Gender-neutralizing songs...

[McNelton]

To make this short, I used to think changing the lyrics to songs was cheesy and forced. Now I think it is not only more truthful/accurate, but that it is vital. Sometimes its easy (like changing him to them) and sometimes its hard. And its not just gender, but also individual/communal, and then vocabulary that can have negative connotations (like war-related or perhaps imperial like "king"). For example, Be Thou My Vision I change the third stanza from

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

to

Riches I heed not, nor vain empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
Great God of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art

I was just curious, in general, what everyone's opinion of this sort of thing is. And also if anybody had any advice for the line from "All Because of Jesus" by Fee. The chorus says "and raised this dead man's life." And I've ALWAYS hated that because I lead women in singing it. I was thinking about changing it to "and raised this dead soul's life." What does everyone think? Weird? Good? Better ideas?

[MarkSnyder]

I always liked Rich Mullin's lyric:

She was every man

[pian0dude]

Not to be a big party pooper here, but for songs under copyright, I believe it is illegal to change lyrics. I understand the intent however. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong.

[TheOldATrain]

To quote Ed McMahon, "You are correct, sir."
Changing lyrics to copyrighted songs without the author's permission is illegal.
Every once in a while someone will actually get permission (as David Crowder supposedly did from John Mark McMillan to change the "sloppy wet kiss" line in "How He Loves"), but in general it's best to either sing it as written or write something else.
For songs that are public domain, such as "Be Thou My Vision" (a text that I believe goes back to the early Middle Ages!), there's no legal issue, just the ethical/theological question of possibly changing the theological position of a song without the author's consent.

Alex

[pian0dude]

Also, if you are a CCLI license holder, it is a violation of the license agreement for that on non public domain songs.

[Mike on Bass]

More to the main issue, yeah some songs have gender references. That's the nature of music written in the first person. But don't turn it into hair-splitting political correctness. If a woman has an issue singing "man" when she's not a man, she can change it herself while singing. It's one of those things that can distract a worship leader from their main role.

Is there a particular reason, such as feedback or ear-benders making an issue of it?

[merry]

More to the main issue, yeah some songs have gender references. That's the nature of music written in the first person. But don't turn it into hair-splitting political correctness. If a woman has an issue singing "man" when she's not a man, she can change it herself while singing. It's one of those things that can distract a worship leader from their main role.

I'm a woman, and I don't think "Oh! This doesn't apply to me because it says man, and I am clearly a woman!" when I encounter lyrics like in the examples above. Unless it is a very specific reference (like to fathers or another specific role that doesn't fit), I have always presumed, assumed, and allowed that it refers to mankind, as in the human race.

[pian0dude]

I'm a woman, and I don't think "Oh! This doesn't apply to me because it says man, and I am clearly a woman!" when I encounter lyrics like in the examples above. Unless it is a very specific reference (like to fathers or another specific role that doesn't fit), I have always presumed, assumed, and allowed that it refers to mankind, as in the human race.

Excellent input... I guess we could apply the same logic about changing song lyrics to be gender neutral to the Bible. I know there are versions out there that have started editing passages to make it more universal, however, I personally don't agree with that approach.

Really for me, if it was seriously going to be that much of an issue that I'd debate whether I should be changing lyrics to suit everyone's personal gender preferences, I'd pick a different song with the same message. If a song is literally calling out or focusing specifically on MAN or WOMAN, I'd actually question whether it's even a congregationally friendly lyric or not. I typically chose songs that are universally worded for all people.

[NickAlexander]

Discussing w a CCLI employee, the only change you could possibly make, and do so without incurrimg the wrath of copyright police, is that of pronouns. "He is Lord"==>"YOU are Lord". Me-and-God songs to Us-and-God songs. Stuff like that.

THAT SAID... really? Against "God is King" songs? Against warfare songs? Sharpen your scissors enough for the Book of Psalms, much?

[Mark Levigne]

Right merry

That is exactly my thought as well. Thanks for saying it first :-)