NOTES:
To this day, I still don't know how
it happened. I got a phone call from this
catholic recording company. They'd heard I was
writing contemporary religious music and would I
send them a tape. I went on to record these songs
in Chicago immediately upon graduating from
Wheaton College in June, 1969. The Catholics were
eager to fill a demand for contemporary music
that was coming from the growing popularity of
folk masses around the country--a kind of
precursor to the Jesus movement. The producer and
musicians on this album were all from the Old
Towne School of Folk Music in Chicago. With this
release in the fall of '69, I think I beat Larry
Norman's "Upon This Rock" by about
three months. On some lists, this is the first
American contemporary Christian album. Jonathan
and Charles beat us all in England. |
The Cold
Cathedral
Words and Music by John Fischer
(Similarities in subject matter to Noel Stookey's
"Hymn" is only coincidental. We were all
feeling the irrelevance of the church then.)
Sunday morning early noon
I wandered in a chilly room and sat
Unnoticed
There were lonely people there
Who listened to a man who didn't care
Or show it
He just talked about nothing
I could not understand
I stood up and I cried
Listen to me
Don't you see
You're not speaking
Openly
I need someone who will help
Set me free
They just sat and stared ahead
At colored glass while someone read some words
Corroded.
And the rusty organ pipes
Began to moan some melody of woe
Outmoded.
They did not even hear me
No one cared for my cry.
Please don't leave me alone
Leave me to die
Where are you
I must know
For if you cannot help me
Tell me where will I go
I went back another day
When faces gray had gone away and all
Was silent.
And the cold and stony walls
Echoed back my footsteps in the halls
Of ferment.
So confused and distorted
By the minds of men
I looked up and I cried
Help me someone
Where are you
Do you mean it
Do you care
Can you help me
And are you really there
Sunday morning early noon,
I wandered in a chilly room and sat
Unnoticed
There were lonely people there...
The Road of
Life
Words and Music by John Fischer
(My very first song of faith.)
Walking on down the road called the road of life
Walking down the road of life leading to my death
Well it just doesn't make any sense
I'm living just to die
And it really doesn't matter at all
If I'm happy or if I cry.
Someone help me if you can I'm lost
Don't where to go
Don't what to do
Don't know why I'm here
Walking down the road of life heard about a man
Claimed to be the Son of God claimed to be a man
Well He said He loved me so much
He died so I could live
And He still is loving me now
And wants me to be His
Is it possibly true
Could it be the way
Is it what I need
Will it give me life
Will it set me free
Walking down the road of life took Him at His word
Told Him I believed in Him then I knew He heard
'Cause He gave me a reason for life
A life just living with Him
And He gave me all of His love
And promised to help me on
While I'm walking down the road of life
He lifts me when I fall
Hears me when I call
Keeps me in the road
In the road of life
See The Lilies
Words and Music by John Fischer
The only flowers I have seen
Come into bloom when grass is green
With simple beauty they defy
The greatest effort man can try
To those who say "How hard life is"
See the lilies of the field.
They never toil neither spin
Yet their beauty cannot be concealed
The only bird I've ever known
Is one that flies when it's full-grown
Soars over mountain tree or lane
With greater ease than any plane
To those who say "God does not care"
See the sparrow as he flies
He cares when one falls to the ground
How much more he cares for you and me
The only children I have known
Are ones that love and trust their home
With faith they cling to father's knee
And know he'd never let them be
To those who say "I can't believe"
See the children as they cling
Except you be as one of these
You cannot hear the heavens ring
And so you see the secret lies
Not in position or disguise
The simple flower bird and child
Are the honest and the mild
Born to Die
Words and Music by John Fischer
(Inspired by that now famous Hook's portrait of Christ
that made him appear
rugged and manly.)
Dark clouds hide the sunlit sky
In he barn a baby cries
Does He know He's born to die
Rest now while Your trials are few
Only Your Father knows why
He was not a mighty king
He could make a hammer ring
Touch a heart and make it sing
His hands were the hands of strength
Hands that would pull men free
Bright sun tanned His weathered face
Dusty were the roads He traced
Spreading news of love and grace
Binding the broken heart
Soothing the sorrow-torn face
Dark clouds hide the sunlit sky
In the town a baby cries
On a hill a savior dies
Dies of His own free will
He can tell you why
Open Up
Words and Music by John Fischer
Some people tell you "Never let go
Always have complete control now
Watch your manners tuck in your shirt
Don't break any rules
Toe the line and never lose your cool
Keep your guard up
Paste your face on
Make a good impression
Got to pass inspection now"
I just let them say what they say
They won't change their minds and anyway
I can't keep myself in a box
Got to let my hair down
Sit back loose take off my shoes and socks
Nothing is worth it nothing is real
If it can't be natural
I see no point in acting a part
When the script is written
By someone who doesn't know my heart
I got something
Really something
Deep down inside me
Someone who knows me yeah
I don't have to put on a show
I just have a single audience
And He sees through all that I do
So there's no use hiding
Open up and let it all come through
Take your shoes off loosen your tie
Let your business lay where it lie
Don't think you've got somebody to fool
If you really do
You'll find out the fool you fool is you
Got To Shout
About It
Words by John Fischer
Music by Richard Murphy
(Dick was my college roommate. We did really good covers
of sixties songs. He still has a reel to reel tape of
what seems like an hour long medley. We called it our
garbage tape because we recorded it in the basement of
our dormitory and every once in a while you can hear
trash coming down the chute.)
