Does anyone write christian based songs?

  • Thread starter Thread starter George Parler
  • Start date Start date
Henri and Gidge,

Thank you for your encouraging replies.

When I wrote Silent Cries, in my mind I could hear a baby crying
at the trail end of the song. One day Christian Brennan Pearce,
my 3 month old grandson, was ticked off because he was hungry and his bottle wasn't ready yet. And I just happened to be messing around with my sampler on my keyboard. And to make short work of a long story, Christian made his first vocal debut on that song when we recorded it. Not bad for three months old, eh.

Well guess what? I get to go work again. I leave in about an hour. I used to say I have to go to work. But then I could be sitting here typing, wishing I had a job. I work 14 days then I'm off 14 days. I'll try to log on while I'm gone. Till then, live it, breathe it, then write it.

Be blessed,

<><
George
 
George and Everybody else on this thread....
Thanks George for starting this thread. I too thought I was the only one on this BBS who writes about Christian themes. I'm very glad to learn otherwise. Waytago to the band-members. It was interesting to read the horizontal/vertical explanation of the difference between Praise songs and Worship songs. About the
"from" idea: Yes, many, even most of the contemporary songs that the Christian artists out there write and perform are "from" material. These songs often are to encourage the Christian in his/her struggles with the challenges in the world. It ain't easy out there, and it gets tougher when you know the difference between saved and unsaved.
I don't have a band at this time, but in previous life I spent many years writing and performing in bands. Most of it in the bar scene
and I enjoyed it. Maybe too much, ask any of my ex-wives.
I would not go back to that way of life although I do enjoy setting-in w/ some of my old friends who are still players.
I am a guitar player and about 8 years ago I got a GR-1 synth setup, and have expanded it into a pretty cool MIDI studio, atleast for a home rig. One of these days I'll put out a CD or post an MP3 for all to hear. Current project is PS23.2, a contemporary take on PS23 (duh) I use a DR-5, GR-1, U-110, JV-880, mc-50mkII
all slaved to an MD-8. I haven't had any luck with a PC based system though I have tried a few.Any suggestions as to which is best/easiest. I need a short learning curve. Most of what I produce gets used inour services, but I won't bore you with details of the Ministry. Thanks again George and all for making this a very interesting thread....writeon.....chazba
 
Great thread guys. I can't really call myself a Christian, but I do belive in God. I really respect what you guys do. And I hope to maybe someday be able to live by my own convictions. Pray for me.
 
Henri,

The fishing is good but I don't have time to do any. I've been about as busy as a one legged man in a behind kickin' contest. Our satelite link has been down for awhile. Thats why I haven't logged on. Technology is nice if can keep it running.





Chazba,

Welcome to the thread.

As for the PC based system, most of what I do is digital audio. I have both Calkwalk Pro Audio 9 and Cool Edit Pro. CEP was the easiest for me to start laying stuff down. PA9 will do more but does take a little more time to learn. At least for me anyway.

I used to play in the clubs myself. Its been many moons ago.




Unkle Slam,

Welcome to the thread also.

For a long story made short, I found that I couldn't live by my convictions either until asked for His help. But even then I found out what others who called themselves Christians knew. As the words from a favorite song of mine say, We fall down, we get up.

I'll make a deal with you. You pray for me while I pray for you. Anyone who says they don't need others to pray for them have already strayed from God in their heart.

May all of you be blessed beyond what you can hope or dream.

<><
George
 
Gidge, did I miss the the address for your site?

BTW - anybody know what I need to look for to find Twila Paris' "Soldier is a Child" with a male backup? I've heard it on WJIE, but couldn't find it on Napster or anywhere else. It's a version with a little quicker tempo.

George, if Silent Cries is on Mp3 or CD, I'd love to hear it. Great work! :)

where there is faith....
Rick
 
Getuhgrip,

When I get back home, in about a week and a half, I'll try to post Silent Cries on mp3. Even though its been recorded already, I really like this forums feedback by other song writers. It keeps me from writing myself into a box. I know that no one on this thread knows me personally, but we all share a strong, undeniable intrest, songwriting.

Weave the thread.

<><
George
 
George. Sounds like a good deal to me. Thanks. You ever hear of Evans, LA?
 
Unkleslam,

I've heard of Evans, LA. but I'm not real sure what part of the state its in. I don't know about Evans but Many is like living in Mayberry RFD, Barney Fife an all. I love it.

<><
George
 
Song: I Saw Love

Well in staying with the theme of the thread, I'll post the lyrics to one of the songs I wrote for our first CD project called "I Saw Love". This is one of the songs I wrote from a bible story. I was reading the bible where the people brought Jesus before Pilot, the Roman governor, to have him crucified. Pilot, not finding anything in Jesus worthy of death, tried to get around it. Every year, during the Passover Feast, Rome would release a Jewish prisoner from their prison. He sent for Barabas who, the bible says, was a theif and a murder. Pilot would give the people a choice between Jesus and Barabas, thinking that surely they would choose Jesus to be freed back into the public and not Barabas. He was wrong. They cried CRUCIFY HIM! Him being Jesus.

Then for the first time that I read that story I asked myself, how would I have felt if I had been Barabas. Knowing that what I had done was worthy of death. But the people chose to free me and crucify a man who had done nothing wrong. That man would be crucified on a cross that was meant for me. How would I feel. What would the emotions be. So I wrote the song through the eyes of Barabas. And this was the result.

