"Leaning In" is a sung prayer of intercession.  It came out of conversations about prayer I had with other members of the faculty at Eden Seminary, particularly Deb Krause.  (Thanks, Deb!)  The song was also influenced by a passage in Traci West's book "Disruptive Christian Ethics" in which she points out that praying every week for "the poor" simply reinforces the (often false) distinction between the congregation and those in need.

You can find a lead sheet (lyrics, melody, chords) at http://sites.fastspring.com/christophergrundy/product/catalog. 

"Leaning In" was recorded live in worship at the Eden Theological Seminary chapel on September 25, 2013.  Recorded using a phone.  

Piano: Donita Bauer
Electric Guitar: Eric Moeller
Trumpet: Josh Privitt
Flute: Sarah Dierker
Acoustic Guitar and Vocal: Christopher Grundy


Lyrics:
We pray for the lonely ones, knowing that some of us are lonely,
and we pray for the heartbroken ones, knowing that some of us are heartbroken
All our hearts and minds are leaning in with clear intention
joining in your way of love in the world.

We pray for the wounded ones, knowing that some of us are wounded,
and we pray for the regretful ones, knowing that some of us are regretful.
All our hearts and minds are leaning in with clear intention
joining in your way of healing in the world.

We pray for the starving ones, knowing that some of us are starving,
and we pray for the imprisoned ones, knowing that some of us are imprisoned.
All our hearts and minds are leaning in with clear intention
joining in your way of justice in the world.

We pray for the dying ones, knowing that some of us are dying,
and we pray for the newly born ones, knowing that some of us are arriving.
All our hearts and minds are leaning in with clear intention
joining in your way of love in the world. 


(c)2013 Hand and Soil Music

Leaning In (Prayer of Intention)

This song is a fusion of Matthew 11:28-30 and Joel 2:12-17.  It is an invitation to bring our brokenness to God and find rest.  Suitable for Ash Wednesday or any time when you want to name grief in the community.  The piano part was created based on my chord chart by Paul Vasile. 

This recording was made live in the Eden Seminary chapel as part of the 10th annual Festival of Psalms. 

Bring all your brokenness,
you who are weary,
return to me with all your heart.

Bring all you're carrying
weeping and mourning
and you will find rest for your souls

For I am gracious
for I am gracious
and abounding in steadfast love
and abounding in steadfast love.

(c)2020 Christopher Grundy
Photo by Sofia Alejandra from Pexels

Bring All Your Brokenness

Take Us Home by Another Way
by Christopher Grundy
with thanks to Stan Rogers 

Sung by Christopher, Ross, Liam, and Gabriel Grundy.  Recorded on an iPhone in our living room.  

Sheet music available at:
www.convergencemp.com

Want to hear the studio version? https://youtu.be/dkZ1JJlJa14

“And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they left for their own country by another road.”

-Matthew 2:12

"God has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly
God has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty."

    - Luke 1:52-53


Spirit, take us home
take us home by another way
take us long way ‘round the tyrants 
and their schemes,

Give us strength to walk
Show us dreams of a better day
and we’ll pave the way with justice.  
going home by another way.

The mountains and the hills made low
the rough places made plain
the despots thrown down from their thrones
‘til only love remains. 

Spirit, take us home
take us home by another way
take us long way ‘round the tyrants 
and their schemes,

Give us strength to walk
Show us dreams of a better day
and we’ll pave the way with justice.  
going home by another way.

No offerings for billionaires
to make them richer still
bring all your frankincense and myrrh
that the hungry may be filled

Spirit, take us home
take us home by another way
take us long way ‘round the tyrants 
and their schemes,

Give us strength to walk
Show us dreams of a better day
and we’ll pave the way with justice.  
going home by another way.

