NOTES:
After hearing "The Cold
Cathedral," Walt Harrah sat me down in a
restaurant and shared his vision for my next
project being arranged and produced by the best
in the L.A. music scene. He then introduced me to
Clark Gassman, keyboardist and arranger on a
number of Ralph Carmichael projects, and a
long-time friendship that would span the next
five albums ensued. Back-up vocals were provided
by the Danniebelles, a black gospel group from
San Jose lead by Daniebelle Hall. (She would go
on to record solo albums for Light Records.) We
had already sung together in festivals in the Bay
Area. My fondest memory of this recording session
is of Clark patiently taking these four
outstanding but nervous singers through each
piece of the music he had arranged, and teaching
them their parts by ear. No one thought to
inquire before the session as to whether any of
them could read music. |
Have You Seen
Jesus My Lord?
Words and Music by John Fischer
(Written during my summer as the first music director at
Ponderosa Lodge, the new high school camp at Mount Hermon
Christian Conference Center.)
Have you
seen Jesus my Lord
He's here in plain view
Take a look open your eyes
He'll show it to you
Have you ever look at the sunset
With the sky mellowing red
And the clouds suspended like feathers
Then I say you've seen Jesus my Lord
Have you seen Jesus my Lord
He's here in plain view
Take a look open your eyes
He'll show it to you
Have you ever stood at the ocean
With the white foam at your feet
Felt the endless thundering motion
Then I say you've seen Jesus my Lord
Have you seen Jesus my Lord
He's here in plain view
Take a look open your eyes
He'll show it to you
Have you ever looked at the cross
With a man hanging in pain
And the look of love in his eyes
Then I say you've seen Jesus my Lord
Jesus Is My
Song
Words and Music by John Fischer
(Move over James Taylor.)
Jesus is
my song
And I'll sing it all day long
The music lasts forever
And the words
Forever on
A song that from the start
Gets new in every part
I cannot forget it
It's written on my heart
When He comes again
All nature will know when
The mountains will sing
And the trees of the field
Will clap their hands
Jesus is my song
And I'll sing it all day long
The music lasts forever
And the words
Forever on
Way of All
Flesh
Words and Music by John Fischer
Way of
all flesh
Way of all flesh
On your own
You'll always end up goin'
Way of all flesh
There is a way that seems right to man
But the end thereof leads to destruction
Way of all flesh
Way of all flesh
On your own
You'll always end up goin'
Way of all flesh
All of us wander just like sheep
Leading everyone astray
Way of all flesh
Way of all flesh
On your own
You'll always end up goin'
Way of all flesh
People try to love and be kind
But it's just the blind leading the blind
Way of all flesh
Way of all flesh
On your own
You'll always end up goin'
Way of all flesh
Jesus In Me
Words and Music by John Fischer
(These were actually two songs combined together. It was
Clark's idea. I wasn't sure I liked it then, but I do
now.)
I go
along without light
No direction in sight
Life goes on round and round
And there's nothing that I've found
I don't know
I don't know
I just go
Swirling around
Crashing back down
Surf covers rock with a rumbling sound
Free as the sea
Jesus in me
His love power in my body
I need a person
Someone who's real
One who cares how I feel
One who sees what's really me
And ignores what I might be
Wonder who
Wonder who
Is it you
It had to be
Jesus in me
Just the way that He meant it to be
Only to see
Jesus in me
His own likeness in my body
Jesus in me
Jesus in me
Jesus in me
Jesus in me
The Word
(Download for the piano introduction. Larry Knechtel was
also the keyboard artist on a rather famous song of the
day. Anyone who guessed "Bridge Over Troubled
Waters" by Simon & Garfunkel is right.)
Who can
you trust when all turns to dust
And dreams of men lie battered and crushed
How can you say this--this is the way
When the founders of wisdom lie in coffins of clay
Where is the truth that will stand
The test
The test of time
Flowers will fade and fall away
But the word of God is here to stay
Man shall not live by bread alone
But by every word from the mouth of God
Salvation Song
Words and Music by John Fischer
(Not to be confused with Larry Norman's "Sweet,
Sweet, Song of Salvation.")
