This is an unusual song from John Burland and Gary Pinto, which is the last song in John Burland’s recent collection Into the World.
This is another very professional collection of songs from the songwriter, John Burland. The sheet music of the whole collection can be purchased for download at his site for $A20, which is, for overseas buyers, getting less all the time. The sheet music has detailed piano arrangements and he always tweaks verse melodies and lengths to keep things from becoming dull. His recorded versions are all class.
This one is a song for personal reflection that has uses for Reconciliation and Lent. The chorus and pre-chorus are very singable, but I think the verses need a cantor. That piece of the melody is fiddly and I’m not sure an assembly can do the the long “mmms” in the verses.
I took my backing in a very different direction to his arrangement. His syncopation lends itself to a gentle Latin beat, so I was channeling Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66 here.
1 Father I’ve turned away from you again somehow… Mmm.
‘Cause I’ve done wrong falling far from grace… Mmm.
‘Cause I’ve been lost hoping someday to be found… Mmm.
But now I long to to see your mercy face to face… Mmm.
Prechorus
Now I’m coming back to you and I want to start anew.
Chorus
O my Jesus free me from my sin.
Take me hold me cleanse me from within.
Unworthy as I am, before you I will stand.
I’m coming home.
2 When darkness covered me I was lost on my own… Mmm.
Now the tears are rolling down as I head home… Mmm.
Prechorus
Now I’m coming back to you and I want to start anew.
Chorus
O my Jesus free me from my sin.
Take me hold me cleanse me from within.
Unworthy as I am, before you I will stand, to make me whole again.
I’m coming home.
© 2020 John Burland and Gary Pinto