Songwriter seeking advice from worship leaders on types of songs you can't find

[John Green]

As a songwriter who seeks to provide songs which fit a need in the Church, I would be interested to hear from worship leaders on this:

Are there certain song topics which you have a hard time finding songs for?

Are there any seasonal/events songs which you are looking for?

What are you not finding when you are selecting worship songs for church use?

Any input is appreciated, and I am sure that there are other worship writers here which would agree.

Thanks,

John Green
Recent Rainfall - refreshing worship
www.RecentRainfall.com

[fmckinnon]

Hey John -
There's an interesting thread going on about Communion Songs ... I think there is severe lack of great songs for reflection during communion ... at least, anything that is pretty recently written. That's a great topic for writers, I believe.

[AD(J)]

Arbor Day.

I've never heard a single song for Arbor Day.





Okay, just kidding.

But one thing that did come up in a recent thread (don't remember which one it was now) was the lack of masculine songs.

The thread quoted a comment about why many men do not like going to church, asserting that a large majority of contemporary worship seems like it is being written for 'love starved housewives.'

I have to agree. I'm not going to be blowing the dust off of A Might Fortress Is Our God (A bulwark never failing.... I mean, a what?) any time soon, but so many songs of late deal with this 'in love' idea more than anything else.

The example given was Darell Evan's 'Your Love Is Extravagant', which is a song I do happen to like, but have always felt a little funny singing. Even last night I did the song 'Madly', where the verse repeats the line 'I'm madly in love with you.' In moderation, these songs are fine, I think, but if you have too many of these songs in one night, it doesn't feel balanced at all.

And if we look around at what songs are being done in churches, especially in the contemporary scene, there just aren't a lot of MANLY songs.

I remember as a kid when we would have those victory march type songs in church, not that I want those to come back, mind you, some of them were cheesy enough.

But songs like Awesome God, songs where it's all about God's awesome power, songs about the fear of the Lord in both his whisper and in his thunder, those seem to have gone the way of the buffalo.

There is a severe lack of masculinity in our churches as a whole, but we see many times over how God is not only loving, caring and compassionate; He is also jealous, powerful and able to conquer the darkness with prejudice.

That's what I want to see. Songs that are approachable for the average person to sing and the average band to play, but that acknowledge God's masculine characteristics. We should not be afraid of these attributes, these are the very aspects of God we rely on when we are in dire need of a move of God.

[russhutto]

I would agree, although I tend to come from the perspective that being "in love" with God is about the "manliest" thing a man can do...

BUT, I do understand where you're coming from.

Especially, when it comes to musical worship.I would say that songs that really talk about the attributes (other than love and goodness) of God are pretty rare. This would include the "powerful" testosterone driven songs like "Mighty Warrior" which my friends and I snicker every time we hear, not because the concepts in the song were cheesy, but just because the song itslef is kinda cheesy...in an 80s keyboard driven sorta way...

Anyways, there are plenty of "intimate" choruses and songs, and I believe that there are plenty of introspective and me-oriented songs as well in this, so called, modern worship movement.

There are at least 2 threads that address this issue.


Are there certain song topics which you have a hard time finding songs for?

Are there any seasonal/events songs which you are looking for?

What are you not finding when you are selecting worship songs for church use?

In our environment we're able to use a lot of "mainstream" music as well to address issues. Because a lot of non-believers write a lot of spiritual questions in their songs, we're able to provide "answers" in the specific creative elements of our gatherings.

[Darryn]

Hello Mr. Green

I am part time leading worship for a church here in California and I would love to see songs that are written about the Word of God.

Also I would love to find new songs in general. I am the manager of a new site that provides worship music to pastors. If you write music then I would love to talk to you. We are trying to be the best place for new worship music.

Our goal is to create an atmosphere were indie worship is at least 50% of what is commonly used in churches.

Thanks

[John Green]

Thanks to everyone who has provided replies so far. I really appreciate you taking the time, and your answers are giving me some good food for thought. Your input will help shape the direction of my songwriting as I seek to write songs which glorify God and enage His church in worship.

John Green

Recent Rainfall - refreshing worship

www.RecentRainfall.com

[russhutto]

I would also suggest that songwriters should fulfill the responsibility of writing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that edify the local expression of the church right where they are!

I was a part of a church for a little over a decade that was blessed to have 4 or 5 "songwriters" within the body that contributed to the repertoire of songs we did. They weren't pros or even accomplished (by mainstream standards) but God used them to write songs that truly beat to the rhythm of the heartbeat of our local faith family there.

[Mike Darley]

I've not seen many new songs written about suffering, deliverance, difficulties, etc. When we look at the Psalms they run the gambit of human emotion. I agree with ireLocus. Most song nowadays seem to be more about love, than anything else. Don't get me wrong; experiencing the love of God is a good thing, but it's not all there is to the Christian experience. So often we make it seem like the only valid Christian experiences are positive ones. This is not what Scripture teaches us, and if we're honest it isn't our own experience. We're told to weep with those who are weeping, not sing happy songs so they cheer up. I'd like to see more God honoring songs that speak to a range of human experience.

