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King of Glory

05 Fri Mar 2021

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King of Glory was a song I wrote seven years ago. It was the second attempt to write a song with the same lyrics, the first being in 2008.

I had the idea to write a song with the names of God, and my friend Roger, who was pastoring a church in South Wales at that time, had just researched the very subject for an upcoming sermon.

I tried to group the names around a theme for each verse, whilst also keeping an eye on the syllable count for each line.

The song will feature on my forthcoming EP releasing later this month.

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

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)