Author Archives: Richard Stringer Music

The Ballad of Joe Lockdown

30 Tue Jun 2020

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It is the end of the month so it must be time to be pulling to demo of this months 12 Song Challenge.

This month’s challenge has been tough with many very good ideas discarded until Lockdown Joe walked onto the stage.

the challenge for this month was:

June Challenge: Living Room Songs
Songs to be sung in living rooms (or other appropriate places around the house)
– for online church
– for small groups
– for domestic liturgy

Suggestions:
Vocal range – maybe C to Bb
Dynamics – using melody and harmony, not arrangement
Acoustics – not so many long notes
Lyrics – appropriate to the moment

I tried very hard to write a worship song and came close, but my submission is this.

Come and Celebrate My Love

Verse 1:

Been too long since we gathered together
Too long to be so far apart
All I’ve got are these four walls
I feel like they are closing in
Jesus hear my prayer!

Chorus:

You say: Peace be still, I am here beside you
Come on and celebrate my love.
‘cause its time to join my people online
Gathering together in new ways

Verse 2:

Where to start? they didn’t teach me this at school
Download what!? My headset plugs in where?
The service doesnt start til ten, but no way will I be ready then
Jesus hear my cry!

Verse 3:

Three months gone, and it all goes smoothly now
Everyday, I’m meeting with the church
I didn’t think we’d still be here
But satan’s run and we have won!
Jesus Christ be praised!

Chorus:

We’re singing: Peace be still, He is here among us
Come and celebrate His love.
‘cause its time to join the church of God online
Gathering together in new ways

He’s a good, good father.

03 Sun May 2020

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I was going through the bits and pieces you accumulate as a songwriter and I came across this recording of Good, Good, Father. Recorded in 2016 from the desk at our service on 19th June that year by Leke, aka Divine Keys.

As well as me on vocals and guitar, we have Brian on percussion and vocals, Elaine on vocals and Trevor on bass. The word at the beginning is given by Debo and I’ve kept it on the recording because it’s always good to have the context in which the recording was made.

Good Good Father

Verse 1

I’ve heard a thousand stories
Of what they think You’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whisper
Of love in the dead of night
You tell me that You’re pleased
And that I’m never alone

Chorus

You’re a Good Good Father
It’s who You are
It’s who You are
It’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am
It’s who I am
It’s who I am

Verse 2

I’ve seen many searching for answers
Far and wide
But I know we’re all searching for answers
Only You provide
Because You know just what we need
Before we say a word

Bridge

You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Verse 3

Love so undeniable I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable I can hardly think
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
Into love love love

CCLI Song # 7036612

Anthony Brown | Pat Barrett

Good, Good Father

April’s 12 Song Challenge

30 Thu Apr 2020

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The theme for April’s songs was songs of solace and hope and I decided early on that I would write a tune that was bright and bubbly and that, for me at least, meant a song in the style of groups like The Beatles, The Hollies, Hermans Hermits etc.

The first part of the chorus was written a long time ago and was one of those scraps I keep hanging around just in case they can be built upon. At the start of the month I finished off the chorus and worked on the structure and some placeholder lyrics.

Last weekend I finalised the words and tune and then set to working on the demo. The biggest challenge was getting the guitar to sound vaguely like I wanted it too, but eventually it was finished in time for the deadline.

Hope you enjoy it and don’t forget to leave a comment.

When I’m With You

Verse 1:
In troubled times 4
Its easy to forget 6
All the promises you’ve made to me
But you’re not like me 5
And You will never change 6
All Your promises are just as true today 11

Pre- chorus
Though the news is bad
I won’t be sad or blue
I will take my stand
‘cos I’ll be found in You

Chorus:
You will never ever leave me
Never will forsake me
Never leave me on my own
I will always have a brother
Always have a sister
Always have a place called home
When I’m with You
When I’m with You

Verse 2:

So even if
I’m struggling to believe
All the promises you’ve made to me
For Your word is true
And it will never change
Lord I believe please help my unbelief

Pre- chorus

For You are my hope,
My anchor in the storm
I will cling to you
for you’ll come through for me.

© Richard Stringer 2020

CCLI Song Number: 7150191

When I’m with You

May The Lord Bless You and keep you

13 Mon Apr 2020

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I wrote this song back when I first got a keyboard and although its seen a few outings I haven’t used it much. But given all that is going on in our world, I felt that it was a good time to share it it.

May the Lord bless you and keep you (Hearts & Minds)

May the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and
give you peace and give you peace.

May the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and
give you peace and give you peace.

And the peace of God,
that passes all understanding,
Fill your hearts and minds
With the full knowledge of God.

And the peace of God,
that passes all understanding
Fill our hearts and minds
With the full knowledge of God.

Last time:

Fill our hearts and minds
With the full knowledge of God.

© Richard Stringer 2019
CCLI Song Number: 7127351

Hearts and Minds

12 Song Challenge March

26 Thu Mar 2020

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So I’ve ‘finished’ my song for March. Its not actually finished, the lyrics still need work, but time is running out so here it is

I’ve suffered from depression on and off since I was a teenager and the song details my experience of depression as a Christian. There are lots of lovely people who have gone the extra mile to help me, but there are some, alas, who think that mental illness either isnt real or demonstrates a lack of faith

As with Elijah, when he fled to Horeb, sometimes we get overwhelmed and our brain doesn’t work properly. We are called to love one another, and sometimes that is very hard to do, especially if you are trying to love someone like me.

