All these songs here were recorded in ThePianoRoom using a Tascam DR40 - a handheld recorder. They're also all one-take wonders, which means that they are not note- and word- perfect. (Hopefully the quality will improve as I get used to the recording process, but all suggestions are welcome.)
| + | 2014.05.27 | I Need Your Spirit In Me (You are love) |  |
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| Where do songs come from? Sometimes they seem to arrive fully formed, and other times they have to be melted and moulded. This song is a declaration of God's goodness and love, and my thinking at the time was that sometimes we have to sing these songs in faith. Even when we're not sure that we believe them. Even when their truth seems far different from our reality. |
| + | 2014.04.01 | It's Not About The Boat! | |
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| More a fun family worship song than anything too serious, but this song looks at what some of the great characters of the bible were facing before they were obedient and became "heroes of faith". Sometimes we forget that they weren't always superheroes, at one time they were just like us - struggling to be obedient. So if they could, why can't you? |
| + | 2013.11.22 | Bethlehem (Hope has arrived) | |
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| When I posted the 3 christmas songs (below), I realised that they were all quite "serious". So I wrote this song, which is more a traditional christmas carol, must more upbeat, and more suitable to family worship in a church setting. I first named this song "The Dancing Song", as it's written in 3/4 (a waltz), and the image I had in my mind was of creation dancing and celebrating at Christs birth. However, I think that Bethlehem is actually a more suitable title. |
| + | 2013.11.06 | You Are Good To Us | |
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| So the reason things have been a bit quiet on this site, is that Jenny & I celebrated the birth of Oliver in August, and while he is a huge blessing to us in so many ways and we continually give thanks, having him is not conducive to much time at the piano. Nevertheless, this is a song of thanks I wrote on the day he was born. |
| + | 2013.11.05 | Tears In Your Eyes | |
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| While trying to finish Helpless on a deadline, I realised that you really couldn't seperate christmas, easter and the ascension. It's all part of one story. This song just flowed one evening, and although it was a little rushed and perhaps short a verse, I really like it. |
| + | 2013.11.05 | Helpless As A Newborn Babe | |
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| Since CHS has an advent carol service- and there are no well known advent songs- I tried to write an advent song. Advent is more about looking forward to God's rescue than actually celebrating Jesus' birth. After struggling with this song for a few months, I've realised why there are so few well known advent songs. |
| + | 2013.11.05 | You Were Our God In Heaven (Still You Came Down) | |
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| Every year as christmas approaches there's this desire to write a new song to celebrate the miracle of God's grace through Jesus. This was one of my songs from 2012. |
| + | 2013.07.10 | Creation Calls | |
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| Written in 2012, Creation Calls is currently one of the favourites at CHS with it's very catchy chorus. I think my favourite part though is the simple bridge, which just repeats the prayer for God to open our eyes- something we desperately need if we're ever to truly worship Him. |
| + | 2013.05.24 | Come In | |
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| Written 10 years ago almost to the month, this recording was requested by a friend in the UK. How anyone remembered this from that long ago amazed me, so my curiosity was piqued to page back and find this old song. This song was one that didn't make the cut for my second album Finally Free, and was written at the same time as that title track. |
| + | 2013.04.25 | You Have Opened Up Our Eyes (Hallelujah) | |
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| Written last year, this worship song has been one of the more popular ones at CHS. This one works really well with a full band |
| + | 2013.04.19 | Let Dry Bones Arise | |
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This song is one I wrote last year.
Actually it took much of the year to write as I really struggled with the chorus.
Then one day I sang just one note differently and everything changed, and the rest flowed from there.
Sometimes that's just how it is. We get stuck in a way of doing things, and it takes a real effort or some kind of outside jolt, to get us to re-assess. And hopefully the end result is better. The reference to "dry bones" is to a passage in Ezekiel 37, and speaks to God's ability to bring life to things that are dead, and to bring hope where there is despair. |
| + | 2013.04.10 | Follow Your Heart | |
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Recently my writing has mostly followed the liturgical year - first Christmas, then Easter.
Although I still owe you a completed Easter Sunday song, the next thing up was the great commission which Jesus gave to his disciples before he ascended.
I've woven this in with the idea of "Listen and Obey" which is on one of our banners at CHS, trying to emphasise the sequence of first being sent and then going. |
| + | 2013.03.28 | Everything Is You | |
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Whenever I come across it, I'm always incredibly challenged by a covenant prayer used by John Westley.
We tend to use it at the start of each year as a form of rededication, and so once again I've had it rolling around in my head for the past couple of weeks.
Last night I picked up my dusty guitar, and within an hour this simple song was written and recorded. Obviously I love it when this happens, but far more often it is much harder work. I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen. |
| + | 2013.03.25 | Love (Three More Days) | |
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| The second song in the passion week song-cycle. "Love", is about Good Friday. (I personally quite like this one.) |
| + | 2013.03.18 | Hosanna! (Open Our Eyes) | |
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| The first of a cycle of 3 songs for passion week. This one is for Palm Sunday, and is titled "Hosanna!". I'm trying to recognise that the word means more than just "joyful praise" as many songs have come to use it, but rather "save us". |
| + | 2013.03.13 | Rain On Us | |
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This song was birthed on our worship team weekend away in February where a distinct theme developed.
That theme was "Rain" - not only because it rained for most of the time, but that it was a time for us to stand in God's rain and get soaked by His Spirit.
The bridge contains two lines: "God we need you" and "Oh how I need your Spirit in me" which can be layered on top of each other. Obviously I can't sing them both at the same time, but this is a good alternative. (As an aside, you can hear Jenny arriving home right at the end of the track, open the back door and put some parcels down.) |
| + | 2013.03.12 | Take My Life | |
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| I thought it would be right to kick this site off with a song of dedication - that everything I am - and have - and do - is God's. So here is a version of the classic hymn "Take My Life". With a touch of newness. |