That’s Alright With Me – Music and Lyrics by Steve Bell
Can I tell you a story of an average boy
A story we all know we well
It’s not a tale of never ending joy
Nor trials beyond what one can tell
My childhood seemed like an eternity
Each morning ruled by education bells
My youth was full of possibilities
But only few have had their fill
My love she works the other side of town
Each day she leaves for work by nine
Her smile is sweeter than an April shower
Her wrath is hotter than July
They say a couple can together be
With age a cup of love refined
Although I love my darlin’ tenderly
This growing old may take some time
My boy is just a babe of one year old
My girl is but a child of four
Both born with eyes of blue and hair of gold
‘spose maybe yet we’ll still have more
They say a father’s love is suffering
This day already I can tell
Although I love my children tenderly
Sometime you know raising kids is hell
Now looking back on what we’ve come to be
With many years to look ahead
Ours has never been a winning lottery
Whoever promised that it would
We’ll cry each time a sorrow comes to mind
We’ll laugh each opportunity
We’ll learn to celebrate what comes to pass
You know that that’s alright with me
How Long – Music and Lyric by Steve Bell
Adapted from Psalm 13
How long
Have You forgotten me oh lord
How long
Hmmm….
Will you hide Your face from me
How long
Look on me
Answer my call
Oh Lord my God
I need some light before I fall
How long
Will I wrestle with my thoughts
How long
Hmmm…
Must I have sorrow in my heart
How long
Look on me
Answer my call
I cry every night
But You don’t seem to hear at all
Yet I’ll trust in Your love
Yes Your unfailing love
And I will sing out my days
That You’ve been good to me
Yes You’ve been good to me
How long
Have You forgotten me oh Lord
How long
Hmmm…
Will You hide Your face from me
How long
How long
Marie - Music and Lyric by Steve Bell
Travelling over time
Keeping the best in mind
There’s a woman I’ve known
And I’ve called her my own for the longest time
The way she could sing a song
And bid me to sing along
With the voice of an angel
And a heart that enabled the best in me
There’s a long road to the place she’s living now
But it still seems as though she’s always been around
Loving me tenderly
How else can a mother be
I will always be her child
‘til there’s no longer a breath in me
It seems just like yesterday
While watching her children play
She put down her book
And she gave me a look I remember still
She said with her hand in mine
Will you be always mine
And will you still love me
Even when I am old and grey
There’s a long road to the place she’s living now
But it still seems as though she’s always been around
Loving me tenderly
How else can a mother be
I will always be her child
There’s no distance in the miles
I will always be her child
‘til there’s no longer a breath in me
Psalm 32 - Music and Lyric by Steve Bell
adapted from Psalm 32
How blessed are those
Whose sins are fully forgiven
How blessed are those
To whom Yahweh harbours no ill
To whom His spirit is known
I said not a word
And my bones they wasted away
From groaning each day and night
Your hand lay heavy upon me
My heart grew thirsty so I…
Made myself known to you
I did not hide
My shameful soul
My darkest side
And You loved me
And held me
And You forgave my sin
That is why each -
One of Your faithful ones prays to you
In times of distress
Though dark rivers overflow
You’ll never loosen Your hold
And I know it’s true
You are a refuge always for me
You guard me with hope
With songs of deliverance
Surrounding me so I…
How blessed are those
Whose sins are fully forgiven
How blessed are those
To whom Yahweh harbours no ill
To whom His spirit is known
I said not a word
And my bones they wasted away
From groaning each day and night
Your hand lay heavy upon me
My heart grew thirsty so I…
Made myself known to you
I did not hide
My shameful soul
My darkest side
And You loved me
And held me
And You forgave my sin
That is why each -
One of Your faithful ones prays to you
In times of distress
Though dark rivers overflow
You’ll never loosen Your hold
And I know it’s true
You are a refuge always for me
You guard me with hope
With songs of deliverance
Surrounding me so I…
Psalm 40 – Music and Lyric by Steve Bell
adapted from Psalm 40
I patiently waited for You
A desolate waiting for You
And You heard my cry oh Lord
You pulled me from miry bog
And You set me upon a rock
And made my steps secure oh Lord
You put a new song in my heart
A new song of praise to my God
Do not Thou oh Lord
Withhold your steadfast love
And mercy from me
Mercy from me
Do not Thou oh Lord
Withhold your steadfast love
Mercy from me
I told the great congregation
The good news of Your salvation
I could not conceal it anymore
Blessed are those who seek You
Trusting Your love they seek You
Always saying great is the Lord
You put a new song in their hearts
An new song of praise to their God
Fresh and Green – Music and Lyric by Steve Bell
adapted from Psalm 92
Fresh and green we will remain
Bearing fruit to a ripe old age
Happy to tell about Your name
A blessed endeavour
The righteous flourish like the palm
And grow like the cedars of Lebanon
Planted in the courts of God
Forever and ever
The senseless person doesn’t know
The wonders of Your glory
And yet their hoppers overflow
But they don’t understand
That folly springs up like the grass
And spreads throughout these vast lands
But harvesting will come to pass
When everything is shown
Everything will be exposed
It is so good to sing of You
At the first sight of the morning
And at night Your faithfulness review
Before I close my eyes
And sometimes in the dimming light
I stumble on Your glory
That overwhelming sudden fright
But not the daunting kind
It’s so hard to describe
Lauds - Music by Steve Bell
Lyrics adapted from Venite, A Book of Daily Prayer by Robert Benson
Drive far from us all wrong desires
Incline our hearts to keep your ways
Grant that having cheerfully done your will this day
We may when night comes
Rejoice and give you thanks
Through the one who lives and reigns with you forever
And the spirit of the great unsounded deep
In the tenderest compassion
The morning star has risen
To shine upon the darkness
To light a path to peace