RussHutto.com

This post marks 500! yay! Happy 500 post day!

I haven’t been blogging here regularly as I keep a consistent writing schedule going on The Worship Community and over on my health and fitness blogs. RH.com has kind of taken a back seat. But I try to share about the times I lead worship or when I participate in some musical event and such.

I am excited about a great new opportunity that will unveil itself in the very near future! Keep your eyes and ears open for some neat musical things coming from this part of the world!

In 2011, I’d like to write 50 songs. I attempted that feat back in 09 and made it to about 30. Great accomplishment back then, but I’m going to knock it out of the park this time. That’s 2 songs a week. Who’s with me?

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 by russhutto

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)

PDF Chart

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

This is my second song today. And third for the week. I might try and keep this up!

As always if you like any of my tunes and would like to share them with your church or small group please feel free to. Just let me know if they go over well (or if they bomb)!

I really decided to write a VERY simple song of worship. I’ve been kind of moving through the Psalms this week and I’ve always loved the ACTION of verse 6. The whole come let us bow down notion. I love it!

The challenge of this was to write an “action” song without singing “Come let us bow down.” Nothing wrong with that phrasing but I wanted it to feel more personal. Like a small group of Believers could get together and feel comfortable actually bowing in worship. Not to each other of course. But to GOD! Or even an individual could sing it as well. I don’t know.

I’m not sold on the La la’s. I could work up a really meaty, face melting power build bridge. But somehow I just felt like maybe even leaving breathing room for an instrumental solo in there (where the la’s are) could be very powerful as well.

Listen Here: http://twt.fm/338284

Down, Down, Down Key of D (capo 3)
2009 Russ Hutto

D/F#                  G
Here we come again
Asus               D
The children of Your heart
D/F#                      G
Bringing songs of praise
Asus                  C2         D
And a heart filled with thankfulness (on the recording I say thanksgiving, but I think I like thankfulness better)

Am                  Em
And this one way we bring our praise
C                            D
We bend our knees and kneel
Am                       Em
We bow down, we worship now,
C             G/B   Gm/Bb
To show our love is real

D
We bow down, down, down
C2
Down, down, down
G/B
We bow down, down, down
D
We bow down

D/F#              G
Here we are again
Asus                 D
The people of Your voice
D/F#                    G
Gathered here to sing
Asus                 C2          D
Joyful songs of praise to You

Am                  Em
And this one way we bring our praise
C                            D
We bend our knees and kneel
Am                       Em
We bow down, we worship now,
C             G/B   Gm/Bb
To show our love is real

Am
La, la, la, la
Em
La, la, la, la
D
La

Other Songs I’ve written or arranged (previously written by me) for worship this year:
Psalm 93 (The Lord Reigns)
Glory (Psalm 29)
Psalm 63
Redeemer

Wow two songs in one week! Look out Mandy Thompson!

This is a song right out of Psalm 93 and has some Matthew 8 and 14 references as well. I love the references to the mighty oceans (floods) and crashing waves in Psalm 93. The gist of the Psalm is that God is mightier than even the oceans and that He is eternal. I thought that went hand in hand with Jesus (God with us) walking on the waves (Matthew 14) and also calming the storm (Matthew 8).

The challenge of writing a “The Lord Reigns” song is that it is such a familiar phrase with several popular songs already using the phrase as a hook. I hope this is a fresh take on that phrase for you. I think it’s simple, catchy and singable which is what I strive to write when I write songs for worship.

Listen here: http://twt.fm/337786

Psalm 93 (The Lord Reigns) Key of G (I capo 2 for A)
2009 Russ Hutto

Em           D/F#       G
You have always been
You will always be
You set the world in place
Am7             D/F#
You are God, You are God

Em  D/F#       G
You are the eternal One
You are clothed in strength
You are robed in majesty
Am7             D/F#
You are God, You are God

G     G/D# Em  D    Asus7(add3)
Your Kingdom reigns forever

Cmaj7     G
The Lord Reigns
Cmaj7     G
The Lord Reigns
Em7     D/F#
The Lord Reigns
C         G
The Lord Reigns

Em           D/F#        G
You will quiet the storms
You are Lord of the sea
You have walked on the water
Am7             D/F#
You are God, You are God

Em        D/F#          G
You will silence the wind
You are Lord of the waves
You thunder above them all
Am7               D/F#
You are God, You are God

G     G/D# Em  D    Asus7(add3)
Your Kingdom reigns forever