Work in progress - I'm trying to figure out where to shorten the one-note refrains, perhaps each to four lines, to tighten up the song.
And the demo recording is quite rough, my first take (on a conference piano with people staring to file in for a lecture, so I was somewhat self-conscious). But at least I have it so you can hear the idea of the song.
When I was a kid and new in town
We went to a church my parents found
I made new friends, we played a bunch
(And often had folks home for lunch)
Then one week I said that I aspire
To sing with other kids in the children's choir.
The very next week, before Sunday school,
arguing whose dad was way more cool,
then one boy said, "my uncles's a cop;"
we became fast friends, right on the spot.
After church we sang a choir song,
I sang with joy, here's how I sang along:
Jesus loves me, this I know
for the Bible tells me so
little ones to him belong
they are weak, but he is strong.
When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Well, after some time, the director came,
And says to my folks, "Its such a shame,
He sings with joy, and energy,
With passion but not melody;
Perhaps the problem hides within his throat,
But your son only sings just one note.
He sings,
Praise to the Lord, the almighty,
the King of creation;
O my soul praise him,
for he is thy health and salvation
All ye who hear, now to his temple draw near,
Join me in glad adoration.
When Christmas tide came, so full of joy,
I sang for my King, the baby boy
born for to save our fallen race.
I tried to put each note in place;
I sang with gratitude in every bone,
the director says I'm still singing monotone.
Hark, the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joy to the world! the Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
and heav'n and nature sing.
Well that was a long, long time ago,
I sing and I love to play piano,
but here's the rub: in all I sing,
its just one note, to Christ the King.
Across all galaxies, to him be fame;
Maker, Savior, King, his name proclaim.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
all my being's ransomed pow'rs,
all my thoughts and words and doings,
all my days and all my hours.
Words and music copyright 2022 by Joel Swanson.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/.
@ambroise Mar 2022
Maybe he is theologically right and all the other notes are heretic ? I love the story and how you get us to connect with the main character. I'm not familiar with chruch song but I got the idea nonetheless. Did people in the file got odd reactions when they heard you sing those words without the usual melody ?
@oaksnprairie Feb 2022
What a wonderful story! The narrator proves the early evaluators wrong with the melodic verses, while affirming in the lyrics that one constant note of praise is perfect.
It must have been hard to sing one note on words so familiar in the choruses. I'm really impressed by your recording in a public space under time pressure. And if this is a true story, nice that you stayed with music and moved to a more notes!