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CONCEPT
the studio version of many of my classics of the past
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LYRICS & LINER NOTES
- FROM EVERLASTING
(A lively re-telling of Psalm 90.) Lord you have been our dwelling place down through every line. Before the mountains were ever born, from the very birth of time. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn men back to dust and say return O sons of men For a thousand years in your sight O Lord Are like a day that is at its end From everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Who knows the power of Your anger? Who knows the depth of Your rage? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due Your name. You sweep men away in the sleep of death. They are like the grass of dawn. In the morning it will spring up new. By evening it is gone. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God. We are eaten by your anger. We are frightened by your wrath. You have set out sins before you; our secrets in your path. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God... CHORUS Our days that lie beneath Your eyes we finish with a moan. The length of our years are seventy. They're here and then they're gone. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Lord you have been our dwelling place down through every line. Before the mountains were ever born, from the very birth of time. From everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Vocals, Guitars, Bass: Dave
- IF JESUS CAME TO ME HOUSE
(I just found myself imagining what it would be for me if Jesus came by for a final house call. Knock! Knock!) If Jesus came to my house (he would) Catch me unaware (probably) 15 things on my list to do And everybody would stare (They’d ask me) Do you know Him pers’nally? Is He a friend of yours? That is just the question that I was waiting for At least on this I’m sure... CHORUS: He is a friend to me The best friend of my life No credentials needed here Closer than my wife My intimate companion And in the secret place We walk and talk and laugh and cry I recognize His face He is a friend to me If Jesus came to my house (I would) Register the shock (probably) Drop my jaw and raise my eyes And leave Him there to knock (and knock but) Soon I’d swing the front door wide And fall right to the floor He’d dust me off and talk to me ‘Cause that’s what friends are for... CHORUS If Jesus came to my house (we would) Talk all night and day And I would do all that I could Just to make my Savior stay But He would laugh at my absurdity I know just what He’d do Take me into heaven and say “I prepared this all for you”... CHORUS Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards: Dave
- JUMP UP
(I’ve spent a lot of my early Christian life with black churches. Just had to do this! I got a choir at a Detroit church name Grace Community Church to give it a gospel try. Loved it!) CHORUS: Jump Up! Jump Up! Get up on your feet! He is seated on the throne... in the mercy seat! Once for all He paid the price Satan thought he had him down The death of death in the death of Christ And now who wears the crown?... CHORUS I think of Him when I am low Bore the cross and shame He will never let me go I hear Him call my name... CHORUS He who shattered every chain Treats me as a friend Understands my world of pain And he will come... CHORUS Bridge Chorus: Raise the flag of mercy Sing the song of peace Dance the dance of little children Let His reign increase... CHORUS Vocals, Guitars, Bass: Dave
- CAN YOU HEAR IT
(Jubilee was to give us freedom from our debts, our enslavement, our imprisonment. It is amazing just how much attention God gives to the downtrodden, the poor, the disenfranchised. He calls it “pure religion”. Jesus calls it “what he came to do”.) Can you hear it? The bells of life are ringing in the hope of freedom’s spark Can you hear it? The living light is singing in the fading of the dark CHORUS: The poor they stand in honor and the lost are truly found The ice is quickly melting in the mercy flowing down… Can you hear it? Can you see it? The joy is in the Savior’s smile. You know it has no end Can you see it? He will never leave you. He’s just that kind of friend… CHORUS Can you touch it? The reaching heart of Jesus into your world of pain Can you touch it? He fills you up with freedom and sends you back again… CHORUS Vocals, Guitars, Bass: Dave
- BLESSED
(Again, the Sermon on the Mount is the amplifier. When I sing this, I see real people.) Blessed is the man caught in poverty Blessed are the victims of the ravages of night Blessed are the prisoners who cry for liberty The Liberator stands in holy light CHORUS: I am not alone I hear Him call my name I am not alone there's no more fear and no more shame I swear I hear the angels singing music in the air The Love of God is everywhere Blessed are the seekers reaching out for truth Blessed are the hungry for the feast of righteousness Blessed are the thirsty for the answers of their youth To all who yearn for these, may you be blessed... CHORUS Blessed are the purified, cleansed from their deceit Blessed are the lonely ones crying on the street Blessed are the lowly who humbly ask for bread Just as the Blessed Savior. You'll be fed... CHORUS Vocals, Guitars, Bass: Dave
- THERE WAS NEVER
(Singing this around a piano with Lynda back in the day was transporting. I love how we just took our time. A settling song…) There was never a love so clear Never a friend so true Never a place as here… with you CHORUS: You smile and the room is radiant You speak and my heart’s alive You move and the air is shimmering You are the joy of my life There was never a reach to long Never a love so real Into my life a song… of you… CHORUS Tender loving closest friend Tender loving closest friend Jesus ever near… me Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Harp, Bass: Dave Background Vocals: Lynda