Sing a
new song
Song of salvation
Got a new life now
I'm a new creation
See that train boy
Pullin' out of the station.
Get on board now
Sweepin' the nation
People all over are finding it's true
The answer your searching isn't in you
So you better think twice now
'Cause I hate to see you wiping out your life now
You can't rely
On a chemical high
Sing a new song
Song of salvation
Got a new life now
I'm a new creation
See that train boy
Pullin' out of the station.
Get on board now
Sweepin' the nation
Big train's moving dividing the land
Get on board and be part of the plan
But you better get on now
'Cause that train may never pass this way again
It churns away
To the final day
Nothing gets in the way
Sing a new song
Song of salvation
Got a new life now
I'm a new creation
See that train boy
Pullin' out of the station.
Get on board now
Sweepin' the nation
Sons of Cain
Words and Music by John Fischer
Woe to
those who have run in the way of Cain
And abandoned themselves for the sake of gain
These are hidden reefs in your love feasts
Where they carouse for themselves alone
Wild waves of the sea flinging foam in their shame
Wandering stars who have darkness reserved for their name
They promise liberty when they themselves
Are the slaves of depravity
Woe to those who have run in the way of Cain
And abandoned themselves for the sake of gain
Love
Words by Kristina Linder
Music by Bing Stolzenburg and John Fischer
(Truth? I was infatuated. Kristina gave me this poem
after one of my concerts. Bing Stolzenburg, an intern at
Peninsula Bible Church with me at the time, and I put it
to music. Bing plays the piano on this recording.)
Your song
stayed on while others faded in time and distance
Because the sound of truth leaves no room for echoes
It fill every emptiness
Love is like that too
We looked to Jesus and found both
Waiting patiently for us
And joined our hearts together
For the day beyond forever
I never heard you voice
But I knew your song
Light
Words and Music by John Fischer
He came
to his creation
But His own did not receive Him
For our transgressions he was wounded
And bruised for our iniquity
Light
Christ is the light of the world
He that believes in Him shall live
And walk in light
Men love darkness rather than light
Because their lives are shadowed by evil
Light
Christ is the light of the world
He that believes in Him shall live
And walk in light
He who believes comes to the light
Because his trust lies in the Lord
Light
Christ is the light of the world
He that believes in Him shall live
And walk in light
Trust and Obey
Words by John H. Sammis (altered)
Music by Daniel B. Towner (altered)
When we
walk with the Lord in the light of His word
What a glory He sheds upon our way
While we do His good will He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
So we'll trust and obey for there's no other way
To be walking with the Lord today
But to trust and obey and He'll show you the way
With his love to light the night and cool the day
For we never can prove the delights of his love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor He shows and the joy He bestows
Are for those who will trust and obey
So we'll trust and obey for there's no other way
To be walking with the Lord today
But to trust and obey and He'll show you the way
With his love to light the night and cool the day
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet
Or we'll walk by his side in the way
What He says we will do where He sends we will go
Never fear only trust and obey
So we'll trust and obey for there's no other way
To be walking with the Lord today
But to trust and obey and He'll show you the way
With his love to light the night and cool the day
Death Is
Swallowed Up
Words by John Fischer
Music by Saint-Saens
(Bob Smith, pastor at Peninsula Bible Church, was the one
who encouraged me to put lyrics to this classic melody
and turn it into a hymn.)
Now has
Jesus Christ been raised from death
The first fruits of those who are asleep
As in Adam all mankind is dead
So in Christ shall all be made alive
Now behold I tell a mystery
We shall not all sleep we shall be changed
We shall put on immortality
Death is swallowed up in victory
Here O grave where is your victory
and you wretched death where is you sting
Christ is resurrection and the life
He who trusts in him shall never die
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