Blogger: Rachel Kent
As we celebrate and remember what Jesus did for us this week and throughout the weekend, I find myself looking forward to singing my favorite songs of Good Friday and Easter. Lyrics are an extremely powerful version of writing. Like poetry, they can touch us differently at different times in our lives and the meaning we get from a song is so personal.
During the early part of our dating relationship, my husband and I would send song lyrics back and forth and discuss what they meant to each of us. (Odd? Perhaps. We were young!) This was an amazing way to get to know each other because it forced us to share feelings and events that had influenced us in our lives and were coloring our interpretations of different songs. Being an English major, I was always over-analyzing every word in each song and I’d find meanings in lyrics that were probably not even intended by the song writer. My husband was more focused on the feelings the words evoked.
My favorite Good Friday song that we’ll sing tonight during the Tenebrae service is When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts (1707). That song always gets me crying. I can see Jesus taking on the cross for me as we sing it. I also love the Chris Tomlin version, The Wonderful Cross.
My favorite Easter morning song is Christ the Lord is Risen Today (Charles Wesley, 1739). Our Easter service often starts with this one and with the guitars and drums updating the song it sets a wonderful, joyous mood for the day of celebration.
Have you ever written song lyrics or poetry? How does that writing process differ from writing novels or nonfiction projects?
What are your favorite Holy Week songs?
Poetry? Uh…yeah. Over 49,000 words’ worth of Shakepearean sonnets since the beginning of the year. It’ either a remarkable achievement, or a tacit admission of lunacy. And prior to that, I had written, like, three poems.
As I’m a bit beguiled by pain and difficulty in breathing around various tumours, I find that the formal scheme of rhyme and meter help to focus both language and message. It imposes an economy that I find refreshing.
My favourite song for Holy Week is Van Halen’s ‘Jump!’ Well, you have to admit, it does sort of have a place near to ‘Lord Of The Dance’. At least in my heart!
Holy Week is finally here, when
curtains tore and heaven thundered
and this is where it all began,
God’s Indianapolis 500.
Doth compare this to a RACE?
Well, Paul, did, long ago,
and said the chequered flag was grace;
and surely he should know!
You’ll lose if you’re too cautious;
too fast, and out you’ll spin
be wise, and read the auspicious
Book God gave, and win!
And when at last the race is through,
remember: through Christ, God bet on YOU.
And in case anyone’s curious, of those 400+ sonnets, almost all were composed as comments to posts of the blogs I follow, and thus were thematically constrained.
It’s really easy, in writing anything but especially poetry, to get self-indulgent and resort to navel-gazing. I’ve done it, more than I care to admit, but having a theme can result in some fairly ‘creative’ work…like writing a sonnet about painting a mural of ‘The Life Of Elvis’ around my house.
Also, blog comments are time-dependent; if you want an audience, you have to get the comment up double-quick, so there is a sort of deadline. One can’t mess around; perfection would be wonderful, but clarity of mesage within a prescribed time is vital. or so I tell myself.
Focus and clarity are one of the reasons I love the Haiku seventeen syllable version. We do so fall in love with our words.
For Good Friday, the “Here Yet A While” from Bach’s “Passion According to St. Matthew” is the penultimate for me. Easter Sunday it’s the “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” from Handel’s “Messiah”. Just typing the titles lets me hear them in my spirit and gives me goosebumps.
Andrew, your clarity of mind and wit in the face of the obstacles you face is inspiring. I look for your sonnets (love the form) as reassurance that you are still with us. I’m selfish that way. Praying always.
Judith, you just made my day! Thank you so much.
And now I’ve just spent way too much time watching videos of Easter music. “Up From the Grave He Arose.” “Was it a Morning Like this?” “He’s Alive.” The list goes on and on. I may not meet my word count today, but the words will be better. Thanks for the inspiration.
I’m a songwriter as well as a writer, and the challenge for me with songwriting is in the need to be succinct in the message/story, to rhyme, and to do my best to say things in a unique way. Then match the music and lyrics.
The nice thing is a song doesn’t take nearly as long to write as a novel!
CHRIST AROSE is one of my favorites this week!
I remember a pastor from my childhood who always had the congregation sing an Easter hymn at Christmas and a Christmas carol on Easter. It was to remind us, he said, that without Easter Christmas is just another baby, and without Christmas Easter is just some guy dying for his cause. Since then, I’ve thought “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” should be sung together.
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord breaks my heart every time I hear it.
Love everything about this, Rachel!
Hello everyone, to the author – it is so great you appreciate all these things between you in your relationships!
I haven`t write any song lyric or poetry, but I have some favourite songs about Jesus – Precious Lord take my hand and the second is If Jesus say yes, nobody can`t say no)
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