We Are Yours

Just as the last song ("Know Me") took forever to come to life, this one came almost immediately -- mysteriously, suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere.

I was playing around on the piano a few weeks ago, just some simple chord changes back and forth, and found some words I liked and recorded it on my iPhone. Then I forgot about it.

Last Friday morning I opened my recordings to find one of Georgia singing, and saw this file called "We Are Yours." I played it and thought "Oh yeah! That worship tune I was playing with."

I don't usually end up writing straight-up worship songs. They just don't seem to come out that way. This one is exactly that, though. In playing with these simple chords I kept imagining a haunting, repetitive, uplifting 3-part harmony, with lots of swelling dynamics and some rich electric guitar chords building to the bridge. Maybe we'll get to play it in church some day?

I think the verses need another chord near the end. Maybe replace the straight A with a A/C#m? Anyone have any ideas?

I have two other songs cooking in the soup kitchen of my soul right now -- "Healing God" and and another that doesn't have a name yet. Time to focus on those. So as they say in Ghost Hunters: "On to the next."

PS: I went to a function with the Mhlosheni team last Friday and was inspired to build the video around images of our work there. I don't have any of the team's 2009 images yet, so I used my images from the trip in 2007. Next version of this will have new pictures.

We Are Yours Key of A / About 88

CHORUS
D------------A----D-------A
We … are yours -- We are yours, Lord, We're yours, Lord

D -------A-----D----------A
We … are yours -- We are yours, Lord, We're yours, Lord

VERSE 1
----Dsus4
With every heartbeat, with every breath

-------Asus4 --------------A
We are yours oh Lord, Only yours oh Lord

-----Dsus4
At every sunrise, at each sunset

-------Asus4 -------------A
We are yours oh God, Only yours oh God
(Repeat)

(CHORUS)

VERSE 2
---Dsus4
In times of plenty, in times of drought

----Asus4 ------------------A
We are yours oh Lord, Only yours oh Lord

---------Dsus4
When our faith is certain, when we’re wrapped in doubt

-------Asus4 -------------A
We are yours oh God, Only yours oh God
(Repeat)

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE
G
We are the children, We are the children

----D
who call your name, who call your name

G
Ours is the union, Ours is the union

----D
you consecrate, you consecrate

Bm
We are the people, We are the people

---------A
who celebrate, who celebrate


(CHORUS)

TAG

Know Me

I made some revisions to Know Me, with new lyrics in the bridge and a slightly different tag at the end. -- MT
.................................................

Do songs have gestation periods? I don't know, but it certainly feels as if some songs take longer to come to fruition than others do.

When I started playing the chorus of this song in my mind I was walking to work in the cold and rain of the dark winter mornings of the Northwest. Six months later it's sunny outside, the sun is bright and warm when I walk to work, and this song is "finished" enough to post it here.

"Know Me" stems, I think, from 1 Corinthians 13:12: "Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

Wherever it comes from, I think it expresses our universal desire to be known by our God.

I want to thank my daughter for helping me reorient this song and put it in the right perspective. Thanks, Kae!

Actually, I should thank the whole family. By the time I get a song down and recorded I've been singing it in disjointed, weird, disruptive spurts throughout the house for weeks on end. Everyone is a little tired of it by then. I think Jack the dog is tired of it by then. So thanks, all, for humoring my odd noisy time-consuming hobby!

Key of G 4/4 Ballad Feel:100

VERSE 1
--Em----------------D ---------------Em---------Bm
A single blade of grass waves in an endless prairie

--Em--------------------D -----------Em---------Bm
The smallest drop of rain falls in a fathomless sea

---Bm------------D
In a universe so vast

---------------Bm------------D
There’s only one thing I can ask

---G
of thee…

CHORUS
--------------G------D--------C----------Bm
Oh Lord please know me… by a sacred holy name

-------------G----D-------------C-------------Bm
Oh won’t you know me… in all my glory and my shame

----G---------------D------------C-------Bm
Lord come and know me here in my lonely exile