[El Ben]

I'd like to see more songs written in minor keys. To carry on an idea from Tim Hughes: It's like worship leaders are afraid of the minor keys for some reason. Maybe there's something intimately introspective in those kinds of songs that God would like to hear.

Also, I'd like to hear more songs that are...well, there's no other way to put it but "warfare" songs. Songs like Charlie Hall's "Holy Visitation" as performed by Rita Springer. There are times when this kind of stuff is just plain necessary.

[Darryn]

I would also love to see songs that are a help to us or those people who are in times of trial. As stated above, there are many Psalms that have that theme.

Another take of the suffering worship music would be like one of my favorite songs for times of trial... "I love You Lord" (and I lift my voice, to worship You... Oh my soul...) That is a masterful melody and it has outward lyrics that glorify God.

[russhutto]

As long as the "minor" key songs aren't oompah, a ala late 80s hosanna integrity stuff. Haha.

[AD(J)]

As long as the "minor" key songs aren't oompah, a ala late 80s hosanna integrity stuff. Haha.

Word up....

[SaintLewis]

Are there certain song topics which you have a hard time finding songs for?



I've had the hardest time finding a song about that whole 'bashing babies heads against rocks' thing in the O.T. - maybe I need to start listening to Mortification and Paramecium again?

[fmckinnon]

are there any songs about driving wooden stakes through hearts? (who was that chick anyway?)

[SaintLewis]

wow fred - i must say that you've lost me on this one.
try searching 'vampire music', maybe?

[Mike Darley]

It was Jael, and she put a tent peg through this guy Sisera's temple. Forget Proverbs 31...Jael is my kind of woman. :D By the way, it's in Judges 4 with the story of Deborah and Barak, if you want to read it.

[El Ben]

As long as the "minor" key songs aren't oompah, a ala late 80s hosanna integrity stuff.

HA! God, I hope not! I just had flashbacks to "Blow the Trumpet in Zion!"

*shiver*

I'm talking about songs like Tim Hughes' "When the Tears Fall"

[ackparker]

I think praise and worship songs really depend on the congregation. Every congregation is different and so their needs or struggles are different. So many times God places songwriters in that particular church for a reason - to minister to their hearts through their words.

I know that many of my songs I have written came from something our congregation was going through or I knew someone was struggling with. Some songs will never get past the doors of your church- but that is OK.

I also think songs about honesty, right where you are at the moment- I think really speaks to the heart.

[russhutto]

Very true AC, thanks for your voice here at TWC!!

[fmckinnon]

Great Comments, Andrea -

I think that's one of the toughest jobs of Publishers and Song Development Managers/Producers at labels, etc .. is figuring out which songs work for the overall, corporate Church .. and which ones maybe are more geared for a specific local congregation. One or the other certainly doesn't diminish the value!

[Bass-ette]

There seems to be no lack of joyful praise songs - we're all happy and it's all good and we've got the joy, joy, joy, joy as we come to church with our Sunday morning smiles painted on.

Wonderful! I think we'll all agree that there is much joy to be found in Jesus and His work on the cross. And I am very happy that I have a church where I can worship freely with my church family. Praise God!!

But not everyone that comes to church is experiencing that joy on Sunday morning. Sometimes a believer is in a place of brokenness and needs to lift that up to the Lord in worship as well. Someone mentioned wanting more songs in minor keys. How about songs that reflect/speak to the "minor key" times we experience in our lives? If written as vertical worship, so much the better!

Bass-ically,

[worshiprevolution]

I agree... There are plenty of worship songs that deal with the joy and happiness, but the reality is that alot people come to church drowning in shame, despair, burdens, and cares. Even though our worship team covers alot of Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Hillsong United, David Crowder, etc... There is a lack of songs that deal with the heaviness that some people feel in their hearts.

God personally gives me songs that are "darker", & "heavier" for a lack of better words...

Ex: Here are some of the lyrics from a song God gave me

V1. Here I am again, I'm down on my knees, I'm in a mess again, that only you can fix my KING

I'm not saying focus on the defeat, hurt, or sadness, by any means, but sometimes we forget to give it's place during worship. We can sing about the struggles that people relate too, and include the solution through Jesus in the same song.

I hope this makes sense.

Two songs that are really good for this type of worship are:
Waterdeep's - YOu have redeemed my soul, and I could runaway

[russhutto]

Here's a good song that deals with weariness/heaviness, but in a "praise" context...

It's called Garments of Praise

http://www.pwarchive.com/song.aspx?SongID=2390&v=1

I've done it in a live setting and just rocked it out a bit more than the original recording, which I think is from "Revival In Belfast"...

I would suggest that at times, we can write songs that are "dual" in nature. That is, they address our human condition while pointing to the "God-solution"

In fact, I love writing songs that talk about how messed up I am, but how WONDERFULLY PERFECT God is, in the same song.

[chipshot0701]

titled, Jesus lead the Way

"sometimes life can be real dark, and start to drag you down.
Drag you to the depths of hell with chaos all around.
So open up your heart my friend let Jesus light your way...


I remember feeling sad for a friend when this verse hit me. I wanted him to know that Jesus is the light even when the world is dark.
Our world doesn't have to be dark. We can all turn to Jesus and let him lead us and light our way.

mike