Writing out of pain...

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Permalink Reply by Michael Blue on February 6, 2009 at 5:19am

I faintly recall hearing something about that before, but hearing it with the words posted immediately after puts this "sacrifice of praise" in crystal contrast to what we sometimes do in our own lives.

Wow...Just, wow.

~M

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Permalink Reply by Lara Marriott on February 6, 2009 at 6:12am

Ya know Elman, I don't think I have come close to the grief that was felt by Horratio, but I have written a few songs out of deep emotional experiences. One such song is called, "Being A Mom." It is one of my favorites because it is hitting home for me right now. lol. Even if it never goes anywhere, it has given me something to express myself. I'll share the lyrics with you guys when I get back to my own computer.

It was really nice of you to include the lyrics of "It Is Well With My Soul." Good post. Have you written any?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Blue on February 6, 2009 at 6:20am

Check out "Six Years Old"

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7044214

~M

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Permalink Reply by WAITING FOR DAYBREAK on February 6, 2009 at 5:46pm

Great topic, thanks for posting this, Elman!

While I have not experienced anything even remotely comparable to Spafford, my first CD had quite a few songs written out of personal pain. My past was pretty bad, and I had to live with the consequences of my decisions, so a lot of the lyrics reflected the pain of regret, but also the hope of God's goodness and mercy. Here's a couple of examples:

Abandon

Here I am, willing to hear your voice now
Here I stand, weary but knowing you are there
Here I lay, calling your name in the darkness
Hear me pray, unworthy but for your love for me

I'll follow your voice and abandon
My foolish ways that I turn from
I'll follow your words into heaven
Walk with me, Lord, as I abandon

Feet of Clay

Lord, what am I to do?
Once again I fell without you
As I tried to do without you
My king, my everlasting light
Illuminate this road I'm walking through the night

I bring these feet of clay
I bring this soul you saved
I bring this song of praise to you, my savior
This is the way I choose
I give my life to you
There is no turning back, with you I'm walking now

I've uploaded "Abandon" so you can give it a spin if you'd like to. Anybody else? Any lyrics you'd like to share?

:)

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Permalink Reply by Lil on February 7, 2009 at 3:05pm

I lost three family members in the period of a less then a year-

Myniece who was my sister's only child. my older sister ( the one who just lost her only child) and my mother- all within such a short time. The glorious part is that God is a comforter and he truly works all things together for the good.

I had written a song and will put it up on my page as soon as I can.

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Permalink Reply by James Roberson on October 20, 2009 at 2:18pm

I have been through a broken marriage and divorce, remarried (I now have 10 kids who call me Dad though most are grown now), my wife has survived many traumas including the suicide of her late husband, cervical cancer, having to give up a child when 17 who she has not seen since and a nearly fatal rape. And, yet we see how God has sustained us through all the years and we are blessed. Still, in retrospect I have found that some of the many songs I have been given by God are introspective and reflect the consequences of bad decisions. But even in those lyrics, which may seem negative at the onset, if one listens closely one can hear the hope that is in them. Like David, or Moses or even Chirst Himself, we all cry out to God who never turns a deaf ear. So, it is a lesson learned that He never leaves or forsakes us. But, in the human sense I have felt at times like these following song lyrics:

Mistakes (Don't Bring Me Down)

Mistakes in this life, I have had my share
But it's too late to take them back, now I see them everywhere
Here I go making bad choices once again
Seems like I will bring me down in the end

Don't bring me down, don't 'em bring me down
Don't bring me down, Lord don't let 'em bring me down

I have cried thought I died, when I tried to be
The kind of man whose insides were turned out for all to see
Then I found, then I found that I was standing on sinking sand
Grief and pain, now they have become my best friends

Don't bring me down, won't let 'em bring me down
Won't let 'em bring me down, Lord don't let 'em bring me down

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Permalink Reply by Al Hilgendorf on February 7, 2009 at 11:22pm

About a year ago a family in our church lost their 16 year old son in an auto accident. We also had found out that a dear member of our worship team who had been diagnosed with ALS was finally stepping down because he just couldn't play anymore. Even though the circumstances were devastating, I feel like this is probably the best thing I've ever written:

Lifted High

When the clouds obscure the light of faith
When the darkness sweeps the sky
When the world and all its glories fall
May Your name be lifted high

May Your name be lifted high
May Your name be lifted high
When the world and all its glories fall
May Your name be lifted high

When we seek to find the streams of truth
But the land is parched and dry
When the valley of the shadow calls
May Your name be lifted high

May Your name be lifted high
May Your name be lifted high
When the valley of the shadow calls
May Your name be lifted high

And when death extends its mortal hand
And we're left to wonder why
When heaven seems so far away
May Your name be lifted high

May Your name be lifted high
May Your name be lifted high
When heaven seems so far away
May Your name be lifted high

Unfortunately I don't have it recorded yet.

al
www.everydaypraise.com

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Permalink Reply by Elman Authement on February 9, 2009 at 4:48am

Great lyrics Al. Hey Michael, who is Jesamyn? Beautiful song. _______I guess my next thought is, were you able to write in the pain, or did a healing have to begin in your life before you could write? From Petri songs, it seems like God had already done a great work in the healing process and then he wrote. I know I went through a tough trial of hurt and pain and for six months, I didn't write anything. Little by little, the messages I heard through different people on TV, podcasts, etc. brought the healing. One night or I should say at 1:30 in the morning I awoke, tormented in my mind from the hurts that were done, fighting to forgive, I stumbled upon a seven minute message on Youtube that set me free. The message was about Ps. 84, passing through the valley of weeping, the make a well there. Out of that I started writing and penned the first words to "Strength to Strength".
I look to the mountain, the rain it is falling
Flowing to valleys of pain in my heart
Afflictions and hurts are eclipsing Your love for me
And I can't see past what has torn me apart

But in your presence I will dwell, In the valley of weeping (Ps. 84)
I will build a well

I wrote the chorus and bounced it off of my buddy John Green who gave me some ideas
and pretty much changed the whole chorus I had originaly written. The song is posted on my page.
The thing for me in this situation, the hurt was so deep, I had almost given up on ministry until a simple message of only 7 minutes long was able to change my perspective. Oh, the message was from Bill Johnson, Pastor for Jesus Culture band.

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Permalink Reply by Elman Authement on February 9, 2009 at 4:50am

Another thought I had was Bart Millard wrote "Homesick" out of a couple of deaths that were close in the family.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Blue on February 9, 2009 at 6:25pm

Jess is a local artist, and this is a song from the CD I'm currently producing for her. She wrote it years after, but I would guess there was a lot of healing, but still a lot of pain in its writing. Heck, I was in tears at the console when we recorded the lyrics!
~M

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Permalink Reply by Lara Marriott on February 17, 2009 at 5:45am

Thanks for sharing your story behind "Strength to Strength." I like that song.

I get a welding up of emotion. I can't and don't want to talk to anyone during that time. Usually when I feel that way I am compelled to write. I have written a few songs that way. It helped me get my emotions and thoughts out. Once when a friend of mine got in a car accident and became paralyzed. He was a professional singer/songwriter, but could no longer sing or write. I didn't know how to express myself except through a song I wrote called, "Angel Shine." Another song I wrote was "Sweet Little Boy," describing a 5 year old boy from our church who was diagnosed with bone cancer.

Sometimes I wonder if us songwriters go through painful situations so that we can be relatable and write from the depths of our hearts on topics that others are dealing with. Do you agree?

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Permalink Reply by Michael Blue on February 17, 2009 at 2:08pm

"Sometimes I wonder if us songwriters go through painful situations so that we can be relatable and write from the depths of our hearts on topics that others are dealing with. Do you agree?"

Well...All things work for the good of those who love the Lord, but God does not send us trouble. As we face life's challenges, bad circumstances brought on by our own actions, or actual attacks of the enemy; we are able to learn and grow, and yes - to be able to empathize, relate and minister to those we meet who are facing the same challenges we've already overcome.

But these challenges are not sent by God. I've seen people even praise God that they have cancer, etc, because it's just a test and they know He'll see them through it, etc. This breaks my heart...God does not want us to suffer and to face obstacles in our lives; He only wants what is good for us.

~M

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