So when the Proud Boys and the Klan
ask where the Christ child lies
just tell ‘em that you’ll let them know
next time you’re passing by

Spirit, take us home
take us home by another way
take us long way ‘round the tyrants 
and their schemes,

Give us strength to walk
Show us dreams of a better day
and we’ll pave the way with justice.  
going home by another way.

So, when things get tough and feet are tired
we’ll know it’ll be okay.
cause we’ll pave the way with justice
going home by another way. 

© 2022 Christopher Grundy

Photo by Brett Stanley.  Used under a Creative Commons license.

Take Us Home By Another Way (live Demo)

For Deb, in hospice.    A brief a cappella ballad written and performed by Christopher Grundy.

Recorded (quickly) on my phone. 

A Threshold Song is a song used at the time of dying.  

Photo by bekassine on Flickr.  Used under a creative commons license. 

Dance In The Grass (A Threshold Song)

A song for summer stargazing.  I like to imagine the author of Psalm 8 looking up at the night sky and having the urge to sing. 

This was recorded on my phone.  The big echoey voice is from recording in the upstairs hallway at Eden Seminary.  

I wanted to try to capture the mood of stargazing, but also to translate the language of "dominion" for our age of ecological concern.  


When I survey the moon and stars,
all the work of your hands,
who are we that you care for us?

Yet you let us help care 
for the birds of the air
and all of the fish in the sea.

How majestic is your name in all of the earth.



Photo by Blake Gordon.  Used under a Creative Commons License.

When I Survey the Moon And Stars - DEMO - no tag at end

This is a rehearsal recording from Andra Moran and her band at Woodmont Christan church.  Don't they sound great?  Thanks to Andra for lending her beautiful voice to this song.  You can find her at www.andramoran.com.  

"Waiting for You" is from the album "Stepping In."  You can get a recording and sheet music at www.christophergrundy.com.

We are waiting for you
knowing that you always abide
we are waking to your presence
and our hearts are open wide
open wide
open wide.  

(c)Hand and Soil Music

Waiting For You - Performed By Andra Moran

"Drawing Nearer" was written for an Advent worship resource published by the Pension Board of the United Church of Christ in 2014.  It was written to be sung while the Advent candles are being lit in worship.  You can find matching worship resources at https://ext.pbucc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=436:2014-christmas-fund-promotional-resources&catid=12:christmas-fund.  

You can find sheet music at http://sites.fastspring.com/christophergrundy/product/catalog  
 

Even in the midst of all of this,
trouble on the news, no peace within,
still there is a light in the distance
drawing nearer, drawing nearer

So, open up our eyes to see your light
open up our arms, they're clenched so tightly
come in  like a thief and steal our hearts
like a baby, like a baby.

Even in the midst of all of this...


(c)Hand and Soil Music
Painting by Virginia Wieringa - www.virginiawieringa.com

Drawing Nearer

Lyrics by Ruth Duck. Music by Christopher Grundy. 

This song was recorded live on an iPhone in the chapel of Eden Theological Seminary.

Prepare the Banquet, Make the Feast of Love

Based on Luke 5:4.  Recorded live on a phone at McFarland United Church of Christ.  It was confirmation Sunday. 

Push out into the deeper water
let go of the beach
dive down into the holy mystery
and then reach
reach

Deeper Water - live at McFarland UCC

Live recording of the worship refrain "Real Before You."  Recorded on an iPhone 4 at a gathering of the St Louis Association of the United Church of Christ.  Stick around for the saxophone that starts at 4:10.

I'm not sure this is a keeper or not, but it was fun to come up with something for this occasion - a worship service that included a keynote by Rev. Molly Baskette on the art of public confession.  

My apologies that the microphone (phone) was too close to one person in the congregation.  

Piano: Jody Clegg
Saxophone: Brett Palmer
Prayer Leader: Valerie Jackson
Guitar and Vocals: Christopher Grundy

I wanna be real before you
I don't want to smile and hide
don't wanna just kneel before you
though I might fall down and cry
I want to bring you everything inside
to be healed before you. 

