I’m working my way through Gen Bryant‘s collection Send Us Out, available at Willow. It is ideal for schools but some of the songs will work in parish situations.
This is a song of praise and a call to action. It is an acknowledgement that young people (OK and everyone else) have a voice and should use it – and get out and be active in their communities. There is a second vocal line so this might be best for soloist and choir.
The sheet music is available in single sheets in versions for the whole band as well at Willow. In the compiled book you get the very long piano sheet music for these songs and I suspect guitarists in performance will make their own chord charts, as none of the provided sheets are for a singing rhythm guitarist (ie chords over words).
I made a rousing backing, but I could not find the lyrics on her website this time.
Raise it up, raise it up (x3)
Come on, raise up your voice!
Our hearts have come alive, come alive!
Come on, raise up your voice!
Our hearts have come alive, come alive!
Chorus
Come on, raise up your voice! [Raise it up!x2]
Our hearts have come alive, come alive!
Come on, raise up your voice! [Raise it up!x2]
Our hearts have come alive, come alive!
1 You know our ev’ry breath. You know our hearts desire.
It’s your love alive in us; it’s your love that lifts us up.
Chorus
2 When darkness falls on us and fear is taking over,
We need your love alive in us: we need your love to lift us up.
Chorus
Bridge 1
[When the chips are down and times are tough]
Raise it up! Raise it up!
[When the sun shines out and you feel that love.]
Raise it up! Raise it up!
[Rain or shining Lord ask that I’ll…]
Raise it up! Raise it up!
[Lord, I promise that all my life, I’ll…]
Raise it up!
Bridge 2 (x2)
We come alive,
a-a-a-live, a-a-a-live, Oh we come alive!
We come alive,
a-a-a-live, a-a-a-live, Oh we come alive!
Chorus (x2)
Let’s raise it up! (x4)
© 2015 Gen Bryant. Published by Willow Publications.
I could only find this solo guitar version by Gen Bryant on YouTube and I can’t find it on Spotify, but you can purchase the Mp3 at Willow.