TWCSW Feb - "Into Your Hands"

[WorshipVanguard]

UPDATE: Big, humongo thanks to Brian Rossi who added a bunch of instrumentation to the song in post #27. The only elements missing are a bass track and a drum track. Any of you bass/drum dudes/dudettes out there wanna join the collaboration effort. Just let me know. Thanks.

************************************************** *************

As I was reading Psalm 31, I sought the Lord for verses to jump out at me. There were several. I even found some commentary that made the verses sink in more deeply. This may have been a focus in other worship songs, but the first verse to jump out is verse 5, the verse Jesus spoke on the cross. Other verses to stand out were the ones that mentioned hands or arms. From there, this is what I wrote. I'm already aware of the redundancy, and lack of rhyme. This simply shows the direction I'm heading with the song. Help?

The hands that fed the hungry fed me
The hands that healed the sick healed me
The hands that made the lame walk strengthened me
The hands that made the blind see enlightened me
The hands that made the mute speak inspired me
The hands that were pierced saved me

You are my rock, and my fortress
For your name’s sake, guide me
I commit my ways into your hands
You are my God, and my salvation
For my protection, hide me
I commit my spirit into your hands

The hands that crafted carpentry crafted me
The hands that raised the dead redeemed me
The hands that turned tables accepted me
The hands that broke bread blessed me
The hands that held children held me
The hands that were pierced saved me

*******************************************
NOTE: Russ Hutto made the following comments
*******************************************
Dude, That's a great start! I love the idea of "The hands" in the verses.

Wondering if you could try that same concept but have every other line begin with that phrase.

The hands that fed the hungry fed me...
Filling my emptiness with ....

And so on. Instead of beginning every line with "The hands that..."

[WorshipVanguard]

OK. I've revised the lyrics, but I do not have a melody yet. Any feedback would be great. Thanks for the collaborative effort, you guys!

"Into Your Hands" (Psalm 31)
Highlighted verses: 2, 3, 5, 14, 16, 19

1 - The hands that fed the hungry fed me
Filling my emptiness with your life
Those hands that healed the sick healed me
Making me whole again by your stripes
Because of your pierced hands, I am yours

2 - The hands that made the lame walk strengthened me
Nursing me back to health with your balm
Those hands that gave the blind sight enlightened me
Fearing the Lord, my God gives me wisdom
Because of your pierced hands, I am yours
I am yours!

You are my rock, and my fortress
For your name’s sake, guide me
I commit my ways into your hands
You are my God, and my salvation
For my protection, hide me
I commit my spirit into your hands

3 - The hands that crafted carpentry formed me
Massaging my soul until I’m pliant
Those hands that turned tables accepted me
Shining your face upon your servant
Because of your pierced hands, I am yours

4 - The hands that broke bread blessed me
Storing your goodness for the faithful
Those hands that raised the dead redeemed me
Bringing me back when I am humble
Because of your pierced hands, I am yours
I am Yours!

Chorus

5 - The hands that hugged children held me
Loving me deeply despite all my faults
Those hands that made the mute speak inspired me
I’m singing loudly, “You are my God!”
Because of your pierced hands, I am yours
I am yours! I am yours! I am yours!

[david_d_lindner]

Good work on this lyric & on the rewrite.

The only comment I have would be on the word "pliant" I'm not sure everyone will get that one, and I'm not sure how it will sing.

I like how captured the psalm & I like how you ended on a soft note with the little children.

[WorshipVanguard]

The only comment I have would be on the word "pliant" I'm not sure everyone will get that one, and I'm not sure how it will sing.

Hey David! Thanks so much for reviewing the song. I thought the same thing about "pliant" when I wrote it. I'm not a big vocabulary person, so I never know how many people know what certain words mean. My sister, who is literally a book worm, often teases me when I bring up words that are new to me, and her response is "you don't know that word? Where have you been?" This particular word, though, I wanted to somehow capture how pliable and flexible we can become as we allow God to soften our hearts. Without being too wordy, I used "pliant." You're right, though. I'm not sure how it will sing either. Once I work with a melody, I don't want the word to sound forced as if searching desperately for a rhyme. It's got to flow off the tongue easy enough where sing-alongers can find deep personal meaning in it and still enjoy singing it. :-)

Also, I think my song maybe too long. I intended it to be a song that could be sung during a response time; something slow but powerful and meaningful. So, my thought is to cut a few lines out for the sake of time and intimacy with God. That may be one of the lines I cut. Hope that made sense. Thanks again for the feedback. It's helping me a ton! God bless, and have a blessed weekend!

[russhutto]

I like the direction you're headed with this. To me a traditional (style) hymn format seems to be a possibility as far as structure.

I'd like to play around with it if you don't mind. Others are also welcome to do so as well. Problem is, I'll be out of town for an entire week, so I won't get to it until after Valentine's Day.

So if anyone else wants to jump on this and collaborate with WV, please do!

[WorshipVanguard]

I'd like to play around with it if you don't mind. Others are also welcome to do so as well. Problem is, I'll be out of town for an entire week, so I won't get to it until after Valentine's Day.

Russ, I don't mind a bit. By all means, everyone feel free to tinker. I'll also be out of town next week on an anniversary cruise with my husband of 10 years ... can you tell I'm looking forward to it?? :-) Any revisions of the song will have to wait until after Valentine's Day anyway. Thanks again for your interest in helping me develop this song. I'm eager to hear the finished product. Have a great week! God bless.