(c)2015 Hand and Soil Music 

Photo by Adam Purcell.  Used under a Creative Commons license.

Real Before You - Live

Recorded live in chapel at Eden Theological Seminary for All Saints, November 2, 2015.  Recorded on an iPhone.  

You can find sheet music for this song at https://christophergrundy.com/product/heaven-and-earth-are-filled-accompaniment/

Piano: Donita Bauer
Cello: Lyndsay Williams
Violin: Kristen Leslie

Heaven and earth are filled 
with the light of the saints
who have gone on before us
shining around us still
as we're running this race
grateful the path is lit for us. 

(c)2015 Hand and Soil Music.

Heaven And Earth Are Filled - Live

A chant for congregational singing during remembrance of baptism services, drawing upon Paul's exodus imagery for baptism in I Corinthians 10:2.  Written for the opening of the academic year at Eden Theological Seminary. The reference to riot gear connects this freedom song with both the Black Lives Matter movement and Sacred Stone Camp, a Native American resistance movement to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

This song was recorded on a phone by a a group gathered around the baptismal font in Amistad Chapel at the national headquarters of the United Church of Christ in Cleveland.

Already done walked through the water
baptized in freedom
God has parted the Red Sea
can't no history hold us now. 

Already done walked through the water
baptized in freedom
God has parted the Red Sea
can't no bigotry hold us now. 

Already done walked through the water
baptized in freedom
God has parted the Red Sea
can't no prison cell hold us now. 

Already done walked through the water
baptized in freedom
God has parted the Red Sea
can't no riot gear hold us now. 

(c)2016 Hand and Soil Music.  Learn more at www.christophergrundy.com.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aindhy/

Already Done Walked

A simple refrain about loving as God loves.  Good for kids. 

As the rain and the sun
fall on everyone,
let me love, O God, as you love

Sharing more than a smile,
walking that extra mile,
let me love, O God, as you love
let me love, O God, as you love.

Let Me Love as You Love

"That Was the Year" was recorded live at the Congregational Church of Coral Gables, Florida, Friday, January 13, 2012, as part of SHIFT Southeast: a regional gathering of musicians in support of the progressive Christian movement.  It was a great evening, singing together with Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan and Bryan Sirchio.
The song was originally written in 2003, in the wake of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq. It's based on Isaiah 2:4 and 11:6, along with a lot of strange things that bubbled up out of my brain.


I figure that I won't have a chance to record this for a while, so I thought I'd put a live version up here.


Recorded on my phone with the Soundcloud app. Downloaded from Soundcloud, edited for length using Audacity, and re-uploaded.


That Was the Year
by Christopher Grundy

You were just two years old
so I doubt you’d recall
but your mother and I
still remember it all:
started slowly at first
neighbors gave away cars
started riding the bus
playing out in their yards

then the news from the war
started getting bizarre
personnel on both sides
just decided to farm
beat their guns into plows (Isa. 2:4)
turned their tanks to combines
all the generals would say
was, “We just changed our minds.”

And that was the year
that it all turned around
even lost as we were
scuffling there on the ground
still a new earth had come (Isa. 66:17, Rev. 21:1)
we had somehow been found
and that was the year
that it all started turning round.

We were like ones who dream (Ps. 126:1)
when we saw on the news
all the doors swinging wide
at the prisons and zoos (Isa. 61:1)
they poured into the street
then all heaven broke loose
they met up at the park
convicts and kangaroos

So, we packed up some food
rode our bikes into town
and with wardens and walruses
gathering round
spread our feast on the grass (Lk. 13:29)
and you know I’ll be damned
if there wasn’t a grey wolf
lying right there with a lamb (Isa. 11:6)

And that was the year
that it all turned around
even lost as we were
scuffling there on the ground
still a new earth had come
we had somehow been found
and that was the year
that it all started turning round.

