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Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics

02 Jun 02 - 01:37 PM (#721662)
Subject: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: wysiwyg

Two songs popped into my head driving home from church today and I think we might have some fun with them. I know I did. I'll lay out the first verse and tune for each. Add what you like.

Rules? OK!

1. It needs to work with the tune because I will probably sing it, most likely in church, or at least the verses I like.

2. If you crowd a lot of syllables into a line, that's a fine, time-honored tradtion in gospel, but help us see how it scans and sings by putting the accented syllables in CAPS if it could be confoozin.

3. No whining if you don't like someone else's verses.

4. NO WHINING IF YOU DON'T LIKE SOMEONE ELSE'S VERSES. (PM me your whine instead, there ya go.)

5. Of course I reserve the right to edit if and when we wrap this up, and they can go in the Mudcat Songbook.

See my next two posts for the songs we are working on.

~Susan

02 Jun 02 - 01:40 PM (#721663)
Subject: ADD: Man Standin' There Beside You
From: wysiwyg

MAN STANDIN' THERE BESIDE YOU
A Mudcat Gospel Song
TUNE: St. James Infirmary

I see a man standin' there beside you,
Though you may not know he's there.
And he looks like he's keeping an eye on you,
And it looks like he might even care.

~S~

02 Jun 02 - 02:03 PM (#721669)
Subject: ADD: YOU CAN'T SHAKE HIM, YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM
From: wysiwyg

YOU CAN'T SHAKE HIM, YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM
A Mudcat Gospel Song
TUNE: a little honkytonky, in 4/4

(The rhythym of the tune is like this:
REFRAIN:
Dah-DEE dah DEE-dah,
Dah-DEE dah DEE-dah,
DEE dah DEE dah-dah DEE.

VERSE:
(kinda spoken-sung)
Dah-dah DEE-dah dah-dah DEE-dah, dah-dah DEE dah-DEE dah-DEE,
Dah-dah DEE dah-dah-dah-DEE dah-dah DEE.
Dah-dah DEE dah-DEE dah-DEE dah-dah DEE-dah-dah,
Dah-dah DEE-dah dah-dah-DEE dah-dah dah.
Dah-dah-DEE-dah dah-dah-DEE-dah, dah-dah-DEE-dah dah-dah DEE,
Dah-dah DEE dah-dah-dah dah-dah-DEE.
Dah-dah-DEE-dah dah-dah-DEE-dah, dah-DEE-dah dah-DEE,
Dah DEE dah DEE dah-dah DEE.

REFRAIN:
Oh YOU can't SHAKE him
No YOU can't MAKE him,
GO-oh-OH aWAY. Oh YOU can't SHAKE him
No YOU can't MAKE him,
GO-oh-OH aWAY.

I was standin' on the corner just about the close of day,
And I saw a young lady pass by.
And she seemed to have a cloud hanging o-ver her,
An' I thought I heard a little sad cry.
So I asked her, "what's the trouble?" and she said , "Well I'm lost,
And I can't seem to find my way back."
And I said, "Well I bet Jesus could show you the way,
And keep you on the happy track."

REFRAIN:
Oh YOU can't SHAKE him
No YOU can't MAKE him,
GO-oh-OH aWAY. Oh YOU can't SHAKE him
No YOU can't MAKE him,
GO-oh-OH aWAY.

The succeeding verses are a dialog between the young lady and the passerby. In each verse she says how she does not believe in all that, and the passerby keeps assuring her that, believe in it or not, it's so, it's a fact, and whether she believes or not she can't shake him (God) or make him go away (Theme-- Nothing can separate us from the love of God.)

~S~

02 Jun 02 - 02:14 PM (#721673)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Nathan in Texas

Here's my first attempt for "Man Standing There"

The expression on his face as he watches,
It's a look of almighty love.
I've never seen another man like him.
Could it be he was sent from above?

02 Jun 02 - 02:18 PM (#721675)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: wysiwyg

Nathan in Texas-- You got the thread off to a GREAT start-- that's IT! You crammed a LOT into those short line!!!

I'd sing that verse.

~S~

02 Jun 02 - 03:01 PM (#721696)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Liz the Squeak

I see his loving arms spread t'ward you,
I can see his hand held out,
Won't you stretch your own arms out sister,
and wrap them round about.