---------G---------D-------------C
Oh Lord please know me… I’m your child

VERSE 2
------Em-------------D ---------------Em--------------Bm
The more I seek your face the more it seems to slip away

-------Em------------D ----------Em---------Bm
Each mystery I unravel leads me farther astray

-------------Bm---------------D
I pray one day your wondrous eyes

-------------Bm------------D
Will rest on me and recognize

---G
My face…


(CHORUS)


BRIDGE
---D-----------Em-------------F#m/D----------------G
I open my soul to you Lord revealing everything I am

---D-------------Em-------------F#m/D--------------A
A broken child a sinful heart a lost and wondering lamb

---D-----------Em----------F#m/D------------------G
I open my soul to you Lord revealing everything I am

---D---------------Em-------------F#m/D-------------A
Search me Lord and know me more my life is in your hands

----------Em – D ---------Em - D
… in your hands … in your hands

(CHORUS X2)

Is This The Love

Some songs take a lot of work. I had to go back to this one about 4 times: Once for the chorus' lyrics, once to change the key, once to rewrite the verses... finally to transpose to a lower key and add a key change. (I say that last bit so matter-of-factly, when transposing keys and writing a key change still seems like voodoo magic to me.)

But I went back to it four times because I kept thinking there was something there. Something in the message about the freeing grace of Jesus, something in the chorus that soars so beautifully even when sung by a voice like mine.

So it's by no means perfect, but I'm closer to doing justice to my vision of what this song could be, do, say, and feel like.

It was born when I was thinking about some of the ordinary, nameless people whose lives gave testimony to the grace of Jesus. What did they think when they encountered his healing grace?

I ended up writing about the Geresene demoniac in Mark, the woman accused of adultery in John, and one of the criminals crucified with Jesus on Golgotha. To each of them I applied the question, "Is this the love that frees me? Frees me from my sin, frees me from my self-centeredness, frees me from my demons?

I wish I could see Jesus in that light every day without fail. I might appreciate him more.

Make me ecstatic: if you drop by to listen to the song please leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Key of Gmin | 4/4 Slow, about 100 | A "rock opera" feel?

Intro: Gm /// F / Eb … Gm /// F / Eb

VERSE 1
Gm ----------------------Am-Gm
This graveyard is my home, Legion is my name

Dmin------------------------------Eb
Night and day I howl at those who set these chains

Gm ----------------------Am-Gm
You come up from the shore, healing words you speak

Dmin----------------------------Eb
The demons that consume me flee into the sea

------F
Am I now free?


CHORUS
--------------------- Gm - Eb
Is this the love that frees me

-------F
Is the light that shines from you

-------------------Gm - Eb
Something I can believe in

---F
A beacon of God’s truth

Eb
Dawn is breaking, my soul awakening

-----------------------------F
It’s your voice that I hear calling

Eb
Joy surrounds me and love abounds

------------------------ F
Into your presence I am falling

--------------------Gm – F - Eb
Is this the love that frees me


VERSE 2
Gm -----------------Am - Gm
A woman with no name, kneeling on the ground

Dmin------------------------------- Eb
Violent men who seek my death are gathered ‘round

Gm--------------------------Am - Gm
Their hands hold jagged stones, mine tremble with fear

Dmin--------------------------------------- Eb
You speak and hearts are softened and God’s peace draws near

-----F
What man are you?


CHORUS

Key change to A minor

VERSE 3
Am----------------Gm - Am
Hanging next to you, nailed here for my crimes

E min----------------------------- F
My heavy heart regrets a life of wasted time

Am-------------------Gm - Am
Your eyes look into mine, a smile lights your face

E min --------------------- F
The words you whisper to me pull me into grace

----- G
Lord wait for me…

CHORUS and FADE

Glorious Failures

This is Take 2 of this song. The original audio was pretty bad. I'd love to do this one if "full rock" mode with guitars and drums some day. -- MT

I'm a terrible piano player. In fact, I'm not a piano player at all. I'm a bassist (sometimes). So it took me about 45 tries to get this end-to-end track, with both of my daughters giggling at me while I stumbled through my many attempts.