©2003 Hand and Soil Music



That Was the Year (Long Intro)

"River of Delights" was recorded live on a phone at the 6th Annual Festival of Psalms at Eden Theological Seminary, October 1, 2017.  It is based on Psalm 36:7-9a. 

Guitar, vocals: Christopher Grundy
Piano: Paul Vasile
Bass: Keith McDevitt
Sax: Brett Palmer

You can find a lead sheet for this song at 
http://sites.fastspring.com/christophergrundy/product/riverofdelightsleadsheet?action=adds 

Lryics:

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wing.
They all feast on the abundance of your house
and you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you
for with you
for with you is the fountain of life.
For with you
for with you
for with you is the fountain of life.

©2003 Hand and Soil Music

Photo by Adam Asar on Flickr.  Used under a Creative Commons license.

River Of Delights

This may seem like an odd song for Advent, but it was written to go with Advent readings about keeping awake.  You can find a lead sheet (melody and chords, no piano part) at https://sites.fastspring.com/christophergrundy/product/catalog.  

Keep awake or you will miss it.
You never know just when that glimmer may appear.
Try to notice
where the light of God shines through
the strangest moments
will reveal that light to you.
Cup it in your hands
like fireflies
and then hold it up to shine for other eyes.

(C)2017 Hand and Soil Music

Photo: Jessica Lucia on Flickr.  Creative Commons License.

Fireflies (Demo)

Billy Joel wrote "Miami 2017" back in 1976, imagining a dystopian future for the United States by the time this current year rolled around.  Some 40 years later, "The Last Days of the Empire" isn't nearly as good as its predecessor, but imagines a bit farther into the future. 

If you think that this song is meant as a partisan jab, know that I actually started working on it long before the Trump administration took office.  What may seem like the end of the world may just be the end of the empire.  

This is a demo version, recorded on one track, as a single take on my phone. 



In the last days of the empire
as the grids were all shutting down
as the last cable news channel signed off
after Wall Street had burned to the ground
we stood on the battlements watching the oceans rise
with a song about how God still loved us and tears in our eyes
in the last glorious days
of the empire.

In the last days of the empire
as the dream flickered out on our phones
as our Predator drones came returning,
hacked by pre-teens and locked in on home
we raised a glass to all the starving hordes at the gates
as New Orleans, Miami, and Long Island sank in the waves
in the last marvelous days of the empire.

As the last of the eagles flew north
and the Klansmen came forth for their final parade
we finally knelt down and prayed
that we all would be saved
from the choices we'd made
in the last gossamer days,
in the last halcyon days,
in the last glorious days of the empire

La da da....

(c)2017 Hand and Soil Music
www.christophergrundy.com
talk2us@christophergrundy.com
Photo: "The Course of Empire" painting by Cole Thomas

The Last Days Of The Empire (Demo)

What a surprising, wonderful morning this was in chapel!  I wrote this refrain for Psalm 65 the morning of the service, along with a chord progression for the vamp while people were reciting the psalm.  I put it in the very talented hands of Paul Vasile, who brought it to life.  Tate and Nina had agreed in advance to read the first two sections of the psalm, and I knew that they would let the text preach.  I had not planned on asking for additional volunteers right there in the worship service, but as you can hear, it was actually quite fun.  Would this work in your worship?  I don't know.  I have an incredibly talented director of music, and my congregation is all seminary students.  The harmonies you hear are spontaneous.  Still, It might just work in your church. 

(c)2017 Hand and Soil Music
photo credit: catholic diocese of saginaw. Creative Commons license.

Psalm 65 - Sung Refrain

This song was written in the spring of 1989 for the Asian Rural Institute in Nishinasuno, Japan.  I taught the song for the first time on the first day of spring rice planting, when we all went out the rice fields together. Much to my surprise, the song has continued in use through the decades.   

The Asian Rural Institute trains rural community leaders from developing countries around the globe in sustainable agriculture, food self-sufficiency, and community organizing.  You can learn more about the school and the application process at http://www.ari-edu.org/en/.  

