Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Way
It’s not gonna come any clearer than this.
I’m just stalling the obvious and living oblivious,
Killing the minutes and hoping for more.
They tell me I’m “new and improved”,
But the old just got easier, patterns and vices
Can cover the rust.
So, I guess I’m on the right road facing north
Toward the border,
I’ve yet to take the first step,
Still gotta shake off the dust.
I just detest all the battling, bribery, and talk,
All my junk that I try to take with me.
It’s my excuse for the traffic behind me for miles.
It buys me some time, but their patience wears thin.
Chorus:
I’m not alone in this I know------------
The old and new will battle on.----
My hope is You, for You I’ll go-------
The old grow weak the new grow strong.
I’m just beginning to see what I’m capable of,
A darkness that rattles my core.
But there’s a light in the distance that brings
Warmth to my chill
And I can only hope to draw closer still.
This cold rain could be the end of me,
Each drop reminds me how I came to this place
But it’s raw it’s real
And it’s soaking me through,
As it washes the layers of dirt off my face
All this darkness, this rain
Just bring greater resolve…
To press on, to press in
Toward the refuge you’ve promised.
Awaiting my arrival, just beyond the next hill
I hear your still small voice
Carried on the wind.
Bridge
How many times will I find myself lost on the way?
Stay near me my LORD and my God, by night and by day.
©2004 Original Records
Lyrics by Matthew Hanlon
Music by Matt Swain
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Aleluya
Today has been a day
Where everything seems to go my way
The things I've touched have turned to gold
The things I've read have stirred my soul
The things I've said have made friends laugh
The things I've heard have made me whole
Chorus:
And I'll Sing
I'll sing my song
I'm gonna sing it all day long
Alleluyah
Today had been a day
Where nothing seems to go my way
The things I've touched have broken down
The things I've read have made me frown
The things I've said have made friends cry
The things I've heard have let me down
Today has not yet begun
I'm waiting for the rising sun
Some days are bad, some days are good
But no matter what I'll still sing this tune
Cause no eye has seen, no ear has heard
No mind has conceived what he has in store
Lyrics and Music by Matthew Swain
©2005 Original Records
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Sunshine, Moonlight
I can’t imagine a picture that I’d rather draw
Than a picture of you.
I can’t imagine a song I’d rather sing
Than a song that I’m singing to you
I can’t imagine a dance I’d rather dance
Than a slow dance I’m dancing with you.
Chorus:
You’re my honey
You’re my baby
You’re my sunshine on a lazy afternoon
You’re my lover
You’re my best friend
You’re my moonlight on a quiet summer night
I can’t imagine a life I’d rather live
Than the life that I’m living with you
I can’t imagine a dream I’d rather have
Than a dream that I’m dreaming with you
I can’t imagine a gift I’d rather give
Than a gift that I’m giving to you
I can’t imagine a heart I’d rather please
Than the heart of my wonderful lady
I can’t imagine a distance that I would not cross
Just to be with my beautiful baby
I can’t imagine a journey that I’d rather take
Than this adventure that I’m on with you
Lyrics and Music by Matthew Swain
Monday, December 05, 2005
Shade of Blue (Proverbs 8:30-35)
Every detail, every nuance; every shade of every color; all the blending harmonies are calling to my spirit. They all reflect a truer image of who You really are.
You were the craftsman at His side, filled with delight day after day. Rejoicing in His beauty, rejoicing in the world and delighting in me. I want to listen, I want to watch for You daily at Your door. Because I’ve found You, found Your favor and I don’t want to overlook You anymore
Lyrics by Matthew J. Hanlon
Meditations
To my heart where I’ll find it’s not
Mine that I see, but Yours within me.
I want to walk with You Jesus
In the cool of the day.
I want to hear Your Spirit
Whisper on the wind.
I want to sit by Your fire,
Feel the warmth of you eyes.
I want to know you deeper,
Like the bird knows the skies.
Creator of all things
Lover of my soul
Graceful and forgiving
With mercies yet untold.
Let my worship rest on You
As the grass in morning dew.
May the meditations of this heart
Be pleasing unto You.
Lyrics by Matthew Hanlon
©2005 Original Records
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Eclipse
harsh light
half light
crescents revealed in the shadows
created out of darkness
woke up this morning
harsh life
half life
secrets revealed in the shadows
created out of darkness
can this be enough for life
this light has been overcome
eclipse
this light has been overcome
darkness
this light has been overcome
eclipse
there must be a way, I know there’s a way
woke up this morning
missing the light
something is off
crescents dancing in the shadows
woke up this morning
missing our life
something is off
secrets dancing in the shadows
we take the light for granted
we take our life for granted
till how we knew it
is gone.
Eclipse.