"Glorious Failures" is a reflection on the contrast between earthly success -- the right job, the right house, the right spouse -- and the and success we feel when we finally grasp the message of the Gospel and begin to move in the "river of grace."

The more we succeed according to the terms of this world, the steeper and more treacherous becomes the path we need to follow behind Jesus.

I don't know what the answer is to this dilemma. I still spend more time worrying about how I can get a new car and secure my retirement than I do about how I can serve the kingdom. But those few times when I've stood still and let Jesus breath on me, work through me, are the times when I feel most complete.

"Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions." Matthew 19:21

How many times have I thought, "I'm the young man"?

Please pay special attention to the way I fumble my own words at the end of the bridge. Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing, trying to write songs of all things!

Rock feel about 118, key of A

VERSE 1
A-----G -----------Em------------Esus4
So beguiled by the promises life offers us

----A -------G -------Asus4
We climb and climb in our own hands we place our trust

-----A ---- G ---Em --------------- Esus4
The sirens sing “Have it your way” “Just do it”

A----- G---Asus4
So we plan endless schemes to strike it rich

---------A ---------- G ------------Em ----- G
When all is said and done, what have we become?


CHORUS
---------A----------G-D -------------------A-------G-D/F#m
Glorious failures……oh oh at the feet of our Savior oh oh

---------A----------G-D ----------------A------G-D/F#m
Glorious failures…… oh oh in need of our Maker

Em
Lost on the way to the golden ring

--D/F#m
Can we find our way to the risen king

Em
Can faceless players in the games of man

D/F#m------------------------------------Em
Be precious children of the great I Am

---------- A-------------- G - D -------- A --- G-D/F#
Or are we Glorious failures… … ..Glorious failures


VERSE 2
-----A-----G ------Em-------------------Esus4
Our lives redeemed pulled from wreckage into light

-- A -------G --Asus4
A late reprieve granted by the grace of Christ

-------A ---- G ----------Em ----------- Esus4
We’ve broken free from the prison of our endless greed

----A----- G-------Asus4
At last we see an aching world so full of need

------------A --G ----------------Em ----- G
Your glory overcomes the failures we’ve become

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE
A ----------- G -------- A ---------------Bm
Glorious so glorious …. Glorious what you do in us

A ---------- G --------------------A ----------------Bm
Glorious so glorious, failure turns glorious when you breathe on us

(Repeat)

(CHORUS X2)

We Will Soar

This new song came, like a lot of my songs do, from prayer.

I have a good friend whose brother has been struggling with cancer. I've never met the sick brother but I have great affection for his mother, his younger brother (my friend) and his sister. They're a great family. And though I don't know the brother's family, I pray often for health for him and for peace and comfort for his wife and his children.

As I was praying for him one morning a few weeks ago I asked, "What happens, Lord, if he's NOT healed?" And the answer that came to me -- from my own heart, at least -- was "He will soar anyway."

This wasn't really the answer I wanted. But I had been thinking, in my prayer, that the ends that so frighten us by their very invisibility are in all likelihood nothing like we imagine them, and far more peaceul too.

I still pray every day that Bruce will be healed, that the cancer will leave him healthy and unscathed. But in writing and pondering and awkwardly laying down this song I've convinced myself that whether he's physically healed or not some part of him -- the most important part, the eternal part -- will one day soar with his brother Reed.

I don't really believe in stylized angels with harps and wings... but I have no problem believing they will soar together in some beautiful and joy-filled way. That every moment they've shared, as I say in the song, will be woven into a glorious tapestry they can soar over and into and through, again and again.

This song is dedicated to them.

"Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests?” – Isaiah 60.8

Key of Bb, 4/4 about 114 time

INTRO

Bb /// Am /// Bb /// Am /// Dm /// Bb

VERSE 1

F------------------------Dm -------------------------Eb

I see two swallows in the sky and my heart wonders if I

--------------------------Dm------------------------Bb-Am

Will ever feel the joy they feel life without you seems surreal

F------------------------Dm--------------------------------Eb

As I watch them loop and roll the grief that takes such heavy toll

------------------------Dm--------------------------Bb-Am

Begins to lift and pass away and in my mind I see that day

-----Bb------C-------Dm-----Gm

When you and I will meet again…

CHORUS

--------Bb---------C------------Dm--------------C

We will soar, we will fly… oh God’s light in us will shine

-------Bb-------C---------Bb - Am

All creation will rejoice as we play

--------Bb----------C------------Dm------------------C

We will soar, we will fly… the same sun that warms our smiles

-----Bb--------C---- Bb - Am

Will melt all our pain away

(Repeat)

-------------Bb

Oh, we will soar.

VERSE 2

F-------------------Dm --------------------Eb

Every person that I meet offers their apologies

---------------------------------Dm-----------------------------Bb-Am

Prays that peace and grace make whole the empty space here in my soul

F------------------------------Dm---------------------------Eb

What do they think when I just smile When I stare up in the sky

----------------------------Dm-------------------------------Bb-Am

They may think I’ve lost my mind but I’m just looking at that time

-----Bb------C------Dm-----Gm

When you and I will soar together

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE

Bb-----C-----Dm-------C

Every moment we have shared,

Bb---------C-------Dm----C

flights of joy and dark despair

Dm----Eb – F ---- Eb

Woven in a tapestry

----Dm-------Eb ---F------Eb

and draped across eternity

-------Bb---------Am -----------Bb --------Am

Can you see… Oh I see … Can you see… Oh I see

--------Dm ---------C

Can you see… What I see

(CHORUS X2)

Living Water

John 7:38 | “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

This song has been kicking around for a long time in my head, maybe as long as "Be Still." I might describe it as a "soulful up-tempo rock praise song," though that might be overselling it a bit.

Jesus, I've come to realize, really is our living water as he claimed in John's Gospel. He's the water that sustains and nourishes us. Makes no sense, but it's true nevertheless... if we let it be.

The normal caveats about my being neither a singer nor a piano player apply here. Also, like the other songs here it's by no means "finished." Maybe someday it will have a full accompaniment with drums, bass, guitars, and full voices.

We'll see.


Key of Bb 4/4 Speed 110 Intro: Bb /// Eb /// Dm /// F ///

VERSE 1
Bb
Wandering in a desert waste

----Eb
The wind-blown sand that stings my face

-----Dmin------------------------------F
Conspires with heat to bring me to my knees.

--- Bb
My heart is empty in my chest

----Eb
My soul cries out for peace and rest

----Dmin ---------------------------F
My life comes down to one consuming need

CHORUS
Bb-----------------------------Eb
Living water be the author of my...

----------F
Of my surrender

Bb---------------------------- Eb
Living water let the Father's love...

---------------F
Rain on me forever.

Bb--------------------------Gm
Living water wash our tears away

Bb-----------------------------Eb

Living water shape us from this clay

Bb----------------------------Gm
Living water wash our tears away

Bb-----------------------------Eb
Living water shape us from this clay

Bb
Quench our thirst today.

VERSE 2
Bb
I'm the woman there at Jacob's well

--------Eb
Though Christ is with me I can't tell

----Dmin------------------------------F
My sins and fears are all that I can see.

Bb
If I could just reach out and take

-----Eb
Your hand I know your truth would make

-------Dmin ---------------------F
The living waters flow inside of me.

(CHORUS)

BRIDGE
Bb
Flow through me and set me free, Lord

Eb
Wash me clean and help me see

Bb
Flow through me and set me free, Lord

Eb
Let your spirit dwell in me


Bb
Flow through me and set me free, Lord

Eb
Wash me clean and help me see

Bb
Flow through me and set me free, Lord

Eb
Let your spirit dwell in me

(repeat)


(CHORUS)

When The First Become The Last

Matthew 20:26 "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave."

