Initial draft of an "Ebenezer" lament song written in Welsh to mark the experience of the pandemic, bringing questions about its meaning to the "Lord over all". 

Geiriau: [LYRICS; scroll down for translation]

Arglwydd dros bob dim, pan ddaw eto haul ar fryn
Be wnawn ni gofio, o’r cyfnod ofnadwy hyn?
Pawb ar ben ei hun! Methu cwrdd unrhyw un!
Cadw draw o’n gilydd. Arglwydd beth yw pwrpas hyn?

Arglwydd dros bob dim, rhaid inni gofio hyn
Pwy all beidio cofio Grawys mor hir â hyn?
Anialwch o hyd! Methu dathlu dim byd!
Ymprydio’n unig, ond rwyt Ti gyda ni fan hyn.

Arglwydd ym mhob dim, ble rwyt Ti yng nghanol hyn?
Beth wyt Ti’n ein dysgu, trwy’r flwyddyn ddieithr hyn?
Ysgolion ar gau! Ein byd yn culhau!
Ydyn ni ‘di dysgu bod gyda Ti fan hyn?

Arglwydd dros bob dim, gyda ni hyd yn hyn
Ble rwyt Ti’n ein harwain, trwy’r cyfnod dychrynllyd hyn?
Capeli’n cau! Methu parhau!
Mae angen egni ac amynedd gen Ti fan hyn.

Arglwydd dros bob dim, pan ddaw eto haul ar fryn
Be wnawn ni nesaf, wedi’r cyfnod hyn?
Iesu, arwain ni! Ein bugail wyt Ti!
Ddown ni at ein gilydd, i d’addoli Di fan hyn.


CHORDS:
A ¦ B ¦ C  B ¦ A
A ¦ B ¦ C  B ¦ A
A  E  D7  E7
A ¦ B ¦ C  B ¦ A
====
TRANSLATION
Lord over all, when the Sun returns on the hill
what will we remember, from this terrible time?
Everyone on their own! Unable to meet anyone!
Keeping away from each other. Lord, what is the purpose of this?

Lord over all, we must remember this
Who can fail to remember, a Lent so long as this?
Wilderness still! Unable to celebrate anything!
Fasting alone, but You are with us here.

Lord in everything, where are You in this?
What are You teaching us, through this strange year?
Schools closed! Our world narrowed!
Have we learned to be with You here?

Lord over all, with us up until now
Where are You leading us, through this frightful time?
Chapels closing! Unable to go on!
We need energy and patience from You here.

Lord over all, when the Sun returns on the hill
what will we do next, following this time?
Jesus, lead us! You are our shepherd!
We will come together, to worship You here.

Arglwydd Dros Bob Dim (demo)

God gave breath to humans and placed us on earth
Under the heavens,
Under the heavens;
Bid us tend His garden and show His true worth
Under the heavens above.

God watched on as humans built towers on high
Up to the heavens,
Up to the heavens;
Turned their backs on Him and laid claim to the sky
Up to the heavens above.

God became a human and came down to earth
Down from the heavens,
Down from the heavens;
Came into our world when a virgin gave birth
Down from the heavens above.

He laid aside His holiness.
The King became a slave,
And suffered death at the hands of us,
The ones He came to save.

God raised Him from death, Jesus, Lord here on earth
Seated in heaven
Seated in heaven
God's true Son who came and revealed God's true worth
Under the heavens above.

He laid aside His holiness...

Hallowed be Your name and let Your kingdom come
Father in heaven
Father in heaven
Down here on the earth let Your will now be done
As in the heavens above
Under the heavens above.
Under the heavens above.

(c) 2021 Jon Stammers. 
Guitar: Magnus Forester-Barker

Under the heavens above

Geiriau [English translation below]:
Fe greaist Ti yr haul a'r sêr, ein Tad;
Popeth yn ein bydysawd.
Fe roddaist bopeth yn ei le, Arglwydd.
Ond dwyt Ti ddim yn dduw sydd eisiau aros uwch ein pennau.
Ti'n dewis dod i fyw gyda ni.

Rwyt Ti mor fawr, Hollalluog dros y nefoedd!
Rwyt Ti mor agos atom ni!
Gyda ni nawr, rwyt Ti'n Frenin ar frenhinoedd.
Iesu Mawr! Iesu Tirion! Ein Harglwydd ni!

Fe ddest Ti lawr o'r nef, Oen Duw,
i fyw ymhlith Dy bobol.
Fe ddest Ti'n faban bach mewn crud, Iesu!
Ddest Ti ddim fel brenin mawr, yn lordio hi dros bobol.
Fe roddaist Ti Dy hun drosom ni.

