This is another children’s song from David MacGregor from even further back in 1988. Like many Australian church music composers, it looks like he started out making songs for the youngsters before branching out.
His instructions are “boppy”, which is a term insufficiently used on church music. The sheet music is at his site.
God’s given me everything God’s giving me life God’s given me everything God’s giving me life.
Let’s take a little time
to give our God
all that He deserves
Our money, our gifts,
our lives we bring.
It’s you, O Lord, we serve.
God’s given me everything God’s giving me life God’s given me everything God’s giving me life.
A lot of David MacGregor‘s songs are suitable for young people, and this Christmas / Advent song is another.
My backing tries for the country rock feel he suggests. It is call and response so easy to learn.
Get ready, get ready, Get ready for Christmas (echo) Get ready, get ready, ‘cos Jesus comes (echo) Jesus – he comes to us As a baby (echo) Jesus – he comes to show God’s love (echo)
Time to get together To live God’s kind of way To walk in step with Jesus In all we do and say … Get ready …
Time for sayin’ “sorry” To put the past behind As forgiven friends with Jesus: Be more loving, be more kind … Get ready …
It appears very memorable and singable and needs little instrumentation. Just as Erwin Cabucos is happy with lot’s of “la-la’s”, David goes for “oh’s”. To keep guitarists paying attention he throws in a diminished chord and gentle syncopation – which probably inspired the slightly jazz arrangement I made on BIAB.
David MacGregor based this country pop song on Proverbs 3:5-6. It’s theme of trust and living as Christ’s love suggests a use as a recessional. It is an easily sung and remembered song, with a touch of “When You Walk in the Room” in the riff.
Trust God from the bottom of your heart. Trust God from the bottom of your heart. Don’t try solving everything out on your own. Trust God from the bottom of your heart.
Listen for God’s voice in all you do. Listen for God’s voice in all you do. Listen for God’s voice, everywhere you go. Listen for God’s voice in all you do.
You’re the one, God keep me in your Way. You’re the one, God keep me in your Way. Jesus may your love be all my love, each day. You’re the one, God keep me in your Way. You’re the one, God keep me in your Way.
Apropos of nothing, I’ve always loved the Sports version of Jackie De Shannon’s song – they were so daggy and cool in 1978. Their singer, Steven Cummings is coming back after a stroke so I hope he is well.
I’m deep into the “F”s in the the vast David MacGregor song archive. This is a recent song of discipleship that could be used as a recessional or in the RCIA.
I like this tune a lot, but my first attempt at a backing was too busy because I set at 140bpm as written:
I got the feel better by making it half time.
1 “Lose your life and then you’ll find it. Travel light – shake off the dust. Leave it all behind – be walking my way.” Jesus, you seek my faith, my trust.
Chorus
So Jesus, you call me to the journey. I give my heart, give my mind, give my soul. So I’m offering my all up to you, Lord. You’re the one who I’ll follow.
2 “Love one another as I’ve loved you, abide in my love, my life always. Ever fruitful by my Spirit Daily in my Kingdom ways.”
Chorus
3“In my name, go, make disciples, baptise in my name, the three in One. Teach with truth, be seeking justice Grow the work I have begun.”
My heart is strained with sadness There’s sorrow beyond words I’m such a loss to make real sense of all I’ve seen and heard Why are we so divided? Why can’t we be as one? O, why O God Yes, why so God Yes, what have we become?
Come flow … compassion Come flow … your peace Come flow … deep understanding Come flow … Come flow … your love
When innocents meet violence While practicing their faith While lives are torn asunder By evil’s human face May we find in each other You and your love for all Each beautiful, made in your love Flow Spirit, change us all Come flow …
(optional 3rd verse) So blessings be to you who mourn for comfort will be yours And blessings – all who work for peace for such a holy cause And blessings to the kind ones God’s mercy come your way And blessings to the pure in heart Flow in us, God, this day Come flow …
Happy 2025 – the century is a quarter over and I didn’t notice it happen.
Over the years this blog has moved emphasis to look at somewhat contemporary, Australian Catholic music. This is the style of music I am used to, and where I look for “new song” in parish music ministry. If that’s not your speed there are any number of chant sites and excellent traditional music sites (eg Liturgy Share) available.
American music dominates our airwaves and our churches in Australia and I am happy to cover that less. The OCP vs GIA duolopy can’t be healthy, although I note independents like WorshipNow springing up that might be worth a look – they don’t ship to Australia though, it would have to be as an ebook. Maybe I should turn to Ireland and the UK, or even see what New Zealand and Canada have to offer, since many of my favourite secular artists are from there.
I have looked down many rabbit holes to find songs to look at and there are not a lot of commercial sources that remain uncovered. I know many Catholic parishes and schools use a lot of Hillsong, but I doubt they need help from me and I’m not a huge fan. While I await what happens in Australian Catholic music after the demise of Catholic Worship Book 2, the two areas that provide hope are music coming out of parishes and youth ministries. For example, the Proclaim Lismore Wildfire groups of young musicians and Erwin Cabucos from a suburban parish have self produced and published music of interest.
If anyone reading this knows of people making their own music in parishes that would like their music known outside their area let me know – all I need is a melody line and chords and links to where the sheet music is available.
That said there are still some very deep archives in Australian Christian music and David MacGregor, the Uniting church minister from Brisbane, has a lot of material on his website to peruse. What I do with his trove is that I print enough music to fill a folder and then that’s enough until next time. I still only got from F to H in this tranche!
These backings were done some time ago when I was ill on and off so there may be more idiosyncratic than usual – I won’t know until I look at them again.
David has taken Terrye Coelho’s simple trinitarian chorus (changing “I” to “we” for a communal worship setting) and added extra words (We praise you, Lord…), some new music and a reggae feel. It can be sung as a round. An obvious song for Trinity Sunday, it would benefit from minimal instrumentation.
I've worked my way through the As One Voice books and other collections making backings on Band in a Box to help me (& you if you're interested) learn new songs for church. This is aimed at churches and musicians that own the collections but haven't exploited them fully. If you don't have them they are certainly worth buying. This site is educational, nonprofit and designed to enhance the commercial prospects of songwriters. This site does not distribute copyrighted sheet music.
Disclaimer
Any opinions expressed here are personal views and not the responsibility of any Church.
All music backings posted are created by myself and the intention is for them to be used to learn the songs. If any copyright holder wishes me to cease publicising and promoting their wares and directing people to where sheet music can be legally purchased please let me know.
Mason’s “Mass of Glory and Praise”
To access my backings for Paul Mason's mass go to Feb 2011 in the archive.
