I am looking at John Burland‘s latest offering, the collection, We Follow Jesus.
So far I’m finding the usual professionalism and application for schools and parishes doing First Communion classes. For parish assemblies, the keys are often too high at performance levels and would need to be lowered, but many follow liturgical readings and will have an application in masses.
This one is certainly going to fit the liturgy with the Emmaus reading (eg 3rd Sunday Easter Year A) and certainly would need to be transposed down from F (I’d take it to D at least).
I’ve made my backing gentler than his version for a change. I thought the heavy percussion unnecessary and that the song sounded better with some delicacy.
Chorus
On a Journey to Emmaus friends talking as they go,
The questions and the sorrows seemed to show.
Jesus joined them for the day
Hearts burning on the way,
On the journey to Emmaus they would know.Chorus
1 They walked and talked with him on the road along the way
They talked of all the news up to today.
This morning they had heard of the tomb the women found
It was empty as the Prophets had foretold.Chorus
2 They reached the journey’s end at the closing of the day.
They gathered around the table for a meal.
In the breaking of the bread Jesus was revealed.
He is risen and alive they could see.Chorus
3 They decided to return to Jerusalem that night.
They found all the Disciples gathered there.
They told them all the story meeting Jesus on the way.
It’s true he is alive alive today.© 2023 John Burland Stephen Leiweke