This song is free to download and use.  Click the "more" button, and then "download." 
________________________________

I'm calling to the country folk
who work upon the land
to come and share the vision
we have shaped into a plan
side by side we'll find a life
of strength and dignity
until the day we all can feed ourselves
we never will be free.

Take my hand 
which has labored in the soil
together we will stand
for together we must toil
to build a world where hunger
will not keep the people chained
to build a world
that will still bear fruit tomorrow.

I'm calling to the rich folks
in their mansion down the road
to come and see the backs that break
while carrying your load.
Please come let us show you
how the chemicals you send
kill the earth
that someday must support your children.

Take my hand 
which has labored in the soil
together we will stand
for together we must toil
to build a world where hunger
will not keep the people chained
to build a world
that will still bear fruit tomorrow.

I'm calling to the heavens
to the power there above
to thank you for the harvest
given freely through your love
and to ask for courage, strength, and hope
throughout the coming year:
for the sake of all the planet, Lord
I hope that you can hear me singing!

Take my hand 
which has labored in the soil
together we will stand
for together we must toil
to build a world where hunger
will not keep the people chained
to build a world
that will still bear fruit tomorrow.

Take my hand 
which has labored in the soil
together we will stand
for together we must toil
to build a world where hunger
will not keep the people chained
to build a world
that will still bear fruit tomorrow.

...to build a world 
that will still bear fruit tomorrow.

Take My Hand - Theme Song of the Asian Rual Institute

Recorded live at SHIFT Southeast, January 2012.  This is the same as the other entry here, but is considerably shorter.

"That Was the Year" was recorded live at the Congregational Church of Coral Gables, Florida, Friday, January 13, 2012, as part of SHIFT Southeast: a regional gathering of musicians in support of the progressive Christian movement.  It was a great evening, singing together with Richard Bruxvoort-Colligan and Bryan Sirchio.
The song was originally written in 2003, in the wake of the U.S. Invasion of Iraq. It's based on Isaiah 2:4 and 11:6, along with a lot of strange things that bubbled up out of my brain.


I figure that I won't have a chance to record this for a while, so I thought I'd put a live version up here.


Recorded on my phone with the Soundcloud app. Downloaded from Soundcloud, edited for length using Audacity, and re-uploaded.


That Was the Year
by Christopher Grundy

You were just two years old
so I doubt you’d recall
but your mother and I
still remember it all:
started slowly at first
neighbors gave away cars
started riding the bus
playing out in their yards

then the news from the war
started getting bizarre
personnel on both sides
just decided to farm
beat their guns into plows (Isa. 2:4)
turned their tanks to combines
all the generals would say
was, “We just changed our minds.”

And that was the year
that it all turned around
even lost as we were
scuffling there on the ground
still a new earth had come (Isa. 66:17, Rev. 21:1)
we had somehow been found
and that was the year
that it all started turning round.

We were like ones who dream (Ps. 126:1)
when we saw on the news
all the doors swinging wide
at the prisons and zoos (Isa. 61:1)
they poured into the street
then all heaven broke loose
they met up at the park
convicts and kangaroos

So, we packed up some food
rode our bikes into town
and with wardens and walruses
gathering round
spread our feast on the grass (Lk. 13:29)
and you know I’ll be damned
if there wasn’t a grey wolf
lying right there with a lamb (Isa. 11:6)

And that was the year
that it all turned around
even lost as we were
scuffling there on the ground
still a new earth had come
we had somehow been found
and that was the year
that it all started turning round.

©2003 Hand and Soil Music

That Was the Year - Live (No Intro)

This is an easy refrain for use during a bidding prayer, in which members of the congregation are invited to add their own petitions.  After each section of the prayer we sang the refrain.  All of the petitions in the middle were edited out for the sake of time (it was 12-13 minutes originally).  Here are the lyrics:

For
the sake of the world
the world that you love
O God, we pray,
pray
for the sake of the world
and we pray with confidence
because of your Son
and all you have done.

