie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 16 Jun 08 - 06:14 PM

Balm in Giliad
Music of Healing ..Tommy Sands
How about some old ones..wait till the sun shines Nellie etc.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: M.Ted
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 03:48 AM

"Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: GUEST,Suffolk Miracle
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 10:30 AM

Sorry, but from my experience of healing sessions:

Isn't It Grand To Be Blooming Well Dead

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: Genie
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 12:30 PM

A couple older hymns that might fit:

Under His Wings
His Eye Is On The Sparrow
and of course,
Amazing Grace

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: Genie
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 12:34 PM

Bridge Over Troubled Water
or
Lean On Me
might also fit your theme.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: Deckman
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 01:11 PM

Plastic Jesus? Bob

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 01:37 PM

How about the song: "Heal Our Land," by Michael Card? Also you might check out the songs of Rich Mullins, Steven Curtis Chapman,
Susan Ashton, Bob Bennett and Sierra - to name a few contemporary
Christian acts. On the other hand there's, "Mary Ellen Carter," but
the "...smiling bastards lying to you..." line might not carry in a church setting. Good luck. Cheers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: Genie
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 02:17 PM

Not only the original "Mary Ellen Carter," Texas Guest, but check out the "Eensy Weensy Spider" parody of that song. It's very inspirational.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: PoppaGator
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 02:58 PM

It's probably quite late to bring this up, but I've been a bit confused by the phraseology of the opening post, where MarkS tells us he was asked "to prepare some entertainment for the service." [Emphasis mine.]

Not to split hairs, but ther's a significant difference between liturgical music designed to accompany or enhance a church service, on the one hand, and "entertainment" on the other.

Either way, we have a large selection of possible choices that have been suggested, and MarkS can decide which are the most appropriate.

I suppose I'm just curious about the nature of the event, and a general idea of what the music director is looking for...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: CupOfTea
Date: 17 Jun 08 - 11:41 PM

I'm with PoppaGator in not getting what the purpose of the music is in this context. If it's a service - you don't do entertainment. If there is a service and then some shindig (meal? reception?) afterwards that DOES need entertainment, that's a different kettle of fish - IF you're in a mainstream denomination church.

If you're newwavefundamentalistmegachurchanythinggoes or a Unitarian, then perhaps anything goes. From the viewpoint of being part of an organized music ministry in a fairly high church Episcopalian congregation - meaning communion at least 48 Sundays of the year, plus other services - may I suggest you consider:

-What role is the music to play?
-What is your instrumentation, and how much rehersal time do you have?
-Are you going to be doing contemplative intrumental music for quiet partsof the service?
-If you are doing songs the congregation is expected to, or encouraged to join in, pick from among the things that are VERY familiar to the congregation. While something like AMAZING GRACE may seem overdone/ hackneyed/ boring to musicians, for those who are the non musical part of the congregation, there is much comfort in familiarity, and being able to sing.
-if there is a part of the service (Offertory, perhaps) where folks sit back and listen, that is the place to put something where you want them to hear your lyrics. The lyrics you sing are part of what is preached - and many times THE thing that is remembered long after a sermon has sunk into oblivion.
-If this is a mainstream sort of service, you won't be veering into the secular (really wonderful, fabulously inpirational want-to-share-with-the world) songs like MARY ELLEN CARTER and TURNING TOWARD THE MORNING. Think about the context- will this song fit in? If it's a non traditional kind of event, where you are PRESENTING songs to make people think, inspire good feelings, you have a wider range to choose from.

I the Hymnal repetoire, what I find healing is HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING. There are many spirituals that have a healing sort of influence, and if these are familiar, a good choice, like BALM IN GILEAD, or HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW. I wish you good luck in finding the right music and words for your service. It is awesome (in the way a 50soemthing says it and means 'with awe, actually') experience to feel that your music has been an integral part of someone's spiritual life.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: MarkS
Date: 18 Jun 08 - 08:54 PM

Thanks all for the wonderful suggestions. Mudcat, as usual, comes through.
The service will be about healing but the entertainment part will come between healing prayers and will be more secular. However liberal the church might be (United Methodist) I still felt that things on my usual gig list just might now be appropriate for the setting. (South Coast for example! The lyrics "I won my wife in a card game, to hell with those lords cross the sea")
So thats what prompted my post and request for ideas. And I got lots of great ones.

Thanks again
Mark

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 19 Jun 08 - 12:34 AM

Genie - thanks for that parody. I was looking for a new kids song for an upcoming festival and that might work. Cheers.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Need some advice for a set
From: GUEST,Dave MacKenzie
Date: 19 Jun 08 - 07:22 PM

For a service of healing, how about Garth Hewitt's "Mud on my Eyes". It used to be available as the title track on a Scripture Union Cassette.