Lyrics by Lori Swain
©2005 Original Records
I wrote these lyrics about six weeks ago when there was an eclipse here in Spain. I didn't know there was an eclipse when I woke up, but I definitely noticed that things were off. There were too many shadows across our back porch, and there was this harsh brash look to everything outside. I took a walk and wondered how the ecology of our planet would be affected if this reduced amount was the normal amount of light we received from the sun. Which things would die off and which would be OK? What would the plants look like? Would it be enough light for life?
When I was walking through a park I remembered something from Mr. Grossenbacher's 11th grade physics class - that the leaves on trees act like pinhole cameras and project the image of the sun on the ground. Normally it's a bunch of circles, but during an eclipse there are millions of crescent shapes dancing all over the ground. It's magnificent. Walking around that morning, in such an odd light that made everything look and feel edgier made me start thinking about what a great metaphor an eclipse is for those moments that forever alter your life. There's this new light, this new filter through which you view everything. You want to go back but you can't and you wonder if there's even enough light going around to survive.
--Lori
Monday, August 29, 2005
Heroes Fall
I believe in You, Jesus.
I give myself to you.
I can trust none other
‘cause wise men fail,
strong men faint &
heroes fall,
but You my God, You
are faithful.
My eyes are blind,
My heart is cold,
My feet are lame.
But You see me,
You warm me,
You heal me.
‘cause wise men fail,
strong men faint &
heroes fall,
but You my God, You
are faithful.
I want only to be with You.
To the mountaintops or dry
Places, take me to the deepest depths.
I’ll follow as long as I can lean
On You
Jesus, to give myself back to this
World.
I have trusted what I’ve seen,
‘cause wise men speak, strong men
lead & heroes save,
and even so my God, You are faithful
©2005 Original Records
Lyrics By Matthew Hamlon
Turn
I turn my eyes upon You Jesus,
To look full in your wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of your glory and grace.
And while I’m here with you
Jesus there’re some things I’d like to say…
Nothing too profound, but I have to say it anyway.
Thank you, thank you for calling me
To follow you.
Thank you, thank you for teaching me to die.
Thank you, thank you for your grace
That covers me.
‘Cause I’m the apple of your eye.
©2004 Original Records
Lyrics By Matthew Hamlon
Music by Matthew Swain and Matthew Hanlon
One Lone Sheep
And though in part my desire may be wrong, my heart aches to sing to You
Sometimes I lose myself just so You will come and look for me. I know it’s desperate and misguided and a selfish way to be……but still You come.
Chorus:
And I hear You say “Son, deny yourself, take up your
Cross and follow me. Lose your life, take my hand and
You’ll be free.”
“Son, Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow
me. Lose your life, take my hand and you’ll be free.
And we could go on like this; You and me, the blend of my heart with Yours.
Your thoughts so high, my wounds so deep. To be stuck on the hilltop, just one lone
And follow me. Lose your life, take my hand and
“Son, Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow
me. Lose your life, take my hand and you’ll be free.
©2005 Original Records
Lyrics by Matt Hanlon
Music by Matt Swain
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Give it All
Jesus you deserve more,
Than I could ever give
Still I find I live
Outside my calling
To give it all
Jesus you deserve more,
Than I could ever give
Still I find I live
Outside my calling
To give it all
Chorus:
And I know that you know that I know
That I could never pay you back
And you know that I know that you know
To try would only prove the fact…
But it’s not about that.
Verse 2
Not from my sense of duty
But from my deepening love of you
My deepening love of you
You want more from me
Not some fake chore
It’s just that there’s so much more
That you want to show me. Show me
Things to be taught
‘Cause I can’t find my life that you bought
And if I could just let it sink in
That you paid the great cost
Died for my sin
Maybe then I could give it all
‘Cause I know that you gave it all
Lori and I spent a week visiting our dear friends Matt and Anita Hanlon in Crewe, Virginia this summer. It was our first time seeing them since they left Spain and returned to the states. I had some music without words and Matt Hanlon had some words without music. We married them together and this song was born. I catch myself walking around the house singing the chorus because it is so catchy. We made a rough recording of it. Maybe we'll come and play it at a coffee house near you. :)
©2004 Original Records
Lyrics by Matt Hanlon
Music by Matt Swain
Monday, March 21, 2005
Spring Rain
and dissolve the words that left my mouth
I would love to watch them melt into the sidewalk
and flow into the sewer, never to be seen again.
Spring Rain come
Wash the filth of a cold winter away
Spring Rain come
Cause new life to bud and sprout in me
I wish the wind would blow away this morning
And drag my words to the farthest corners of the earth
I would love to watch the float away into the sky
dissappear behind the clouds, never to be seen again
but there they are
etched in stone
repelling... (to be continued)
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Why We're Here
We proclaim the year of the LORD's favor in this place
We ask the spirit of the LORD to fall on us
Chorus:
This is why we're here
This is what we pray
LORD, please help us
As we're living day to day
This is why we're here
This is what we pray
LORD, please help us
See you will done in this place
Verse 2:
Good new for the poor, binding up the broken hearted
Freedom for the captives, set the prisoners free
Verse 3:
Comfort to the mourners, let praise replace despair
Rebuild the ancient ruins, Be priests of the living God
2nd Chorus:
Our Father in heaven
Hallowed be your name
Your will be done on earth
As it is in heaven
I have been playing around with the words and music to "proclamation". I like this better overall.