Step towards him brother, you'll be safe there,
His hands will hold you near,
Put your trust in those loving arms of Jesus
and you'll see him here.

LTS

02 Jun 02 - 03:18 PM (#721704)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: wysiwyg

Woah, Liz! *****

~S~

02 Jun 02 - 04:29 PM (#721746)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Liz the Squeak

Is that a whoah! as in exclaimation of surprise and wonder or a whoah as in 'when I say whoah camel, I mean WHOAH!

LTS

02 Jun 02 - 04:53 PM (#721758)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: wysiwyg

As in, "Woah, baby, hit me again!" All acclamation. Woah, not whoa!

But of it were "whoa," it would be as in "Whoa, Nellie, hang on tight, here we GO!" (TV star Pat Buttram, in an old western, as his critter ran away with him...)

All acclamation. Promise. *G*

~S~

02 Jun 02 - 05:18 PM (#721773)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: GUEST

You say that you're not a believer
That kind of thinking is just not your style
And if it were true, he'd not come to you
"Truth is, He's been there all the while."

02 Jun 02 - 10:32 PM (#721895)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Nathan in Texas

Here's a couple more.

He was standing by my mother and father
He's standing by me, as well.
Standing with a strong arm to protect us,
And turn us from the road to hell.


He shows himself to some as a shepherd.
He shows himself to some with a sword.
He whispers to some in a "still small voice."
He was, in the beginning, the Word."

03 Jun 02 - 02:14 AM (#721997)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Genie

Hi, Sooz! For now, I'm writing my verses without reading others', so I won't curtail my imagination. Later on, I may submit a suggested composite song for your perusal.

Here's a first stab at the "St. James Infirmary" song.

MAN STANDIN' THERE BESIDE YOU A Mudcat Gospel Song TUNE: St. James Infirmary

I see a man standin' there beside you,
Though you may not know he's there.
And he looks like he's keeping an eye on you,
And it looks like he might even care.

possible chorus: Let him in, let him in, let him lead you
Whoever you may be.
You can search this wide world over,
But there's no one else can set you free.

possible verse:
As you walk thru the hills and valleys,
All the troubles that you bear,
In your darkest hour, he's with you
And you fin'lly realize he [just might] care[s].

Jeanene

03 Jun 02 - 02:28 AM (#722001)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Genie

one more verse for your consideration:

In his eyes are the light of the ages; On his hands the scars of pain; And somehow your heart recognizes This is the perfect Lamb for sinners slain.

03 Jun 02 - 02:30 AM (#722002)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Genie

Let's try that with line breaks.

In his eyes are the light of the ages;
On his hands the scars of pain;
And somehow your heart recognizes
This is the perfect Lamb for sinners slain.

03 Jun 02 - 08:30 AM (#722044)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Nathan in Texas

Good job, Genie. I especially like the first two lines of your second verse.

03 Jun 02 - 10:18 AM (#722073)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: wysiwyg

These are great! Keep lettin' 'em rip!

~Susan

03 Jun 02 - 09:16 PM (#722454)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Nathan in Texas

Slightly off-threadm but something else that came to mind was putting lyrics from other hymns to the tune to "St. James Infirmary."
One that works is "I Stand Amazed", though you have to add a syllable to first line.

[Now] I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

Another that would work is "Redeemed"

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it.
Redeemed by the blood of the lamb.
Redeemed through His infinite mercy
His child, and forever, I am.

There are, no doubt, many others that would work as well.

04 Jun 02 - 12:46 PM (#722853)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Genie

Suze, your second song seems a bit more challenging (partly because I don't have a firm tune in my head). I plan to tackle it later, but probably not till I'm in San Diego this week end.

Genie

04 Jun 02 - 01:11 PM (#722862)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: wysiwyg

Good stuff Nathan!

Genie, Amos has a good feel for my rhythms when I am in that mode-- maybe if you talk the rhythm with him he can start a strum and fingerpicking to nail it down.

~S~

09 Jun 02 - 04:21 AM (#726410)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Genie

We'll see what we can do, Suze.

09 Jun 02 - 11:19 PM (#726858)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: Jeep man

HE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE AN ANGEL BUT WHO AM I TO SAY.

HE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE JESUS HERE TO SHOW US THE WAY

JEEP

10 Jun 02 - 02:28 PM (#727068)
Subject: RE: Let's Write Some Gospel Lyrics
From: GUEST

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