I'm not sure where or how this song came to me. It speaks to me of Jesus' core message, though, and while I've never attached it to specific piece of scripture I think it sums up most of what Jesus had to say.

One might wonder how I could write a song and then forget the words when I went to sing it. Because I'm an idiot? Maybe. Check out Verse 1, where I mess up my own words and and switch them. The way they lyrics are written on the chrta is the correct way. I'm a goober.

Note I started the song a little fast. Note too, as always, that I sound goofy and flat. It's the SONG this post is about, not the singer.

Key of A: 4/4 About 110 | INTRO: A /// G /// Bm ... A /// G /// Em

VERSE 1

-----Bm--------------------------------
You said that you’d walk with us Lord,

--------G---------------A
to the last day of the age

-------Bm -------------------
You’d steady us on every road

---------G ------------ A
whether broken or unpaved

G
Though in our hearts we feel your love,


and in our souls your touch

---------------------------------A
We wonder when we will see your face

---------G ---------------------A
Oh Lord, when will we see your face?

CHORUS

-----------------------------D
When the first become the last,

------------------- G - A
when greed is in the past

-------------------D-----------------------------A
when the meek and mild govern all across the earth

--------------------------- D
When the face of love reclaims

---------------------------A
every soul that’s lost its way

---------------G ------------------------A
and with one voice all creation sings “rebirth!”

---------------------------D ---- A
When the first become the last,

--------------------------D---A
when the first become the last

--------------------------D -- Em -- D/F#
When the first become the last,

---------------------------G -- A
when the first become the last

VERSE 2

-------Bm -------------------------------
When those of us at the front of the line

------G---------------A
trust you and step aside

-------- Bm ---------------- G
Your light can shine on everyone,

--------------------------A
fear and darkness cannot hide

---------G
There’s so much we can’t comprehend,


so much we just don’t know

-------------------------------------A
But Lord is this how we spread your grace?

------------ G ----------------------A
Oh Lord, is this how we spread your grace?


CHORUS

BRIDGE

----------A------ G -------Em
When the first go last ….. Hallelujah

----------A-----G -----------D
And the last go first …. Hallelujah

------------A -------G ------- Em
When there’s no more thirst… Hallelujah

------------A ----- G ----- D
Judgments are reversed…. Hallelujah

CHORUS x2

Cry Out Your Name

Psalm 130.1 :: “Out of the depths I cry to you, Oh Lord.”

I was in my car leaving work one day and I started humming this low, descending, hymn-like melody. I didn't know where it would end up but I liked it. At the same time I was working on the "Cry Out Your Name" melody. A few months later I pulled both out and combined them -- the hymn-like "Yeshua... Yeshua" became the beginning and "Cry Out Your Name" become the chorus.

I like thinking about Jesus and what he was like in life. What did his mother call him? Probably not "JEE-suss" in our western drawl. The traditional Hebrew spelling and pronunciation is "Yeshua."

A final note: the train wreck at the end of this recording is where I thought the guitar lead would go. I clearly fumbled the transition to smithereens. I like to think that a handful of inspired musicians could do something wonderful with this song though, awkward guitar lead and all.

OK, one more note: my apologies again for the recording. If I can't sing and I can't play the piano, imagine how hard it is to do BOTH at the same time? and then at the bridge I was literally running out of breath and thought I might tumble over and pass out. I'm an idiot.

I like the song though.

[Side note: it took me FIVE tries to muddle through the audio mix on this. I think Audacity finally saved my day. Don't have it? Get it!]