- HIS NAME IS JESUS
(Another piece like Jump Up. It was better when I had that Grace choir help me out! Still, I enjoy this version a lot. Excuse me while I stand up and raise my hands in the air…) I will sing the song of songs that the angels sing Let the church serve notice of the soon and coming King Once He came to save us, to set the prisoners free Someday He will come again with a shout of victory CHORUS: His name is Jesus, Jesus -- Jesus Christ the King. His name is Jesus, Jesus -- Jesus Christ the King. Crown Him with glory, glory. Let His praises ring. His name is Jesus, Jesus -- Jesus Christ the King. He put on flesh to love us, paid the price of sin, Crucified and buried, and in three days rose again, Ascended into glory, seated at the throne, Sent to us His Spirit to let His name be known... CHORUS The angels call him holy, multiplied by three. The soldier said the Son of God, when he died upon the tree. The Father called him “cursed” when he suffered all our shame And now He’s crowned in glory with the name above all names... CHORUS BRIDGE: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Lord we give you praise. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Songs to Jesus raise. Vocals, Bass, Keyboards: Dave
- CARRY ME AWAY
(Inspired by a scene from the Hobbit (the book version) when there was no way out for Bilbo, Gandalf and his dwarven company. On the tippy top of pine trees in flames and wargs below, and wouldn’t you know it… grand eagles to carry them away to safety! In the nick of time. Super sweet having teenage Caroline join me in the studio for the background vocals.) When the clouds show heavy cover and I’m count beneath the rain And the elements swirl round me like a storm When I can’t escape without you Lord take me in your arms Lift me up Lord and carry me away CHORUS: Carry me away with you Carry me away with you You always arrive in the nick of time You always come just when I need you You lift me up and carry me away In the morning, there’s this taste in me through the day it gets much worse And I am sinking like a stone When I’m locked inside my selfishness Lord take me in your arms Lift me up Lord and carry me away… CHORUS At the place of crucifixion where the world’s bright lights go out Where you bury me six feet underground When I die to me to live in you Lord take me in your arms Resurrect me Lord and carry me away… CHORUS Vocals, Guitar, Bass: Dave Background Vocals: Caroline
- PASS THE BREAD AROUND
(Communion. Community. Mission.) Jesus is the bread For the hungry crowd Broken for the world We pass the bread around He sends no one away We go from town to town As quietly we pray And pass the bread around CHORUS: The miracle is You The miracle is You As quietly we pray And pass the bread around Jesus you’re the bread For the hungry crowd Broken for the world We pass the bread around You send no one away We go from town to town As quietly we pray And pass the bread around… CHORUS Vocals, Guitars, Bass: Dave
- LOVE HAS COME TO EARTH
(Birthed in a brand-new seat-filled sanctuary in Detroit. What a way to celebrate!) I give my life. I give my heart I give my everything to you Lord I will cry. Lord I will pray Lord I will sing the song for you CHORUS: Love has come to earth Love will not let go Love is in a name His name is Jesus You are my life. You are my joy. You are the one who makes me glad. Lord here I am. Lord I am yours. Yours to command my precious King... CHORUS We give our lives. We give our hearts. We give our everything to you. Lord we will cry. Lord we will pray. Lord we will sing the song for you… CHORUS (long): Love has come to earth Love will not let go Love is in a name His name is Jesus Lord of endless worth Lord of all who live Lord of Lords the same Name as Jesus Vocals, Guitars, Bass: Dave Background Vocals, Keyboards: Ron Pietrantoni Drums: Ron Pangborn Chorus: Ron, Lynda, Shelly
- UP ON GOLGOTHA MOUNTAIN
(To sing of the greatest expression of love in human history. What a privilege!) CHORUS: Up on Golgotha Mountain A man was hanging still; Blood striped flails from a cat o’ nine tails Was it truly his father’s will? O the pain it was unspeakable As the nails pierced flesh and bone And his father became unreachable As he bore our sins alone … CHORUS Crying “Abba Father” one day With a touch from heav’n above The next day crying “Father…! Where is your holy love?” For our sins he died, he was crucified Bearing all we’d ever done, And to bear our grief, he was born to earth To die for everyone … CHORUS The love of the Father Giving his only Son To suffer our wrong, that we might sing his song Of God’s love that goes on and … Up on Golgotha Mountain A man was hanging still Blood striped flails from a cat o’ nine tails Was the love of God on a hill. Vocals, Guitars, Bass: Dave
- BY HIS GRACE
(nothing I can do or say can add...) Nothing I can do or say Can add one drop to what He’s done for me The waters of forgiveness The waters of the life He gave for me CHORUS: By His Grace I am now what I am By His Grace I can now carry on By His Grace I am saved and redeemed By His Grace I can now sing His song Nothing I can do or say Can purify the waters of the sea The waters of redemption That refresh my soul for eternity... CHORUS Vocals, Guitar: Dave
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ALBUM CREDITS
Musicians: Dave Petty: guitars, lead vocal, background vocals, bass guitar, keyboards & harmonicas Lynda McCroskery: background vocals Dan Taylor: drums Ron Pietrantoni: Background Vocals, Keyboards Ron Pangborn: Drums J.B.: violin Lydia Lichtenberger: cello Produced, recorded, mixed by: Dave Petty