=====
Translation:
You created the sun and the stars, our Father;
everything in our universe.
You put everything in its place, Lord.
But you are not a god who wants to stay above us.
You choose to come and live with us.

You are so great, Almighty over the heavens!
You are so close to us!
With us now, You are King of kings.
Mighty Jesus! Gentle Jesus! Our Lord!

You came down from heaven, Lamb of God,
to live amongst Your people.
You became a little baby in a cradle, Jesus!
You did not come as a great king, lording it over people.
You gave Yourself for us.

(c) 2021 Jon Stammers.
Guitar: Magnus Forester-Barker

Rwyt Ti Mor Fawr

Words: Hilary Jolly (https://www.jubilate.co.uk/songs/born_of_adam_torn_from_eden)
Music: Jon Stammers
Vocal: Jon Stammers
Piano: Joel Harding

Born of Adam, Torn from Eden

FIND FINISHED TRACK HERE: https://jonstammers.bandcamp.com/track/elephant-in-the-room

Guitar: Magnus; Vocals: Jon
Lyrics:
There's an elephant in the room, but I don't wanna talk about it
A general atmosphere of doom, and both of us could do without it
An atmosphere of fear and dread, because this great big thing's just hanging over our head
It's gonna get on top of us soon, but I don't wanna talk about it.

I've got this monkey on my back.  I can't seem to get rid of it.
I thought it might cut me some slack, but oh no, not a bit of it.
I thought it might just go away, if I kept on ignoring it and didn't play
its games, but it's still there.  I can't seem to get rid of it.

I know it's time to take this bull by the horns
I know we need to talk it through
I don't know, maybe the cat's just got my tongue
I'm such a chicken when it comes to you

We've got this tiger by the tail.  No way we can let go of it.
Or it'll get us without fail.  Then everyone will know of it.
It's running wild. What can we do?
It's time to get all these animals back in the zoo
There's an elephant in the room, but I don't want to talk about it.

(c)2014 by Jon Stammers

Elephant In The Room (rough demo)

Paul McCartney cover.  A stripped down cover of Macca's 1992 single "Hope of Deliverance"

Guitar by Magnus Forrester-Barker

Hope Of Deliverance (Paul McCartney cover)

Finished track here / Trac cyflawn yma: https://jonstammers.bandcamp.com/track/llygod-mawr-yn-dod

Here's a rough demo of a Welsh song I wrote, based on a nursery rhyme about a mouse but built into a horror tale where mice and rats gradually take over my home and drive me away. Guitar: Magnus Forrester-Barker.

Dechrau efo "Adeiladu Ty Bach" ond efo llawer mwy o fygwth, wrth i'r llygod cymyd drosodd. Mond demo 'di hwn.

Lyrics/Geiriau:

Ma ‘na lygod yn y tŷ. Ond paid â gadael y rhai mawr i mewn. Ma ‘na lygod yn y tŷ. Ond paid â gadael y rhai mawr i mewn. Llygoden bach yn cysgu yn y tŷ. Llygoden bach yn deffro ac i ffwrdd â hi. I ffwrdd â chdi – i ffwrdd â ni! Ac nawr ma’r llygod mawr yn dod!

Weles i lygod yn y tŷ – allan o gornel fy lygad i. Weles i lygod yn y tŷ – allan o gornel fy lygad i. Llygoden bach yn nythu yng nghornel y tŷ. Llygod bach ym mhobman felly ffwrdd â ni. I ffwrdd â ni – Ond lle awn ni? Ma’r llygod wedi dod!

Gei di ddod adre efo fi? Dwi’m isio mynd yna ben fy hun. Gei di ddod adre efo fi? Dwi’m isio mynd yna ben fy hun. Sbia mewn trwy’r ffenest. Be weli di? Llygod mawr yn sbio ‘nôl arnom ni. Yn dychryn fi – i ffwrdd â ni! Ma’r llygod mawr yn dod!

Ma ‘na lygod yn ein tŷ – yn bwyta popeth sy gynnon ni. Ma ‘na lygod yn ein tŷ – yn malu popeth sy gynnon ni. Llygod mawr yn rhuthro trwy ein tŷ. Llygod yn difetha ein bywyd ni. Ond be nawn ni – Ond be nawn ni? Ma’r llygod wedi dod!

(c)2015 by Jon Stammers

Ma'r llygod wedi dod (demo)

My cover of Paul McCartney's 1992 single "Hope of Deliverance" (take5 version) with overdubs by my esteemed online collaborator, "audi".  Guitar by Magnus Forrester-Barker.