Key of E: 4/4 Ballad About 88


VERSE 1

E--D#m---C#m ---E -- D#m - C#m
Ye--shu - a -- Ye -- shu - a (repeat)

-------C#m ------------A---
In the darkness of Golgotha

------ C#m ---------------A
your mother cried out for you

---------C#m -------------A-
From her call of desperation

-------C#m ------------D
rises hope for our salvation


CHORUS 1
------------------E
We cry out your name, the name of Jesus

-----------------C#m
We cry out your name, the name that frees us

-------------------E
We cry out your name, our loving savior

-------------------C#m
We cry out your name, forever grateful


VERSE 2
E D#m C#m------ E D#m C#m
Iman u el ---- Iman u el (repeat)

------C#m--------------- A------
On a still and brilliant morning

--------- C#m------------------ A
with the tears of grief still flowing

---------C#m -------------A ------
We were lost with none to guide us

-------------C#m-------------D
but found you walking right beside us

(CHORUS 1)

CHORUS 2
------------------A
We cry out your name, the name of Jesus

-----------------F#m
We cry out your name, the name that heals us

-----------------A
We cry out your name, the name that binds us

-----------------F#m
We cry out your name, the name that finds us

BRIDGE
---E --------------------------------
The name that’s etched on our hearts,

---------------------------C#m
the name that runs in our veins

-----------------------------
The name upon which we stand,

-----------------------E
the name no evil can claim

(Repeat … to A second time)

---A---------------------------------
The name that’s etched on our hearts,

----------------------------F#m
the name that runs in our veins

-----------------------------
The name upon which we stand,

-----------------------A
the name no evil can claim
(Repeat)

INSTRUMENTAL W/ GUITAR LEAD
A / E / C#m /// A / E / C#m /// F#m //// D/// (Hold)

(CHORUS 1) repeat

On the Third Day

"On the Third Day" is my Easter song. It's meant to celebrate the wonder and mystery and awe that came into the world three days after the misery of Golgotha. Try as I might, the song doesn't do much justice to what that experience means, both then and now.

This is another of those cases where I really wish I could sing or play the piano or both. I think this has the potential to be a beautiful song, but it's hard to imagine that from this recording.

"Who's that doofus playing the piano?" Yeah, that's me. "Who's that super-flat voice trying to sing that bridge?" Yep, me again.

But the goal of this blog isn't to post polished, finished, beautiful songs. It's to help them move towards the day they might, through grace, become polished and beautiful. So do me a favor and focus on the song, not the singer!

Key of A, 4/4 speed about 94.

VERSE 1

E ------------------------------ C#min
G# G#G# F#G# A-G# E
Side by side in our upper room

E
G#-G#-G# F# G# A G# E
Disbelief at the brink of doom

D
B B G# A B F#
You asked me for a sign

E
A A A A A A G# E
You could cling to for all of time

D
B B G# G# A-B F#
I knew the most lasting truth

E
A A A A-A A A G# E
Would be this promise I made to you…

CHORUS

A--------------------------------D
A B C# A A A A E-F#
On the third day love will rise again

A--------------------------------D
A B C# A A A A E F#
On the third day you will find your friend

--------A ---------------------Bm------------D/F#
A B C# A A-A-A A D-C# A-B B
On the third day salvation will triumph over pain

A--------------------------------D
A B C# A A A A E F#
On the third day we will be as one

A-------------------------------------D
A B C# A A A A-A E F#
On the third day we’ll walk into the sun

A--------------------------Bm ------------D/F#
A B C# A A A D C# A B B
On the third day we’ll be free of all our chains

A
B B B A
On the third day

VERSE 2
E-------------------------------C#m
G# G# G# F# G# A-G# E
Now the third day is ages gone

E
G# G# G# G#-F# G# A# G# E
They call you foolish and say you’re wrong

D
B B G#-A B F#
They look around for me

E
A A A-A A A-G#-E
And see nothing but misery

D
B B G# G# A B F#
If they knew what we both knew

E
A A A A-A A A G# E
They’d know I’m living my life through you

CHORUS

BRIDGE

A
C#-B E-C#
Darkness closes

A
C# B E-C#
Hope grows weary

----------Bm ---A ------D/F#
B C# D-C# B C# A
But my promise lives in you (repeat)

CHORUS

TAG
A G
B B B A
On the third day

variation
Love arrives on the third day

variation
Hold on till the third day

variation
Till the third day