Songwriter's Corner

The Way

2008-04-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

Too many words, what’s the sense in my writing
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

Old Song I found that Matt Hanlon Wrote

2006-12-10T07:47:00.000-08:00

Aleluya

2006-10-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

Click to Listen

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

Sunshine, Moonlight

2006-05-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Listen to Song

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

Shade of Blue (Proverbs 8:30-35)

2005-12-05T06:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I saw a shade of blue I’d never seen before, in the sky above the highway. It reminded me of Your great artistry, how You take the salty tears of men and blend in all the colors of Your passion for them, to create Your watercolor masterpieces I so often overlook. But I don’t want to overlook them anymore.

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

2005-12-05T06:21:00.000-08:00

Lead me down from my mind

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

Eclipse

2005-11-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

woke up this morning
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

Heroes Fall

2005-08-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Listen to Song

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

How many times have I left 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

Lyrics By Matthew Hamlon

Music by Matthew Swain

Turn

2005-08-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

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.

Lyrics By Matthew Hamlon

Music by Matthew Swain and Matthew Hanlon

One Lone Sheep

2005-08-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

I long to tell you something new; some discovery, some facet yet unseen.
And though in part my desire may be wrong, my heart aches to sing to You a new song.

I yearn to love you differently, to draw a line between them and me. And though in part my yearning may be wrong, I find it hard to trust that I’m already known.

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 sheep.

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.

And I hear You say “Son, deny yourself, take up your
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.

Matt Hanlon just sent these lyrics. I am playing around with some new tunes to see what I think will sound the best.

2005-08-29T07:46:00.000-07:00

Lori is working on some tracks that we just laid down.

Give it All

2005-08-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

Verse 1
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
You want more from more me
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

Bridge:
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. :)

Spring Rain

2005-03-21T03:55:00.000-08:00

I wish that the rain could wash away this morning
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)

Why We're Here

2005-01-04T02:54:00.000-08:00

Verse 1:
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

My Song

2004-09-27T03:23:00.000-07:00

In shallow sleep I heard the voice
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…

2004-09-27T03:22:00.000-07:00

Chorus:
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

2004-09-27T03:20:00.000-07:00

Chorus:
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

2004-09-27T03:16:00.000-07:00

The Lord your God is with you
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

2004-09-27T03:14:00.000-07:00

In this land of walking statues
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

2004-09-27T03:07:00.000-07:00

Numeros 6:24-26, San Juan 3:16

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