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Thursday, July 19, 2012

How To Write a Truly Good Worship Song

I was reading a blog post over at CyberBretheren about how to write a truly awful worship song.  You can read the post here.

I've never been a fan of the "flowers and butterflies" aspect of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM).  They all seem the same.

"I love you.
I worship you.
You are my God."

Uh huh.  Yup.  Common knowledge there.  Give me some substance.

I gave some advice that I use all the time when writing songs.

If you really want to write a good song, go out and slug someone in the face.  Then write a song about it.


I don't really mean to go out and slug your pastor or your mother.  What I mean is that you should use your life experiences as material.

Here's something I wrote back on April 11, 2011 based on Psalm 25.

*Show me your ways, Oh, Lord.teach me your paths ?????????Guide me in truth and teach meRemember Me! Oh Lord, Remember Me. 
Remember not the sin of my youth.Remember not the sin of today,According to your love, Remember Me.For you are good, Oh Lord, Remember Me! 
The troubles of my heart have multiplied.Free me from my anguish and my sinMay integrity protect me.Let me not be put to shame, Remember Me!
After reading it through, I figured there was not enough pain and pleading in this song -- now that I look back, it's more like a poem then a song -- so I rewrote it.

**Show me your ways, Precious Lord.
To you, I life up my weary soul.
Guide me in truth and teach me
Remember me! Oh Lord, Remember me! 
Remember not the sin of my youth.
Remember not the sin of today.
Please, dear God! Pardon my guilt.
Remember me! Oh Lord, Remember me! 
Relieve the troubles of my heart.
Free me from my anguish and my sin,
Please let integrity protect me.
Remember me! Oh Lord, Remember me! 
Consider how many brothers are my foes
and with violent hatred, they hate me.
Oh, guard my life, and protect me.
Remember me! Oh Lord, Remember me!
I don't know if I'm still happy with this, but you gotta start somewhere, right?

*©2011 Jesse Harmon Productions
**©2012 Jesse Harmon Productions