(FINAL MIX 12-19-2011)

(remix) Jon Stammers & audi - Hope Of Deliverance (Paul McCartney cover)

Come To Me
(Matt 11:28; John 10:10; 7:37; 4:14; 6:35; 6:54-55)

Verse 1
Come to me when you're weary, and I will give you rest.
Come to me! Lay your burdens down.
Come to me! Come to me!
Walk in step with me and learn from me
Learn to be humble like me
Come to me! Lay your burdens down.
Come to me! Come to me!
Chorus

Jesus, in you is life in all its fullness
Jesus, your words are trustworthy and true
Jesus, in you is freedom and forgiveness
Jesus we come, Jesus we come to you.

Verse 2
Come to me when you're thirsty
Come to me and drink
Come to me! Never thirst again
Come to me! Come to me!
Deep inside you will flow endless streams
Water of life from within
Come to me! Never thirst again
Come to me! Come to me!
Verse 3
Come to me when you're hungry
I am the bread of life
Come to me! Eat this living bread
Come to me! Come to me!
Eat it now and have eternal life
I will be real food for you
Come to me! Eat this living bread
Come to me! Come to me!

(c) 2016 by Jon & Deb Stammers. Produced by Ian Walker.

Come To Me

A Christmas song I wrote for the lighting of the advent candles representing (1)God's people, (2)the prophets, (3)John the Baptist and (4) Mary, and based largely on John 1:4-9 and some other Scriptures.

Lyrics:
We light a candle to remember
the people who walk in darkness
and a people who are sent to show
that there is hope for this dark world
That there is a light for all humanity
in the darkness of our times
Let your light shine, so all humanity
can see, and come

We light a candle to remember
the prophets sent with words of life
and their courage as they spoke truth to power
working for justice as they proclaimed
that there is a light for all humanity
when the darkness covered the earth
For those who lived in death’s dark shadow
a light has come

We light a candle to remember
a man called John calling in the wilderness
“Prepare the way! Turn from the darkness!”
He was a witness sent to declare
that the true light for all humanity
was now coming into the world
Turn from your sins! Wake from your slumber!
The day has come

We light a candle to remember
a girl called Mary, chosen to have a son
and her faith as she understood
that the life growing in her womb
would be the light for all humanity
a gift of love sent to a broken world
Born in Bethlehem, he died at Calvary,
but lives forever
Yes! There is a light for all humanity
in the darkness of our world
bringing us life for all eternity
Our light has come
Our light has come

(c)2018 by Jon Stammers.  Voice: Jon Stammers; Piano & whistle: Helen Pollard.

Light for all humanity (demo)

Big fat hairy monster (snippet)

A song based on the brilliant Jonah chapter 4.

Lyrics:
Blazing sun. Scorching heat. Jonah stared down at his feet
Feeling angry, feeling fed up and no good
In the heat of the sun, he’d sat down wishing everyone
Would be destroyed exactly like he’d said they would
Oh Jonah, won’t you listen to what your God says to you?
“Are you right to be annoyed because these people weren’t destroyed?
Because I saw their change of heart and changed my plans?
Could you not maybe have some pity on the cattle in that city?
Or the children there who just don’t understand?”

“Yes, I’m annoyed because I knew this was exactly what you’d do!
That you’d forgive these losers if they just said please!
Cos you’re so merciful and kind! So prepared to change your mind
Instead of bringing justice on our enemies!”
Oh Jonah, won’t you listen to what your God says to you?
“Are you right to be so peeved, after the mercy you’ve received
After I saved you from the belly of that fish?
If I can be so kind to you, then why not to these people too
Instead of just doing whatever you may wish?”

Now by God’s tender care, a little plant grew up right there
to give him shade and comfort from the blazing sun.
But to Jonah’s deep dismay, the plant got eaten the next day
So he sat and sulked and wished that death would come.
Oh Jonah, won’t you listen to what your God says to you?
“Why should you be so grieved about a silly weed
when you didn’t even help to make it grow?
If you feel sorry for this plant, why is it that you can’t
have pity on these people you don’t know?
Isn’t it right that I should care for the people over there
Twelve hundred hundred people who don’t have a clue?
Isn’t it right for me to pity all the people in that city
Or did you think my love and mercy’s just for you?”

Blazing sun. Scorching heat. Jonah stared down at his feet
Feeling fed up, feeling stupid, feeling blue.
When God had called him here one day, his feet had gone the other way
But as he heard God speaking now, what would he do?

(c)2019 by Jon Stammers
Guitar by Magnus Forester-Barker

Jon Stammers

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