Got to
shout about it
Can't stop singing 'bout my God so real
Got to move around
It's plain unnatural to just sit still
'Cause he filled all of my life
With His love and grace
Look it's written here on my face
Can't you hear Him knocking
Open up your mind let Him come through
You're the only obstacle
Believe me now it's up to you
'Cause you can't do it alone
You always lose
Either Him or you
You've got to choose
Some just play around it
Talk as if they love when they really hate
You can't fool around with life
Another day may be too late
Either in all of the way
Or not in at all
There just are no seats
On the wall
Shout it
Wild about it
Got to tell the world about His love
Praise it
Elevate it
Push it out to those He's thinking of
This old world never will find
Any peace of mind
Till each person knows
God's love is kind
Alleluia
Words and Music by John Fischer
Alleluia
Christ the Lord is risen today
Alleluia
Man can live because of Easter day
If you don't know about the man
Whom I'm singing of
Some folks call Him Son of God
Others call Him "love"
He lived two thousand years ago
Now He's living here within my heart
Alleluia
Christ the Lord is risen today
Alleluia!
Man can live because of Easter day.
Christ, the man of whom I sing,
Was more than only man.
He was really God himself;
And He had a plan.
He died to tale my guilt away;
Rose again to be with me today
Alleluia
Christ the Lord is risen today
Alleluia
Man can live because of Easter day
Now I have a friend with me
Love is in my heart
Live has been reality
Since the very start
The start when He became the king
Ruler, Lord and leader of my life
Alleluia
Christ the Lord is risen today
Alleluia
Man can live because of Easter day
Lamentations
Words and Music by John Fischer
(Inspired by Francis Schaeffer speaking at Wheaton
College on "Death in the City" about the post
Christian era.)
How
solitary sits the lonely city
Once, once full full of people
How like a widow she has now become
Once, once a great nation
She weeps bitterly in the night
Tears are constantly her cheeks
Among her loves there is no one to comfort
All of her friends have become her enemies
O Lord remember what has come upon us
Look down on our nation
The crown has fallen from a top our head
Woe for we have sinned
Why forget us Lord forever
Why forsake us so long
Turn us to you
And we shall be restored and renewed as of old
Or have you rejected us
Look All Around
You
Words and Music by John Fischer
(This is about as close as I can get to a personal
mission statement though I did not know it at the time.
For more comment on these lyrics see my book: Making Real
What I Already Believe page 152.)
Look all
around you and see what is real
Hear what is true and be sure what you feel
Touch someone near you in love if you can
Give all you have and be part of God's plan
Life is always shallow when you fail to see
That living for yourself will never make you free
Look all around you and see what is real
Hear what is true and be sure what you feel
Touch someone near you in love if you can
Give all you have and be part of God's plan
You may live a lifetime doomed to hate and fear
Because you could not see beyond your selfish tears
Look all around you and see what is real
Hear what is true and be sure what you feel
Touch someone near you in love if you can
Give all you have and be part of God's plan
Life can be so meaningful when you finally see
That only in his love will you be really free
Look all around you and see what is real
Hear what is true and be sure what you feel
Touch someone near you in love if you can
Give all you have and be part of God's plan
Hard Feeling To
Explain
Words and Music by John Fischer
(Okay. I cannot lie. This was originally written about a
college girlfriend.)
Hard
feeling to explain
Love never seems the same
Each day brings new feelings
My life is full since God came
Some think that love's not real
They just don't what I feel
Love sees through my weakness
There is no need to conceal
Love sees through right and wrong
Defining weak and strong
The one thing remaining
When all else is gone
No Vacancy
Words and Music by John Fischer
(Bill Gwinn, then Director of Mount Hermon Conference
Center, gave me the idea for this song in the summer of
1967.)
One
virgin girl with a babe in her womb
with one sturdy man and a donkey for to roam
The innkeeper turned them out
"I can't take you
I can't take you"
So in a barn dirty straw for a bed
He was born
Holy Child
'Cause there was no vacancy
One pious man in the marketplace stood
And prayed with himself so that all might know his good
While on his knees, a lone man cried
"Have mercy
Lord have mercy"
This man went home with a full heart of live
And the first went on cold cause he had no vacancy
God must have room or he will not come near
To the heart where a place has never been made clear
Many things can fill that place
Don't let them
Don't let them
Open your heart hang a sign on the door
Let it read evermore
"There is room for you my Lord"
The Lord's
Prayer
Words and Music by John Fischer
Holy
Father hear our prayer
Keep us always in Your care
May Your kingdom come to us
And my we learn how to trust
Do Your will among us now
As we here before You bow
Give to us but what we need
As upon Your word we feed
Keep us from the things that do You wrong
When we're weak because we think we're strong
Save us from our selfish desire
Fill us and with your love inspire
Honor greatness belong to you
Love and peace and mercy too
Praise to you again and again
Amen
 Back
|
