true motive of a good worship song. While as a “tag” at the end of another song. “For He
a gathering can be as small as two people Alone is Worthy”, a single verse from O Come,
(Matthew 18:20), a church congregation can Let Us Adore Him (Adeste Fideles), is also often
also be of immense size, which can make the used in this manner. However, whatever is being
craft of songwriting all the more challenging. As sung corporately must be simple, sing-able,
for songwriting, one never knows where or how and memorable. Much of early contemporary
a song will be used.
praise and worship music was built on these
Ian White “You Are Merciful to Me”
few distinctives.
As songwriters, we ask ourselves many
questions. Are we writing songs for a small Another consideration in church songwriting is
gathering or a mega-church to sing? Are the use of “allegory” in lyrics. We know it well
we writing for a particular denomination or from our reading of C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles
theological persuasion? Are we as songwriters, of Narnia, and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit
self-producing the composition with a particular and The Lord of the Rings. We also know it
musical genre, instrumentation, or arrangement
in mind? Is the song meant to be sung as a
from Scripture, as in the parables of Jesus.
Matt Redman - Worship Songwriting
Allegory, or metaphor, is figurative in style,
corporate expression or as an inspirational and is sometimes the best way to symbolically
offering, as in being sung over the church communicate truth. Allegory in songwriting is
gathering? Are the lyrics written “to the Lord”, or a powerful form of communicating truth and a
“about the Lord”? Are we using pure Scripture “deeper meaning”. Larry Norman’s “The Tune”
to formulate the lyrics, or are we simply writing is a wonderful example of this.
inspiration from the deep places of our hearts?
And in the case of worship songwriting, Marty
Is the offering simply a “sung prayer”, as in the
case of Ian White’s “You Are Merciful”?
Nystrom’s classic “As the Deer” is also a perfect
Paul Baloche on Songwriting
example of metaphor in worship and was taken
One of the most important things in songwriting,
straight from Scripture (Ps 41).
according to Matt Redman, is curiosity.
“Curiosity is the key to creativity”, according In closing, no matter what our leanings,
to Matt, and comments that a problem or disciplines, or considerations are in the crafting
constraint in songwriting should be viewed as of a song, all songwriting should come from a
an opportunity. posture of honesty. The Scriptures tell us in John
4:24 (NKJV), that Jesus said, “God is Spirit,
Some
of
America’s
most-gifted
church
Sandra McCracken on Songwriting
songwriters, including gifted tunesmiths Paul
and those who worship Him must worship in
spirit and truth.”
Baloche, Sandra McCracken and Kirk Franklin,
have much to say on the subject as well. Paul Therefore, our true criteria for worship, and
suggests that as songwriters, we should, presumably worship songwriting, all boils down
“Keep it simple, sing our prayers, and serve to just two things: spirit and truth.
our local church in song”. Sandra believes that
“intent” should be a key component to writing
songs, and that “storytelling and gospel music
can be incredibly inviting and disarming”. And
Kirk Franklin on Songwriting
to Kirk Franklin, songwriting simply reflects the
Alex MacDougall
A former member of Daniel Amos (DA), the Larry
Norman Band, and the Richie Furay Band. He has
toured and recorded with all of the above, as well as
Andrae Crouch, Bob Bennett, Phil Keaggy, and many
hundreds of additional projects and artists. He has
served and serves as an Adjunct Professor, teaching
in Music Business at Dallas Baptist University and at
Trevecca Nazarene University’s National Praise and
Worship Institute, in Nashville, TN.
“kindness and grace of the Lord”.
Sometimes worship songs are not even
“complete” songs, as in the case of Rich
Mullins’s “Awesome God”, often simply sung
Larry Norman - The Tune
June 2019
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