so, in all fair disclosure – i do a lot of hymns. i love them. the poetic style, the rich imagery.
i also write a good majority of the songs we do at our church. sometimes the songs we do on sunday are only a couple of hours old. other times we sing songs that are 200 years old. wherever your church conviction or musical preference lies, i found this witty hymn-style rant by peter baker very entertaining. truth has a funny way of hurting and feeling good at the same time….
as a writer, a lot of the songs i hear in churches all do sound the same – loud. sometimes i wish we could boycott songs that were 120, 4 on the floor… and then i write another one.
for those of you who lead worship and write songs for your local church to sing – glean what you can from this… and keep writing.
“News of Hymnody”
Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Forgive our foolish ways
For most of us, when asked our mind
Admit we still most pleasure find
In hymns of ancient days
In hymns of ancient days
The simply lyrics, for a start
Of many a modern song
Are far too trite to touch the heart
Enshrine no poetry, nor art
And go on much too long
And go on much too long
O, for a rest from jollity
And syncopated praise
What happened to tranquility
The silence of eternity
Is hard to hear these days
Is hard to hear these days
Send they deep hush subduing all
Those happy claps that drown
The tender whisper of thy call
Triumphalism is not all
For sometimes we feel down
For sometime we feel down
Drop thy dews of quietness
Till all our strummings cease
Take from our souls the strain and stress
Of having to be blessed
Give us a bit of peace
Give us a bit of peace
Breathe through the beats of praise guitar
Thy coolness and they balm
Let drum be dumb, bring back the lyre,
Enough of earthquake, wind and fire
Let’s hear it for some calm
Let’s hear it for some calm
