This is mark Joseph “young” blog entry #483, on the subject of The Song “Give Me a Vision”.
And now for something completely different.
One spring in the early to mid teens Pastor Don Chroniger of the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Shiloh asked if I could write a song for him. He had read a book about vision (not visions), and was loosely planning a sermon series on the subject and wanted a song–something that the choir could sing, but which could also be used as a chorus by the congregation.
I produced this, and made a midi recording, midi piano and midi vocals, to show how the choral version would sound. I also produced a printable choral sheet music for the choir to use, and a chorus version in the easier key of D for the congregation. I also did a hymn setting, shown in the image here. After I had delivered all this, one of those political events happened–I think the church was chosen to host a denominational meeting that fall–and the sermon series was scrubbed, the song put on perpetual hold. It was never performed; I don’t think copies of the music ever reached the choir, possibly never reached the pianist. I searched for another chorus or choir to sing it, but my contacts are extremely limited in that area and nothing ever became of it.
However, I still have the music, the words, and this midi recording, and I personally think it’s a powerful song looking for someone to debut it. It is the nearest I have ever gotten to writing something similar to the works of my favorite twentieth century composer, Randall Thompson, and it sometimes moves me near to tears. Pastor Don having retired, I don’t expect the sermon series will ever be realized, so their choir probably won’t ever sing this.
Give Me a Vision.
So here are the lyrics.
Give me a vision, let me clearly see
Your perfect plan and what you ask of me.
Your will be done, Lord; let me know my part.
Give me a vision; put it on my heart.People are dying, lost in the night,
Alone and afraid, and needing your light.
Lord, let your light shine through,
Because the world needs you.Give me a vision, let me clearly see
Your perfect plan and what you ask of me.
Your will be done, Lord; let me know my part.
Give me a vision; put it on my heart.Christians are fighting, caught in our pride,
United in Christ, we choose to divide.
Lord, let your love break through,
Because the church needs you.Give me a vision, let me clearly see
Your perfect plan and what you ask of me.
Your will be done, Lord; let me know my part.
Give me a vision; put it on my heart.I am a sinner, not knowing why.
To enter your kingdom I need to die.
Please let your life come through,
Because, Lord, I need you.Give me a vision, let me clearly see
Your perfect plan and what you ask of me.
Your will be done, Lord; let me know my part.
Give me a vision; put it on my heart.
*****
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Previous web log song posts:
#301: The Song “Holocaust” | #307: The Song “Time Bomb” | #311: The Song “Passing Through the Portal” | #314: The Song “Walkin’ In the Woods” | #317: The Song “That’s When I’ll Believe” | #320: The Song “Free” | #322: The Song “Voices” | #326: The Song “Mountain, Mountain” | #328: The Song “Still Small Voice” | #334: The Song “Convinced” | #337: The Song “Selfish Love” | #340: The Song “A Man Like Paul” | #341: The Song “Joined Together” | #346: The Song “If We Don’t Tell Them” | #349: The Song “I Can’t Resist You’re Love” | #353: The Song “I Use to Think” | #356: The Song “God Said It Is Good” | #362: The Song “My Life to You” | #366: The Song “Sometimes” | #372: The Song “Heavenly Kingdom” | #378: The Song “A Song of Joy” | #382: The Song “Not Going to Notice” | #387: The Song “Our God Is Good” | #393: The Song “Why” | #399: The Song “Look Around You” | #404: The Song “Love’s the Only Command” | #408: The Song “Given You My Name” | #412: The Song “When I Think” | #414: The Song “You Should Have Thanked Me” | #428: The Song “To the Victor” | #433: The Song “From Job” | #436: The Song “Trust Him Again” | #438: The Song “Even You” | #441: The Song “Fork in the Road” | #442: The Song “Call to Worship” | #445: The Song “How Many Times” | #447: The Song “When I Was Lonely” | #450: The Song “Rainy Days” | #453: The Song “Never Alone” | #455: The Song “King of Glory” | #457: The Song “Greater Love” | #458: The Song “All I Need” | #462: The Song “John Three” | #464: The Song “The Secret” | #466: The Song “In a Mirror Dimly” | #468: The Song “Present Your Bodies” | #471: The Song “Walkin'” | #473: The Song “In the Light of His Love” | #477: The Song “Step by Step” | #479: The Song “They That Trust” | #481: The Song “To the Philadelphians”
Next song: Where Did I Go Wrong?