This song was recorded live in worship at the Eden seminary chapel, using my phone.  We were a relatively small group that day - 20 to 25.  The group had never heard or sung the song before.

My thanks to Anthony Scott for being our prayer leader!  Mary Bracke played the organ.  You can find a lead sheet (melody, lyrics, chords, no piano part)  for this refrain at  http://sites.fastspring.com/christophergrundy/product/catalog.  

Photo by DonkeyHotey.

Prayer Refrain: For the Sake of the World

An easy prayer refrain, as sung at the annual meeting of the United Church of Christ Musicians National Network, June 24, 2012  A lead sheet with melody, lyrics, and chords (no piano part) is available at http://sites.fastspring.com/christophergrundy/product/catalog.

Prayer Refrain - For the Sake of the World (Musicians National Network Version)

You can find free sheet music for this song at http://sites.fastspring.com/christophergrundy/product/catalog.  The song has a Creative Commons license, so you can use it and share it.

Want to find out about other songs in the future?  Like Christopher's Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/christophergrundymusic or join the mailing list at http://www.reverbnation.com/christophergrundy.  The "share" button at the top left-hand corner of the SoundCloud player will allow you to share with others who might want to use it.  Feel free to comment.  

This song is based on Isaiah 49:6b.  It was originally written after the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords in January of 2011.  The Isaiah passage was in the Revised Common Lectionary for that week. 

I'm posting this rough demo for people who want to use the song in worship following the shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, July 20.  Prayers for peace, for grace in grieving, and for healing to all those affected.

This ROUGH demo was recorded quickly at home on my phone.  Just trying to get it posted for others to use this weekend.  

Photo "I Have Faith, I Can Walk On Water" by Gunjan Karun.  Used under a Creative Commons license.  www.gunjankarun.com.

Let me Be Your Light (Isaiah 49:6b) - DEMO

"For All the Saints (of Church Administration)" was written for a lecture at Eden Theological Seminary based on the book "Redeeming Administration" by Ann Garrido.  

I'm sorry for the mistakes - the song was literally written in the shower an hour before the event!

Lyrics:
We give thanks, O God, for all the saints
who labor for your church

For the ministry of answering the phone
and of sitting in the office weekday mornings all alone

We give thanks, O God, for all the saints
who labor for your church

For the ministry of paying all the bills
and of laying out a budget with fiduciary skill

We give thanks, O God, for all the saints
who labor for your church

For the ministry of shoveling the snow
and of banging on the furnace 
and the boiler so they’ll go

We give thanks, O God, for all the saints
who labor for your church

For the ministry of meetings one must lead
and of taking careful minutes 
no one else will ever read

We give thanks, O God, for all the saints
who labor for your church

For the ministry of filing and reports
and of listening with patience 
when the pastor’s out of sorts

We give thanks, O God, for all the saints
who labor for your church

For the ministry of finding volunteers
and of nominating new committee members 
every year

We give thanks, O God, for all the saints
who labor for your church

For the ministry of emails to be sent
and reorganizing kitchen pots and pans after events

We give thanks, O God, for all the saints
who labor for your church

For the ministry a fielding all complaints
‘cause you’re the just the one they found first, 
we give thanks for all the saints

We give thanks, O God, for all the saints
who labor for your church
Amen.

For All the Saints (of Church Administration)

This song was recorded live in the chapel at Eden Theological Seminary on the evening of February 26, 2019.  The United Methodist Church had just voted to reconfirm its ban on gay ordination and gay marriage, and we were meeting for chapel. I sat down at the piano just before worship and stumbled onto this simple chant.  I gave the chords to Paul Vasile, and he improvised this lovely piano part. 