Wilderness (I’ll be fine)
Verse 1

Here, in the wilderness of my mind
Where happy thoughts are hard to find
And sun won’t come out to shine
except when you ask me how I am
I’m doing fine

But go ahead and tell me that
Its down to lack of faith
If I just believed and prayed enough
Things would all be great
If you wanna cross the road and ignore me as I weep
I’ll be fine
I’ll be fine.

Verse 2

Here, where people come to give God praise
Where voices sing and hands are raised
Has fellowship become a game?
With all the broken minded left behind
“Their fault, not mine”.

But if you want to come along with me
The journey won’t be fun
I will lie and cheat and rage at you
And wait for you to run
But if you’ll stand your ground and stick with me
And hold me as I weep
I’ll be fine
I’ll be fine

Bridge

In the wilderness
Where I live my life
Where are you Lord?
When the darkness comes
And and my brain goes numb
Where are you Lord?
I need you,
I need you!

Verse 3

Here, in the sunlit lands of answered prayer
You held my hand and brought me here
I really thought you didn’t care
but you reached out and brought me to your side
I’m doing fine.

For praying hands that held me
when I thought I would fall
My wife , my kids, my friends, your flock who loved me through it all
They didn’t judge, they didn’t flee but wept and laughed with me
Thank you Lord
I thank you Lord

Richard Stringer
CCLI: 7148333

Wilderness (I feel fine)

12 Song Challenge

01 Sun Mar 2020

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So the 12 Song Challenge for March is Lent.

Lent hasn’t been a big thing for me since I was a member of an Anglican church more than twenty years ago. So I will have to get into this fairly quickly to get some ideas. One plus is that I won’t have any preconceived ideas about what it means.

On another note I’m hoping to post a version of my February song soon. We did a run through with the worship team at church yesterday and did a rough recording of it.

Thanks for reading and see you next time.

12 Song Challenge February

20 Thu Feb 2020

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So I’ve submitted my song for this month to the group for this month’s challenge. It’s based around our church’s mission statement:

WCC is a Refuge for Righteousness, Restoration, Rejoicing, Revival, Reaping and Rest through our Lord Jesus Christ in Woolwich, The Royal Borough of Greenwich and the World.
(Isaiah 61, Acts 1:8)

There are some things I’d like to improve before releasing it generally, especially some of the lyrics, so watch this space.

12 Song Challenge

30 Thu Jan 2020

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Last year I signed up to do a 12 song challenge organised by Resound Worship. I’ve just submitted my first song, which is sadly unfinished, but as its different to how I would normally write I’m quite pleased about it.

The Road From Bethlehem
Richard Stringer
Key: C

Verse 1:

The sky above is silent, is heaven silent too?
As the sound of Rachel’s weeping replaces angel praise
And soldiers go from door to door searching for the child
Whilst the tyrant waits with bated breath for the death of David’s son
In Bethlehem.

Verse 2:

In a dream the baby’s family is warned to take their flight
‘Take the child to Egypt’ far from those who’d take his life
For those whose sacrifice ensures he’ll live to be full grown
He’ll pay in full upon the cross where the tyrant has his throne
Jerusalem

Chorus:

When the Christmas lights have faded, where will our focus be
Will it be with those in power or those who’re forced to flee
The dispossessed, the homeless, the beggar at our door
Or will our hearts be hardened like so many times before.

Verse 3:

And then the time had come for the child to return
The one who wished to take his life no longer on the throne
In Nazareth he found a took his place a carpenter by trade
And he grew in favour with god and man as the prophets had foretold
The Nazarene

Tell Me Why?

24 Thu Oct 2019

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Sometimes, life gets so messed up and you begin to wonder where God is. You know the theology, but really, God. Where are you?!

The words are still a WIP as is the arrangement

Tell Me Why?

Tell Me Why

Verse 1:

Tell me why, do you love me like this?
Tell me why , am I forgiven my sin
After all that I’ve done do you welcome me back
Tell me why?

Verse 2:

Tell me why, do you even persist
When your love is betrayed with a kiss
Was the prize that you gained really worth all the pain
Tell me this

Chorus 1:

This is more that I can ask or even imagine
Stretching further than my mind could even reach
Thoughts too lofty for my mortal mind to follow
Tell me why lord, tell me why

Tell me why, tell me why, tell me why, Tell me why

Verse 3:
This is why, I love you like this
you my child, are worth everything
Yes, the prize that I gained was worth all of the pain
This is why.

Verse 4:

This is why, I will chase after you
Even with all the things that you do
Through you try hard to hide
You belong by my side
This is why.

Chorus 2:

And I know it’s more than you can ask or imagine
Far beyond the reach of mortal minds like yours
But my ways are not your ways, my thoughts beyond yours
This is why child, this is why.

This is why, this is why, this is why x2

Verse 4:

This is why, I come back to you
After all the things that I do
When you died in my place
I’m restored me to grace
This is why.

Chorus 3:

Though it’s more than we can ask or imagine
Far beyond the reach of mortal minds like these
But Your ways are not our ways, Your thoughts beyond ours
This is why, Lord, this is why.