…heh, just kidding.
That's me...lead singer of now defunct Blind Men See...performing at Murray Hill Theater back in the day
But one of my BIG musical influences is hip hop. Not the watered-down, monotonous drivel that has crept into the mainstream these days, but more of the underground, old school stuff. Ya know, kind of the Dirty South stuff before it became public enough to package it up, slap a label on it and make billions of dollars off of it.
As part of challenging myself (and others) to continue to write. I’d like to issue a challenge to you!
Write a song!
For the month of February I’d like to encourage you to write a song based on Psalm 31. Feel free to use your translation of choice, but it’s a great idea to look at the passage you choose in several different translations to get different wording for the same concept!
Today IS a great day! We’re through our first service here at SSCC. Looking forward to our second gathering and our night of worship tonight!
I had the great privilege of leading a song I wrote this morning. Psalm 63. I think it’s going over well. I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback on this one from other avenues and I think it’s going to be a good one for congregational worship! Love when that happens.
So I’m still behind on my goal to write 50 songs this year, but I’m still writing!
This is a song with lyrics based on Psalm 147.
I could definitely hear a big group of people singing, not necessarily a choir, but just a big group of friends hanging out and singing some worship to God. The chorus especially.
It’s kind of a come and join me as WE sing kind of a song. I hope it feels inviting to you. My goal was to write a song that people could sing individually that drew people in to sing along with them. Part of that relies on a good hook (which this may or may not be) but I think the other part might be conveyed in lyrics that invite people to sing along. Literally.
I played/recorded this scratch version in Drop C (Capo 1). So you’re actually hearing the key of C# (not D). I could probably crank it out in D if I wanted to, but I had kind of felt like taking the chorus up an octave with a full band arrangement eventually and D would require power vocals. However, I didn’t get to arranging it for full band so the skeleton of the song remained in Drop C (Capo 1).
I’d also love to replace my voice with a lovely ladies voice on the last choruses. My falsetto is ok, but would be perfect for an alto.
It Is Good (Psalm 147)
2009 Russ Hutto
Intro: Bm9 G Bm Bbmaj7
Bm9
Great is the Lord our God
Bbmaj7
There is none like Him
Bm
He knows the number of stars
Bbmaj7 G
For he has named them
(repeat)
Em G D
Oh, come and sing with me to the Lord
Em G D
We’ll sing our melodies to the Lord
A G
From our hearts, from our hearts
D G
It is good to sing our praise to the Lord
Oh it is good
Bm G
It is good to sing our praise to the Lord
Oh it is good
Bm Bbmaj7
Bm
Awesome in power and might
Bbmaj7
No one can fathom
Bm
He hangs the clouds in the sky
Bbmaj7 G
For he has made them
(prechorus)
As we enter into the Advent/Christmas season I wanted to write a simple song about Jesus entering the world as THE GREAT LIGHT that has overcome darkness.
This might not be the most singable song, the range jumps from medium to pretty high, but I think it could be adapted to a multiple singer setting. Maybe having guys lead out on the verses and then the ladies taking the verse (especially if you play this in a higher key).
Listen here: http://twt.fm/345300
He Is Light (Key A)
2009 Russ Hutto
Em A
Today a Great Light has dawned shining brilliantly
Em A
Through the darkness in the land
Em C
The shadows no longer hold us captive
D E7
A new day has dawned, Jesus has come
A
He is light
Em
He is love
G
He is light
C D
He is love, love, love
A
He is light
Em A
To show His great love for us, God gave His only Son
Em A
To light the way for all mankind
Em C
The darkness no more, will hold us captive
D E7
The light is shining, Jesus has come
A
Jesus is light, light light,
Em
No darkness in Him
G
For God has sent Him,
C D
To show His love for us