(c)2019 Hand and Soil Music
Photo by 42North

Love Is Love

"Set Your Face toward Jerusalem" was written for a service following the journey of Jesus and his disciples toward Jerusalem, a journey they made in spite of the risks.  The service included a procession to various stations.  The song was written to be sung as the congregation processed from one station to the next.  This excerpt is the last leg of the procession, and thus the last verse, repeated. 

This was the first time this group had ever heard this song.  All told, the did great!  In defense of the poor quality of this excerpt I will say that this was recorded on a phone while the congregation was walking up a stairwell and into the chapel at Eden Seminary.  It was difficult to hear, and thus to stay together.  We went through doorways and such, lost and found each other in the song, and ended up gathered in the chapel.

Lyrics:

O set your face toward Jerusalem
toward the powers that are ranged against all those long suffering;
go and speak the truth in love to them,
that the burning love of God will never end. 

O set your face toward Jerusalem
toward the powers that are ranged against all those long suffering;
go and speak the truth in love to them,
that the flowing grace of God will never end. 

O set your face toward Jerusalem
toward the powers that are ranged against all those long suffering;
go and speak the truth in love to them,
that the flowering peace of God will never end. 

O set your face toward Jerusalem
toward the powers that are ranged against all those long suffering;
go and speak the truth in love to them,
that the commonwealth of God will never end. 

(c)2019 Hand and Soil Music

Set Your Face Toward Jerusalem

What is Thanksgiving like for a chicken?  That's where our creative minds led us when Ms. Ghidina's 2nd grade class set about writing a song.  We started brainstorming for ideas and decided to go with "Thanksgiving" and "Chicken" as our song seeds. ("Lettuce and "cabbage" were also song ideas).  The song was headed in the direction of "It's good to be a chicken on Thanksgiving," but Ms. Ghidina wisely suggested that we might go in a friendlier direction, so we decided that maybe chickens are concerned about turkeys, too. Sort of a poultry solidarity thing.

What a great group!  As you can hear, everyone jumped in and got in the act.  LOTS of good and creative suggestions.  And of course, we had to end with a chicken dance!  Bak!  Bak! Bak!

Here are the words:

I'm happy it's Thanksgiving but the turkey is not
because he will be put in a hot, hot pot!
He's running and he's running
'cause he might get shot.
It could be a sad day
but I hope it's not

So, let us eat lettuce for Thanksgiving!
Don't be savage, eat some cabbage at Thanksgiving.
You can still eat food that is finger lickin',
just be nice to turkeys, and to me - I'm a chicken!

Bak! Bak! Bak!

The Chicken's Thanksgiving (Poultry Solidarity Song)

This version of Psalm 29 was recorded live (on a phone) in the Eden Seminary Chapel on Thursday, January 10, 2013.  Thanks to everyone who participated!  I'm so grateful to have a community of study and worship where we can try things like this.

The congregation had never sung it before.  Weren't they great?  A small vocal ensemble had rehearsed some harmony parts, but the congregation added more.  The musicians added a lot of improvisation, too.  The a cappella ending wasn't planned in advance, it just seemed like the place to go.  

The chord progression is G, D/F#, Em7, C, G, D/F#, C, Dsus4 through the whole thing.

The psalm text we used was from the New Century Hymnal.

Piano - Donita Bauer
Electric Guitar - Eric Moeller
Djembe - Felicia Scott
Guitar, Songleading - Christopher Grundy
Spoken Word - Larissa Forsythe

Thanks, everyone!

Psalm 29 Jam

Rehearsal Track for Peace UCC action September 4.

Lyrics:
Hate has no home here
We’re gonna make it really clear
Hate has no home in this town
Spread love everywhere
And spread the news around
Hate has no home in this town.

Hate Has No Home In This Town - rehearsal refrain

CHRISTOPHER GRUNDY is a  singer/songwriter/liturgical theologian/professor/ordained minister/chapel coordinator/husband/dad who lives in St. Louis and writes music that's mostly for worship these days.

Christopher Grundy

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