I Saw Love

Through the winds of my hate
came the storms of my greed
Imprisoned for all
of my lawless dees
Waiting to die
a shameful death
A price to pay
with my last breath

At the great Feast
by the Ruler's decree
A prisoner of Rome
he would set free
A choice to be made
between hate and peace
All hopes of my freedom
began to cease

(Lead Ride)

Pilot spoke
to an angry crowd
Their choice to free
they cried out loud
I could not believe
the people chose me
And condemned this man
from Galilee

Confused and ashamed
I was set free
While Mercy and Peace
were to die on a tree
Then He looked at me
with the eyes of a dove
I knew at that moment
I had seen God's Love

(Chorus)
I saw Love willing
to take my place
I saw Love flowing
in the tears on His face
I saw Love beaten
and nailed to a tree
I saw Love for the first time...
and He was dying for me

Thats why I can sing....

Amazing grace
how sweet the sound
That saved
a retch like me
I once was lost
but now I'm found
Was blind
but now I see.....

That I saw Love......

(Lead Ride)

(Chorus)

Spoken words at trail end of song:
Our lives are filled with choices that we make everyday. Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, made His choice over two thousand years ago, when He chose you before the foundations of the world. And God's ultimate Love, while yet dying on the cross, turned His eyes unto the Father and said, "It is finished."


<><
George
 
Many is bigger than Evans.:)

It's about 15 miles south of the Toledo Bend Dam. In between the Dam,and Deridder on HWY 111.

It's a very small town(village,community). But , like you, I love it. I would hate to know that I ever had to leave it.

Growing up, that was all I ever wanted,but it didn't take me very long away to figure out that this is EXACTLY where I want to be.There's no place that I would rather raise my kids.
 
Those are great lyrics by the way. I'm anxious to hear an mp3.
 
UnkleSlam,

So thats where Evans is. It may not be close by miles, but in the world wide web scheme of things, we're practically neighbors.
Can I borrow a cup of sugar?

<><
George
 
Okay I goofed.

In the lyrics, I Saw Love, the last word of the fourth line should read "deeds" and not "dees".

Please forginve me. You can't go to heaven if you don't.

<><
George
 
Great Lyric

Well Written.George!!!
I like the structure with the narrative and the reference to Amazing Grace...I hope that you use the original melody. What is the musical style for the piece. I don'tassume that just because you're from LA that it's country....some of the best R&B
has come from LA.
writeon..chazba
 
chazba,

Thanks for your comments.

The song is kind of a contemporary attempt at suttle R&B. To tell you the truth I really don't how to define it. When I get some of this posted as mp3's I'll let you tell me.

The dip into Amazing Grace falls back into the original melody, well sort of. For instance the chord progression of the first line:
F............Dm.............Bb.............Gm
Amazing grace how sweet the sound

........F............Dm..........C
That saved a retch like me.......


You'll still be able to recognize it.

The narration gave birth to an idea for the trail end of the song.
After the words are spoken "It is finished" , the chord "Dm" is sustained while at the same time a heart beat is heard that begans to rapidly decrease in beats per min. When the heart beat stops you hear a burst of thunder.

Okay, maybe a bit dramatic, but it works for me.

<><
George
 
George...

Way to go, nice song.

I'm always a little jealous of the word-smiths. The Lord blessed me with an ear and talent for arranging and writing the accompanyment, but I've never been good at turning a phrase. This probably has something to do with the phyco-drama I went through in every Englinsh/Literature class I ever took; however, I'm not sure which came first. (Did I struggle in English class because I couldn't write, or did I get a mental block on writing due to my struggles in class?)

Any-who. Keep up the good work. May God bless your efforts.

Peace <><
 
memphissound,

If good grades in English class are a prerequisite to being a songwriter, I'm in deep trouble.

<><
George
 
The Write Stuff

If anyone is intrested in an endevor of writing a song from the bible, I have a small story in mind that may be worthwhile.

Rather than give you a topic, I give you the story in which to write from. There is another thread that named a place to write about. It was intresting to see all the different avenues in which it took shape from different writers. All the facts of the song were of the individuals creation. But in this situation, the facts are layed out in the story. If intrested, write a verse, chorus, or complete song, its up to you. I'd like to see how many different ways we say the same thing.

I'll give you the reader's digest version of the story along with the scripture reference of where its found in the bible.

Reference: The book of Mark, Chapter 5, Verses 25 thru 34.

There was a woman who had an issue of blood (a flow of blood) from her body for 12 years. She was very sick and had spent all of her money on doctors and was still getting worse.

She heard about Jesus and she said to herself, "If I may only touch the hem of His garment, I shall be made whole. She then pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of His garment and was healed.

Now this was no small thing when you consider that, according to the Law of Moses, when a person had any type of blood flow from their body they were considered unclean. And it was unlawful for them to even touch another person because then that person would become unclean. If she had been found touching someone she could have been stoned to death for her actions. Those that were unclean were outcasts until the flow of blood was stopped. When they went into a public place, they had to ring a bell and cry out, "UNCLEAN.....UNCLEAN! So for her to press through a crowd in a public place, she was actually taking her life into her own hands.

I will confess that I have already recorded a song about this story. But I would like to see it expressed thru other songwriters to see, like I said earlier, different ways to say the same thing.

Do you have the write stuff. You can dooo-it

<><
George
 
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