©2004 Original Records
Lyrics and Music by Matthew Swain
Monday, September 27, 2004
My Song
Call from deep within
The sound of that ancient lullaby
That had been scattered to the wind.
Lost to me for many years
But for solitary notes
I drank in the sweetness of the tune
As it rushed across my throat.
Chorus:
What joy I have I found my song
Or maybe it found me.
Searching through the dessert sands
For the blessed melody.
What joy I have I found my song
The tune which brings me breath.
Whose harmonies, like washing waves
Cleanse my soul of death
For many years I sought the tune
That now rings in my heart.
I played through many notes and styles
But they were always lacking parts.
Then one day a friend of mine
Broke forth with ancient song
When I heard the words and melody
It called my lost heart home.
Now I sing my song all day
It is like sun in darkest night.
My soul cannot contain the tune
More than the sun contains its light.
I pray you hear the melody, friend
Of the song that I was given.
May you hear your song too
And sing it until heaven.
©2004 Original Records
Lyrics and Music by Matthew Swain
When…
I know that where you are taking me
Is better than where I’ve been
And no matter the circumstances
You are my faithful friend
When the sun breaks from its slumber
In the brilliance of a new day’s dawn
I will sing praises to your name!
When the day looks like the night
Because of a cold and dark winter storm
I will sing praises to your name!
When I flee from my captivity
That’s been oppressing me for years
I will sing praise to your name!
When I am a free man
Walking through the dessert waste
I will sing praises to your name!
When I am rescued from impending doom
That I know that I deserve
I will sing praises to your name!
When it rains for forty days
And dark clouds consume the earth
I will sing praises to your name!
Bridge:
You are the only rightful heir, His majesty the king of all
You are the only Holy one, the worthy Lamb and God’s own son
You are the one who took my place, you died for me that I might live
You are my faithful friend!
When I’m standing on the mountain
And I see you in your glory
I will sing praises to your name!
When I’m walking in the valley
And I feel death pursuing me
I will sing praises to your name!
©2004 Original Records
Lyrics and Music by Matthew Swain
Proclamation
We proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
We proclaim it in this place
We ask the Spirit of the LORD to come
To come on us
Good news for the poor binding up the broken-hearts
Freedom for the captives release for the prisoners
Good news for the poor binding up the broken-hearts
Freedom for the captives release for the prisoners
Year of the LORD’s favor, day of vengeance of our God
Comfort to the mourners, crowns of gold from the ashes
Year of the LORD’s favor, day of vengeance of our God
Comfort to the mourners, crowns of gold from the ashes
Mourning into gladness, despair turns into praise
Ancient ruins rebuilt, priests of the living God
Mourning into gladness, despair turns into praise
Ancient ruins rebuilt, priests of the living God
Bridge:
©2004 Original Records
Lyrics and Music by Matthew Swain
Lullaby
He is mighty to save
He will take great delight in you
He will rejoice over you with song
He will quiet you, he will quiet you
With his love, with his love (2x)
I’ll gather those who been dispersed
I will rescue the lame
I will give them honor and sing their praise
Where they’ve been put to shame
He will quiet us, He will quiet us
With his love, with his love (2x)
©2004 Original Records
Lyrics from Zephaniah 3:17-19 and Music by Matthew Swain
I wrote this when Abigail was born and I love to sing it to the girls each night when I put them to bed.
Intercession
With shells granite cold
Breathe life into the stale air
And loose the grip of death
In this land of walking statues
With eyes, yet unseeing
Pull of the scales of blindness
And let them see your light
Chorus:
Break down the walls
That block them from your love
Rebuild foundations, reveal you truth
Extract these hearts of stone and rock
And exchange them with hearts of flesh
In this land of walking statues
With ears sealed off from all
Drill through the plaque that deafens
And let them hear your call
In this land of walking statues
Whose mouths are mute and frozen
Free their tongues to move
And sing praises to your name
©2002 Original Records
Lyrics and Music by Matthew Swain
I wrote this not long after arriving in Spain.
Benedición
Coro:
Que el Señor te bendiga
Que el Señor te proteja
Que el Señor te bendiga
Que el Señor te proteja
Que el Señor te mire con agrado
y te muestre su bondad
Que el Señor te mire con amor
y te conceda la paz
Coro
Puente:
Pues Dios amó tanto al mundo,
que dio a su hijo
Para que todo aquel que cree en él
No muera, no muera
©2004 Original Records
Music by Matthew Swain and Matthew Hanlon
This is a worship song that Matt Hanlon and I wrote together. It is taken from Numbers 6:24-26 and John 3:16